Category Desert & Mountain Day Trips

Los Angeles · DESERT & MOUNTAIN DAY TRIPS

The 15 Desert & Mountain Day Trips to Start With

17 reviewed

LA: San Francisco, Yosemite, Santa Barbara & Carmel, 3-Days

LA: San Francisco, Yosemite, Santa Barbara & Carmel, 3-Days - Where 17-Mile Drive and Route 1 fit the plan

1.San Francisco, Yosemite, Santa Barbara & Carmel, 3-Days

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 142 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $620Our pick

3 days from LA to San Francisco and Yosemite or Hearst Castle, plus Santa Barbara, Solvang, Carmel and a Bay cruise—guided and easy.

“Hi, my name is Tim. I've just done the 3-day-tour to San Francisco. These past 3 days were absolutely amazing! Our tour guide Giovanni and our driver Jeff were super friendly and very well organized. Giovanni gave us so much inside information about California and brought us to the most stunning views all over the Westcoast. He took very good care of us and you can really feel his passion and excitement for guiding this tour. He said: "If you are happy, I am happy". And so it was, I enjoyed every second of our tour and thus highly recommend to experience it on your own. At last, I just…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Los Angeles-San Francisco,Yosemite National Park 3-Day Tour

Los Angeles-San Francisco,Yosemite National Park 3-Day Tour - Day 1: From Irvine or Fullerton to 17-Mile Drive and Pebble Beach Lodge

2.San Francisco,Yosemite National Park 3-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 27 reviews · 3 days · from $406

3-day LA to San Francisco and Yosemite tour with 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, Golden Gate views, Lombard Street, optional bay cruise, and Yosemite entry.

“I was part of a Chinese only group as well and I think this trip is actually made for Chinese people. The guide tried his best to explain everything in English to me. I think it’s better if you don’t book this trip as an individual. You have to consider that it covers quite some distances, so you spend a lot of time in the bus, the drive itself was very safe. It doesn’t go along the coast between LA and SF what I thought it would. The hotels are basic, but fine. I‘d still recommend it if you know what you are signing up for and as there are…”

Check availability →Read our full review

LA: San Francisco, Yosemite, Vegas & Hoover Dam 5-Day Tour

LA: San Francisco, Yosemite, Vegas & Hoover Dam 5-Day Tour - Day 1: Santa Barbara, Solvang, Route 1/17-Mile Drive, Carmel, then Oakland

3.San Francisco, Yosemite, Vegas & Hoover Dam 5-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 23 reviews · from $895

Coast-to-canyon 5-day tour from Los Angeles to San Francisco, Yosemite (summer), Vegas, and Hoover Dam, with hotels and a bay cruise.

“The trip itself was interesting, but some of the breaks were much too short at the interesting spots and much too long at other spots (e.g., 1.5 hours at an outlet mall with international stores), while in Las Vegas, we only had 30 minutes to visit the historic area. The changing tour guides for the German-speaking group were also not ideal, and the constant switching between a small bus and a large bus was not really ideal either. But for a first and quick overview of SF and Las Vegas, the whole thing was fine.”

Check availability →Read our full review

LA: San Francisco, Yosemite, Vegas, Grand Canyon &more 7days

LA: San Francisco, Yosemite, Vegas, Grand Canyon &more 7days - California Coast day: Santa Barbara, Solvang, Carmel, and the scenic road work

4.San Francisco, Yosemite, Vegas, Grand Canyon &more 7days

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 23 reviews · 7 days (approx.) · from $1,465

A fast-paced 7-day West Coast loop from LA to San Francisco, then Yosemite, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Antelope, Bryce, and Zion.

“Tour muy completo que aúna tener una visión completa de la costa Oeste (ciudades y naturaleza) y no disponer de muchos días. Evidentemente eso se traduce en madrugar... Los días tienen 24 horas. Conductores muy profesionales. Gran parte del éxito de un tour radica en el guía. En nuestro caso no pudimos tener una mejor. Brenda es excepcional. Gran profesional y excelente persona. La entrada en San Francisco siempre estará en mi recuerdo. Gracias! La única pega es que los hoteles están fuera del centro urbano.”

Check availability →Read our full review

LA: San Francisco, Yosemite, Vegas & Hoover Dam, 5-Day Tour

LA: San Francisco, Yosemite, Vegas & Hoover Dam 5-Day Tour - Day 1: Santa Barbara, Solvang, Route 1/17-Mile Drive, Carmel, then Oakland

5.San Francisco, Yosemite, Vegas & Hoover Dam, 5-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 14 reviews · 5 days (approx.) · from $940

5 days from LA to San Francisco, Yosemite, Las Vegas, with hotels, Yosemite entry (summer), and a Golden Gate Bay cruise.

“The tour does not follow the itinerary .Most of the time is just travel by bus . Hardly few sight seeing spots are covered . The hotel stay at Stevenson Ranch Comfort Inn is a 2 star hotel and a good choice at all . It’s not worth the money spent .”

Check availability →Read our full review

Private Day Tour to Sequoia and Kings Canyon Parks From LA

Private Day Tour to Sequoia and Kings Canyon Parks From LA - Pickup and getting around: meet-up matters more than you think

6.Private Day Tour to Sequoia and Kings Canyon Parks From LA

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 13 reviews · 15 to 18 hours (approx.) · from $1,090

Private day trip from LA to Sequoia and Kings Canyon for General Sherman, Moro Rock sunset views, and Tunnel Log, with pickup and admission.

“This trip was beautiful! Our guide was extraordinary and showed us all of the must see spots. If you are in for an outstanding outdoor adventure I would definitely recommend going on this trip! 10/10”

Check availability →Read our full review

LA Day Trip to Casinos, Palm Springs, San Diego, Santa Barbara

LA Day Trip to Casinos, Palm Springs, San Diego, Santa Barbara - Pickup in Beverly Hills: how the chauffeur timing really helps

7.LA Day Trip to Casinos, Palm Springs, San Diego, Santa Barbara

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 9 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $1,295Top rated

Private LA day trip for casinos or SoCal icons like Palm Springs, San Diego, and Santa Barbara, with a chauffeur who keeps your day moving.

“We had an outstanding experience with this limo service and touring company. Their vehicle was incredibly comfortable throughout the ride. Our driver was punctual, professional, and shared great insights during the tour, making it both informative and enjoyable. The level of customer service exceeded my expectations, making the whole experience feel first-class. I highly recommend this company for anyone seeking reliable transportation or a memorable tour experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Joshua Tree National Park Day Tour from Los Angeles

Joshua Tree National Park Day Tour from Los Angeles - Morning Logistics From Los Angeles: Expect a Long Day on the Road

8.Joshua Tree National Park Day Tour from Los Angeles

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 12 reviews · 1 day · from $220Best value

Joshua Tree and the Nixon Library in one packed day from Los Angeles, with included park and museum tickets and timed stops.

“Ce voyage au parc national de Joshua Tree a été très agréable et instructif en compagnie de Greg Fan, notre guide. Nous avons passez une journée merveilleuse. Merci! Jean-Sebastien et Mélanie de Montréal, Canada.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Yosemite and Glacier Point Tour from Los Angeles by Amtrak

Yosemite and Glacier Point Tour from Los Angeles by Amtrak - Fresno Evening: A Real Break Before Yosemite

9.Yosemite and Glacier Point Tour from Los Angeles by Amtrak

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 10 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $589

Overnight small-group Yosemite trip from Los Angeles via Amtrak with Glacier Point and classic Valley stops. Park entry included.

“A fantastic tour led by a very knowledgeable and experienced tour guide who knows the area inside out. Overall it was great. The only issue was the tour company promised a refund for our Uber taxi fare but despite my enquiries a few time I never received a reply which is totally unacceptable. So watch out if they promise you a refund when making a booking.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3-Day Tour: San Francisco, Yosemite National Park and LA

3-Day Tour: San Francisco, Yosemite National Park and LA - San Francisco Day 2: Golden Gate, Palace of Fine Arts, Lombard Street, and optional extras

Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Park 2 Day Tour from LA

Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Park 2 Day Tour from LA - Key Highlights You’ll Care About

11.Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Park 2 Day Tour from LA

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $407

Two days from LA to Kings Canyon and Yosemite with park tickets, one Fresno hotel night, breakfast, and a pro guide-run schedule.

“Chris was a wonderful, friendly, accommodating, welcoming host. He shared the necessary information about the places we wanted to visit but did not burden us with too much information. Considering the distance to the parks from LA, we got to see quite a bit Definitely recommend for those people who dont have too much time.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Los Angeles: Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks 2-Day Trip

Los Angeles: Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks 2-Day Trip - Sequoia Stops That Make the Giants Feel Real

12.Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks 2-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 2 days · from $2,000

Private 2-day Yosemite and Sequoia trip from Los Angeles with a Fresno overnight, top viewpoints, and photo-friendly stops in a safe, tailored schedule.

“Julia was a fantastic tour guide … we covered nearly 800 miles in two days and her driving was fabulous … and safe . Went out of her way to accommodate us , we saw so much and she knew exactly where she was going … if anyone is planning a trip to the Sequoias and Yosemite please use Julia … it was so relaxing not to have to think about where to go , saved so much time . Very knowledgable about all the parks … we both highly recommend her for this trip”

Check availability →Read our full review

LA: Las Vegas, Sedona, Monument, Antelope Canyon, 5-Day Tour

LA: Las Vegas, Sedona, Monument, Antelope Canyon, 5-Day Tour - Outlets at Barstow and the Las Vegas Strip by Night

13.Las Vegas, Sedona, Monument, Antelope Canyon, 5-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7 reviews · 5 days (approx.) · from $1,045

A 5-day Los Angeles to Las Vegas road trip hitting Hoover Dam, Sedona, Monument Valley by Jeep, Antelope Canyon, and Valley of Fire.

“5 day, 4 night visit of Las Vegas, Sedona, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire.... We were very satisfied with the tour guide of the second part of the tour. Janet was fun, friendly and very professional in her management of the group. She kept us clearly informed of all aspects of the tour, including all the necessary information regarding departure times, restrooms, breakfasts etc. However, the first part of the tour we were not happy with. The tour guide, Pasquale was disorganized and seemed not entirely informed about the regions we were visiting. My wife is a tour guide and has worked for Trafalgar Tours. So…”

Check availability →Read our full review

LA: Vegas, Grand Canyon, Antelope and Bryce, Zion 4-Day Tour

LA: Vegas, Grand Canyon, Antelope and Bryce, Zion 4-Day Tour - Grand Canyon South Rim: the day you plan around

14.Vegas, Grand Canyon, Antelope and Bryce, Zion 4-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 4 days (approx.) · from $890

4 days from Los Angeles through Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Antelope, Bryce, Zion, with an included Lake Powell cruise and AC transport.

“I had an amazing time on this trip. Brenda, Pasquale and Roberto were amazing guides but more importantly beautiful humans. Everyone on this trip was in good spirits and I never felt alone.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Los Angeles: Private Tour to Joshua Tree National Park

Los Angeles: Private Tour to Joshua Tree National Park - Entering Joshua Tree: Getting to the Right Viewpoints Without Wasting Time

15.Private Tour to Joshua Tree National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 12 hours · from $800

Private Joshua Tree day trip from Los Angeles with pickup, guided hiking, top viewpoints like Keys View, and optional detours for 1–4.

“Pickup at hotel was a positive for picking this tour. Well planned trip which included all the highlights of Joshua tree. Julia was definitely also willing to do what the client wanted. The extra stop at Riverside and the Mission Inn was a wonderful bonus. Thanks Julia .”

Check availability →Read our full review