Taking a Mini Road Trip From LA to Palm Springs

With only about 100 miles between them, Los Angeles and Palm Springs aren’t too far about—only a little under a two-hour drive. But, don’t forget that you’re in Southern California, the land of adventure! Sure, going the long way might take more time, but once you see what unforgettable detours you have to choose from, we think you’ll agree that it’s completely worth it to do some meandering when making the drive from LA to Palm Springs. Not convinced? Keep reading to see what we mean! 

Aquarium of the Pacific 

📍 Long Beach

One of the Most-Visited Museums in America 

100 Aquarium Way | Waterfront | www.aquariumofpacific.org

About a half-hour south of LA, you’ll find the coastal city of Long Beach. The sixth-largest city in California, Long Beach has a bustling urban waterfront while still maintaining a homey atmosphere. Beaches, marinas, and parks dot the city’s shore, including Junipero Beach (also known as Cherry Beach), Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, Alamitos Bay Marina, and ShoreLine Aquatic Park. More inland, you’ll find attractions like the Museum of Latin American Art, the Craftsman Village Historic District, and the Charles H. Windham House. Meanwhile, floating on Queen’s Bay is The Queen Mary, a historic, decadent, permanently-docked ocean liner that now serves as a hotel and restaurant. One of Long Beach’s can’t-miss attractions, however, is without a doubt the Aquarium of the Pacific, the biggest aquarium in Southern California. 

With 1.7 million visitors every year, the Aquarium of the Pacific is a prominent attraction not just for the city but for the region—making it well worth a stop in Long Beach all on its own. From sharks and sea turtles to otters and penguins, you can find all sorts of Pacific life when you tour the aquarium’s six-acre site, which houses 12 thousand animals and over 100 exhibits. Open daily from 9 am to 6 pm, the Aquarium of the Pacific is a dynamic experience where you can learn, have fun, and see what—and who—lives in the world’s largest body of water, all in the same place. 

Huntington Beach Pier 

📍 Huntington Beach

Nearly Two Thousand Feet Long!

W. Main Street & Pacific Coast Highway | Huntington City Beach | www.surfcityusa.com

A little farther down the coastline, just under an hour south of LA, Huntington Beach is another California beach town that you don’t want to miss out on. Some of the city’s highlights include the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum, Huntington Central Park, Old World Huntington Beach, and the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. Plus, due to its prime spot along the Pacific Ocean, Huntington Beach offers visitors a variety of outdoor activities both on land and in the water. These include biking, surfing, boating, fishing, and whale-watching. Of course, no visit to Huntington Beach is complete with a trip to the beach—and a walk across Huntington Beach Pier. 

The top public beaches near the city are Sunset Beach, Huntington Dog Beach, Huntington State Beach, Bolsa Chica State Beach, and Huntington City Beach, which is where you’ll find Huntington Beach Pier. Stretching a whopping 1,850 feet, Huntington Beach Pier is one of the longest piers on the West Coast. Originally built in 1904, the pier is a historic city landmark in addition to being a popular attraction. Enjoy some breathtaking views of the Pacific as you stroll down the iconic boardwalk, which culminates in the (almost) equally famous Ruby’s Surf City Diner. 

Bowers Museum 

📍 Santa Ana 

Historic Art Museum in Orange County

2002 N. Main Street | Santa Ana Triangle | www.bowers.org

Northeast of Huntington Beach, the city of Santa Ana will take you inland from our beloved coastline—but not to worry, there’s still plenty of fun to be had as we venture away from the Pacific and closer to Palm Springs. Whether you take a trip to the Santa Ana Zoo, watch your little ones play at Discovery Cube Orange County, or immerse yourself in local history at the Old Orange County Courthouse, you’re sure to cherish your time in this vibrant SoCal town. But if you’re looking to add a splash of culture to your journey through Southern California, you should make some time to see the Bowers Museum, an award-winning institution that’s been a centerpiece in Santa Ana since 1936. 

Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm, the Bowers Museum makes for an enriching stop as you drive through the Orange County area. With a permanent collection comprised of more than 100,000 objects, the Bowers Museum has a wide array of artwork to see and even has a kids’ museum (the Kidseum) on a nearby second campus. In addition to its permanent collection, the museum also hosts rotating exhibitions, which you can check out ahead of time by visiting the museum’s website. 

Chino Hills State Park 

📍 Chino Hills

Hiking, Camping, Biking, Horseback Riding, and More

4721 Sapphire Road | Los Serranos | www.parks.ca.gov

You can take a road trip through California without planning a stop at a park! In addition to having the most national parks in the country (nine), California also has the most state parks (270). And luckily, you’ll be going right by one of them on your way from LA to Palm Springs: Chino Hills State Park, sandwiched between the cities of Yorba Linda and Chino. Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains, Chino Hills State Park has a scenic location that’s ideal for a variety of outdoor recreational activities ranging from hiking and biking to horseback riding and wildlife viewing. 

With over 14 thousand acres of space, Chino Hills State Park provides visitors with a long list of options in terms of what to see and do. More than 90 miles of trails run through the park, and campsites, picnic areas, and restrooms make it a convenient place to spend an ample amount of time. Most visitors recommend paying the $5-fee for parking rather than making the hike to the park, as the walk there might leave you too tired to fully enjoy the park itself. 

Tom’s Farms 

📍 Corona 

Family-Friendly Fun 

23900 Temescal Canyon Road | Temescal Valley | www.tomsfarms.com

Around an hour-and-a-half west of Palm Springs and about 15 minutes southeast from the city of Corona, Tom’s Farms is a multi-attraction establishment that started in 1971 as a produce stand that sold fresh fruits and vegetables. Today, it includes a carnival-like setup of games, rides, and shows, as well as several restaurants and shops. While the amusement park aspect of Tom’s Farms is definitely geared toward younger visitors (rides include a bounce house, old-timey carousel, and a train ride), the other portions of the complex can be enjoyed at any age. 

There are three restaurants at Tom’s Farms: Tom’s Farms Bar & Grill, Tom’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers, and Patio Pizza. The Bar & Grill features appetizers like fried pickles, onion rings, and nachos, plus soups, salads, sandwiches, and entrees like tacos, pasta dishes, ribs, and steak. In addition to burgers, sandwiches, and classic sides, Tom’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers also serves breakfast food, including omelets, pancakes, french toast, and biscuits and gravy. Patio Pizza, which is located at the Farms’ Cheese & Wine Shoppe, has hot and cold sandwiches, wings, appetizers, salads, subs, wraps, and, of course, hand-tossed pizzas! Aside from its Cheese & Wine Shoppe, Tom’s Farms also has a farmers market, a candy shop, and furniture store—plus a craft fair with local vendors that it hosts on the weekend. 

UC Riverside Botanic Gardens 

📍 Riverside

40 Acres of Green Space, Gardens, and Trails

1 Botanic Gardens Drive | University of California, Riverside | www.gardens.ucr.edu

Riverside, California, lies just around an hour west of Palm Springs, right alongside the Santa Ana River. Known for its integral role in the growth of the California citrus industry, Riverside has a slew of historical sites and landmarks, including California Citrus State Historic Park. Another noteworthy place in Riverside is the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, which is the largest Mission-Revival-Style building in the country. If you’re a film buff, then you’ll want to stop at the Fox Performing Arts Center, which held the first public screening of Gone with the Wind. Among the city’s newer attractions, however, is the UC Riverside Botanic Gardens on the east side of the school’s campus. 

Spanning 40 acres at the base of the Box Spring Mountains, the UCR Botanic Gardens are a colorful wonderland with gardens, walking trails, and a plethora of lookout spots. A living plant museum, the gardens hold flowers from all over the world, including Australia, South Africa, China, and parts of the United States. Themed collections like the Butterfly Garden, Lilac Lane, the Rose Gardens, and the Herb Garden will astound you with their beauty (and just how much work goes into maintaining the gardens), while the unplanted areas with native growth provide an authentic tribute to Mother Nature and the caliber of California’s natural scenery. 

Historical Glass Museum 

📍 Redlands

Victorian-Style House with American Glass Art Displays 

1157 Orange Street | North Redlands | www.historicalglassmuseum.com 

Slightly northwest of Palm Springs and southeast of San Bernardino, the city of Redlands is among the oldest cities in the state and, as such, is known for its late-19th century buildings like Morey Mansion and the Kimberly Crest House and Gardens. But if you’re looking to take in the town’s history from a different perspective, then the Historical Glass Museum might just be the niche, offbeat attraction to add to your road trip itinerary. 

Not only does the Historical Glass Museum boast the largest collection of American glass on the West Coast, but the building itself is also on the National Register of Historic Places, as the Victorian-style home in which it’s located is over a hundred years old. Inside the museum, you’ll find cases filled with diverse collections of glass art, including cut glass, carnival glass, depression glass, and more. While most of the pieces are antiques, there are some contemporary works on display as well. After you tour the museum, be sure to stop in the gift shop where you can purchase your own glass art. 

Cabazon Dinosaurs

📍 Cabazon 

Famous Roadside Attraction Just Before Palm Springs 

50770 Seminole Drive | Cabazon | www.cabazondinosaurs.com

Before you finally reach Palm Springs, don’t forget to make one last small detour to see one of the area’s most famous roadside attractions—the Cabazon Dinosaurs! What originally started as two larger-than-life dinosaur statues has now evolved into a renowned wayside stop along Interstate 10 with more than 50 dinos now on display. An iconic stopping point outside of Palm Springs, the Cabazon Dinosaurs are a sight that you just can’t miss—literally! 

Constructed by the sculptor Claude Bell beginning in 1964, the Cabazon Dinosaurs have long been a favorite pit-stop for travelers passing through. Dinny the Dinosaur and Mr. Rex, the two original dinosaurs have since been fashioned into a gift shop and a hands-on dinosaur exhibit. The Cabazon Dinosaurs have even made appearances in films such as Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985) and The Wizard (1989). 

Why Go Fast When You Can Go Far?

When it comes to traveling, you don’t want to rush—because you never know what you might miss! LA and Palm Springs are both action-packed destinations, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing worth seeing when going from one to the other. Southern California is a place with endless spectacular sights and points of interest, and a drive from LA to Palm Springs is the perfect opportunity to appreciate just how much SoCal has to offer. So, forget about time for a while and take the long way! The road ahead is filled with twists, turns, and, most importantly, memories. 

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