There are so many epic National Parks near Los Angeles, California! From epic National Parks to interesting historic sites and huge natural areas you can find a little bit of every type of park within 350 miles of Los Angeles.
National Parks Near Los Angeles
I know it is hard to think about leaving the sunshine of Los Angeles but trust me there are so many epic National Park sites worth visiting on a day trip! Many of these parks are bucket list destinations for people around the world. California has the most National Park Sites of any state in the United States.
We decided to do within 350 miles to keep the parks easily accessible within a days drive perfect for day trips or long weekends. At the bottom of this article you will find a list of parks that are just over 350 miles from Los Angeles if you are looking to take a longer road trip.
The parks are listed by the mileage from closest to farthest away. If you normally drive in LA you know that the times are a complete estimate!
These can change based on the day, weather, time, or random crazy traffic jams.
Planning a National Park vacation? America the Beautiful/National Park Pass covers entrance fees for an entire year to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites.
The park pass covers everyone in the car for per vehicle sites and for up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy on REI.com and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
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Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, New York, and Orlando
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Distance from Los Angeles - 34 miles, 45 minutes to the visitor center in Calabasas
Top Attractions - Hiking, Biking, Historic Sites
Santa Monica NRA is located near Los Angeles and offers the perfect backdrop for a day of hiking and exploring. There are over 500 miles of trails within the park.
Visit Paramount Ranch which has been used in tons of TV shows and films. A portion of this area burned unfortunately in a wildfire but you can still see the chapel used in HBO's "Westworld" and the only other building that still stands on the former Hertz Era Western Town site the train depot that was used in the T.V. show Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Lodging - There is no lodging within the park.
Camping - Circle X Ranch Group Campground is the only campground the National Park Service operates in the Santa Monica Mountains. Visit recreation.gov to make reservations for this 10 person minimum group camp.
Park Address - 26876 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas, CA 91302
Channel Islands National Park
Distance from Los Angeles - 66 miles, 1 hour 20 minutes
The miles are calculated to the Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center in Ventura and do not include the boat ride out to the islands.
Top Attractions - Wildlife cruises, kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and camping.
Channel Islands NP stretches approximately 90 miles in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California. The park encompasses five islands and protects a large variety of wildlife, marine life, and vegetation.
Visitors can visit the visitor center in Ventura, California to learn more about the park. In order to visit the islands you will need to book a boat trip with Island Packers or via a private boat. There is no transportation available on the islands. All areas must be accessed on foot or by private boat or kayak.
We highly suggest making boat reservations prior to your visit to the park. The boat tours are incredibly popular!
This is one of our favorite things to do in Los Angeles with kids! Everyone loves seeing dolphins and wildlife.
Lodging - There are no lodges on any of the islands.
Camping - Primitive camping is available year round on all five islands in Channel Islands National Park in National Park Service-managed campgrounds. Landing Cove on Santa Barbara, on the east islet of Anacapa, at Scorpion Ranch on Santa Cruz, at Water Canyon on Santa Rosa, and above Cuyler Harbor on San Miguel.
Park Address - 1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, CA 93001
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Cabrillo National Monument
Distance from Los Angeles - 123 miles, 2 hours
Top Attractions - Tide Pools, whale watching, Statue of Conquistador Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo
Cabrillo National Monument commemorates the first European footsteps on the Pacific coast. Conquistador Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed into San Diego harbor on September 28, 1542.
He was the first European to step food on what is now the United States west coast.
Visitors today can enjoy a great visitor center, park films, 1855 Old Point Loma Lighthouse, a 2-mile Bayside Trail through the coastal Mediterranean habitat and coastal sage scrub, and whale watching for migrating Pacific Gray Whales.
Lodging - There are no National Park Lodges within this California National Monument.
Camping - There is no camping within the park.
Park Address - 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive, San Diego, CA 92106
CÉSAR E. CHÁVEZ NATIONAL MONUMENT
Distance from Los Angeles - 126 miles, 2 hours
Top Attractions - Visitor Center, Memorial Garden
Cesar Chavez National Monument is a memorial to a influential labor leader. Cesar Chavez was the leading figure in the ight for better pay and safer working conditions for agriculture workers in the 1960s.
His political effort led to the formation of a labor union that would later become the United Farm Workers of America.
Visitors today can learn more about Cesar Chavez's work by watching the park film, seeing his office within the visitor center, and exploring the museum.
Lodging - There are no National Park lodges within the park.
Camping - There is no camping within the park.
Park Address - 29700 Woodford-Tehachapi Road, Keene, CA 93531
Joshua Tree National Park
Distance from Los Angeles - 127 miles, 2 hours 15 minutes
The distance is calculated to the Joshua Tree visitor center which is located outside of the park in Joshua Tree, California.
Top Attractions - Joshua Trees, Cholla Cactus Garden, Epic Sunsets, Gorgeous photo opportunities.
Joshua Tree National Park includes three ecosystems in a desert landscape that is awe-inspiring. There are three entrances to Joshua Tree NP including through the town of Joshua Tree which is a little over 3 hours from San Diego.
Visitors can enjoy amazing views, great scenic driving, hiking, and camping under millions of stars. Don't miss Skull Rock, Jumbo Rocks, the Cholla Cactus Garden (hint don't touch the cactus), and Keys View.
The park protects a epic species of plants and animals.
Lodging - There are no lodges within the park.
Camping - There are nine Joshua Tree Campgrounds. Camping in Joshua Tree is an opportunity to experience unique rock formations, and epic dark skies.
Park Address - 6554 Park Blvd, Joshua Tree, CA 92252
Mojave National Preserve
Distance from Los Angeles - 211 miles, 3 hours 15 min.
Miles are calculated to the Kelso Depot Visitor Center
Top Attractions - hiking, scenic driving, epic scenery of sand dunes, cinder cone volcanoes, a large Joshua tree forest
Mojave National Preserve is perfect for adventurous travelers! The park encompasses three of the four major North American deserts the Mojave, Great Basin and Sonoran Deserts.
Visitors can explore epic sand dunes, see volcanic cider cones, and the world's largest forest of Joshua Trees. Don't miss the Kelso Depot Visitor Center a restored 1924 Spanish-style building.
Lodging - There is no lodging within the park.
Camping - Two developed campgrounds—the Mid Hills Campground and Hole-in-the-Wall Campground are available year-round.
Park Address - Kelso Depot, is located inside the Preserve, 95 miles east of Barstow, and 90 miles west of Las Vegas, at the intersection of Kelso-Cima and Kelbaker Roads.
Sequoia National Park
Distance from Los Angeles - 204 miles, 3 hours 30 minutes
Miles are calculated to the Foothills Visitor Center
Top Attractions - Big trees, hiking, camping
Sequoia National Park is our 2nd oldest National Park in the United States and is filled with many amazing Sequoia Trees and epic scenery. The park sustained a large wildfire burn this past summer and is still recovering.
Many portions of the park were damaged from the wildfire. Make sure to check for the current park status before driving to the park.
Make sure to see the The General Sherman Tree the world's largest tree, measured by volume. Moro Rock Trail is not for the faint of heart but provides epic views of the valley and mountains.
Sequoia National Park borders with Kings Canyon National Park so you can easily enjoy two beautiful parks in a couple of days.
Lodging - Wuksachi Lodge
Camping - Sequoia National Park Campgrounds
Park Address - 47050 Generals Hwy, Three Rivers, CA 93271
MANZANAR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
Distance from Los Angeles - 220 miles, 3 hours 20 minutes
Top Attractions - Visitor Center, historical exhibits, auto tour
Manzanar NHS remembers the forced relocation of Japanese Americans during World War II. Following the December 7 , 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the United States government ordered more than 110,000 Japanese American citizens to leave their homes and relocate to military style camps.
Manzanar War Relocation Center was one of ten military camps set up around the country.
Visitors can take an auto tour of the camp to see the preserved buildings and gardens. Make sure to watch the parks movie it does an amazing job of telling the story of Manzanar. The visitor center is one of the best interpretive displays we have experienced in visiting over 275 National Park Sites.
This is a park that will sit with you and make you think a lot about US history and how we treat civil rights, democracy, and freedom.
Lodging - There is no lodging within the park.
Camping - There is no camping within the park.
Park Address - 5001 Highway 395, Independence, CA 93526
Kings Canyon National Park
Distance from Los Angeles - 243 miles, 4 hours
Miles are calculated to the visitor center near Grant Grove.
Top Attractions - Big trees, hiking trails, camping,
A trip to Kings Canyon would not be complete without taking the General Grant Tree Trail. The Generals Highway like most roads in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range is open seasonally depending on snowfall/snowmelt.
You can reach Sequoia National Park from Kings Canyon NP by driving the Generals Highway. Both of the parks recently sustained a large wildfire and are assessing the damages.
Lodging - Cedar Grove Lodge and John Muir Lodge
Camping - Kings Canyon Campgrounds
Park Address - 83918 CA-180, Grant Grove Village, CA 93633
Castle Mountain National Monument
Distance from Los Angeles - 250 miles, 4 hours 15 minutes
Castle Mountains does not have a visitor center. The distance is to cross into the park boundary via Mojave Preserve.
Top Attractions - Off road driving and exploring.
Castle Mountain NM protects some of the most unique features of the Mojave Desert. This park has no real infrastructure except a couple of dirt roads and a park boundary sign.
This is a park that you are going "off road" to visit and will need to be prepared to not see anyone else during your visit.
Lodging - There is no lodging within the park.
Camping - There is no camping within the park. The closest camping is within Mojave National Preserve.
Park Address - The park address goes to the main office. We used a Mojave National Preserve brochure map to find our way into the park.
Death Valley National Park
Distance from Los Angeles - 266 miles, 4 hours 30 min.
Distance is calculated to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center within the park.
Top Attractions - Hiking, Camping, scenic driving, wildlife viewing.
Death Valley is one of the most famous California National Parks. The name evokes many emotions including fear and wonder.
Badwater Basin is 282 feet below sea level and the lowest place in North America. Some of the highest recorded temperatures in the world have been found at Furnace Creek.
Visitors can enjoy epic scenery, unique wildlife, and a landscape unlike any other you will see. This is a park you want to prepare for and make sure you have water and other essentials.
Lodging - There are multiple Death Valley Lodges including The Inn at Death Valley.
Camping - There are multiple National Park Campgrounds within the park. Check out our Death Valley Camping Guide to learn more about each campground.
Park Address - Furnace Creek, CA 92328
Pinnacles National Park
Distance from Los Angeles - 269 miles, 4 hours 30 minutes
Top Attractions - California Condors, Hiking, Scenic Views, rock climbing, exploring caves
Pinnacles National Park is popular with rock climbers, bird watchers, and anyone looking to get away for the day. The park is divided into two sections with no through road between the sections.
We suggest started at the Pinnacles Visitor Center and exploring the main portion of the park. Keep an eye out for California Condors within the park.
Lodging - There are no lodges within the park
Camping - Pinnacles Campground
Park Address - Pinnacles Visitor Center - 5000 CA-146, Paicines, CA 95043
Yosemite National Park
Distance from Los Angeles - 281 miles, 4 hours 40 minutes
Miles were calculated to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in the southern portion of the park.
Top Attractions - Hiking, Scenic Views, Waterfalls, Wildlife, Camping
Yosemite National Park is a must visit California National Park! The epic views are breathtaking and hard to describe if you haven't been there. This is a park we suggest planning a few days at minimum to explore. While it can be done in one day you will most likely be planning a return visit while you are still in the park.
From the epic view of Tunnel View to looking out over Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point you will not believe how epic this park is.
Lodging - There are multiple Yosemite NP Lodges to chose from including the Ahwahnee Hotel, Curry Village, and Wawona Hotel.
Camping - There are 13 Yosemite front country campgrounds
Park Address - For directions I would suggest entering the specific part of the park you plan to visit. Example - Yosemite Valley, Tunnel View, Curry Village.
Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument
Distance from Los Angeles - 286 miles, 4 hours 20 minutes
Top Attractions - Hiking, Scenic Views.
Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument was established as the 405th unit of the National Park Service Dec. 19, 2014. The park is still a park in progress. Currently there are no visitor centers or established trails.
The monument is 22,650 acres. It is located just north of Las Vegas, Nevada, and stretches along US Highway 95 north of Aliante and Centennial Hills to Creech Air Force Base.
There is a designated parking area and interpretive panel to help visitors understand the importance of the park.
Lodging - There is no lodging within the park.
Camping - There is no camping within the park.
Park Address -16001 Corn Creek Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89166
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Distance from Los Angeles - 288 miles, 4 hours 20 minutes
Top Attractions - Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Photography
Lake Mead was the first National Recreation Area designated in the United States. The park protects over 1.5 million acres of land making it one of the largest National Park Sites in the country.
Visitors can enjoy year-round adventures in this epic park.
Lodging - There are three National Park Lodging options within the park Cottonwood Cove Resort, Lake Mojave Resort, and Temple Bar Marina Resort.
Camping - There are over 900 camping and RV sites within Lake Mead NRA.
Park Address - 10 Lakeshore Road, Boulder City, Nevada 89005
Devil's Postpile National Monument
Distance from Los Angeles - 322 miles, 5 hours 20 minutes
Top Attractions - unique rock formations, hiking trails, scenic views.
Devils Postpile National Monument protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the 101-foot high Rainbow Falls, and pristine mountain scenery.
Make sure to check the park website to see if they are running the park shuttle during your visit. Specific times of the year you have to be on a park shuttle to visit the park.
Devils Postpile is typically open between mid-June and mid-October. Make sure to pack bug spray with you!
Lodging - There is no lodging within the park.
Camping - The parks campground is currently closed.
Park Address -Devils Postpile Access Road, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
Los Angeles National Parks - 350+ miles away
Eugene O'Neil National Historic Site - 359 miles
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial - 376 miles (Tour required to visit the park)
John Muir National Historic Site - 374 miles
Fort Point National Historic Site - 386 miles
Muir Woods National Monument - 398 miles
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument - 426 miles
Tuzigoot National Monument - 426 miles
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument - 432 miles
Montezuma Castle National Monument - 455 miles
Tonto National Monument - 479 miles
Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim) - 490 miles
Make sure to check out all of the National Parks in California and neighboring Arizona National Parks, Nevada National Parks, and National Parks in Oregon
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