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Getaways from Los Angeles · Winter 2026–27

Winter getaways from Los Angeles

Sixteen ways out of Los Angeles between December and March, from a 90-minute drive to Temecula's winery ice rink to a short flight into Scottsdale's busiest weeks. Each is sorted by how you get there, with the event worth timing it for, where to stay and one thing to know before you go.

  • 16trips
  • 9by car
  • 3by train
  • 4by air
  • Facts checked 21 October 2026

16 winter trips from Los Angeles, sorted by how you get there: 9 by car, 3 by train and 4 by air. The quickest to reach is Temecula Valley, 1 hr 30 min away; the longest trip is Mammoth Lakes, 5 hr. Each one lists the travel time, the dates worth timing it for and where to stay.

At a glance

GetawayFrom Los AngelesBest forTime it for
Temecula Valley 1 hr 30 min Food & wine, Romantic, Family Peltzer Winery ice rink (Temecula Chilled), 19 Nov 2026 – 15 Jan 2027
Laguna Beach 1 hr 30 min Romantic, Spa, Culture January to March, outside the summer festival season
Palm Springs 2 hr Culture, Festival, Spa Palm Springs International Film Festival, 7–18 Jan 2027
Big Bear Lake 2 hr Ski, Family Midweek in January and February, avoiding holiday weekends
Santa Ynez Valley and Solvang 2 hr 30 min Food & wine, Festival, Family Solvang Julefest, 27 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027
Paso Robles 3 hr Food & wine, Romantic, Culture December and early January, when Sensorio adds holiday evenings
Anza-Borrego and Borrego Springs 3 hr Outdoors, Romantic January to March
Death Valley 5 hr Outdoors, Romantic Death Valley Dark Sky Festival, 5–7 Feb 2027
Mammoth Lakes 5 hr Ski, Family, Outdoors Mammoth Mountain 2026-27 Opening Day, 13 Nov 2026
Santa Barbara and Montecito 2 hr 35 min Festival, Culture, Food & wine Santa Barbara International Film Festival, 3–13 Feb 2027
San Diego and La Jolla 2 hr 55 min Outdoors, Family, Romantic Mid-December to April for gray whale season
Pismo Beach 4 hr 55 min Outdoors, Family November to February, while the monarchs overwinter
Scottsdale 1 hr 45 min Festival, Spa, Culture WM Phoenix Open, 8–14 Feb 2027
South Lake Tahoe 1 hr 55 min Ski, Spa, Romantic January to March for the deepest snow
Los Cabos Passport 3 hr 15 min Romantic, Spa, Outdoors December to mid-April for whales
Sedona 3 hr 30 min Spa, Outdoors, Romantic January to March for clear, cool hiking days

By car 9 trips

1 hr 30 min
Photograph · Visit Temecula Valley
Riverside County, California

Temecula Valley

About 1 hr 30 min by car via Highway 60 or I-10 to I-15 south, per Visit Temecula Valley

Visit Temecula Valley counts nearly 50 wineries 90 minutes from Los Angeles, and calls winter the off-season, with fewer crowds and better hotel deals. In December the valley runs Temecula Chilled, including an ice rink at Peltzer Winery.

Time it for Peltzer Winery ice rink (Temecula Chilled) 19 Nov 2026 – 15 Jan 2027

The longest-running fixture of Temecula Chilled, the valley's holiday season from the day after Thanksgiving to 31 December.

Do
  • Peltzer Winery ice rink Outdoor skating at a winery, 19 November 2026 to 15 January 2027.
  • Sunrise balloon flights Hot air balloons launch only at sunrise; Visit Temecula Valley notes you can watch the launch from the ground.
  • Old Town Temecula Preserved 1800s buildings with boutiques, restaurants and antique shops.
Stay
  • Carter Estate Winery and Resort Vineyard-side bungalows with a tasting room; the winery specializes in sparkling wine, per Visit Temecula Valley.
  • Europa Village Winery and hotel with Spanish and French themes, including The Inn and Bolero Casitas.

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Winter tip Balloon flights leave at sunrise only, so book the night before close to the vineyards rather than driving down that morning.

1 hr 30 min
Photograph · Visit Laguna Beach
Orange County, California

Laguna Beach

About 1 hr 30 min by car from LAX, per Visit Laguna BeachWithout a car: Amtrak or Metrolink from Union Station to San Juan Capistrano, then about 13 miles by taxi ($35 to $40) or by OCTA bus, which Visit Laguna Beach warns can take up to 1.5 hours.

Laguna Beach has seven miles of Marine Protected Area coastline and more than 80 galleries, and its two resorts work as well in winter as in summer. Montage sits on a bluff above Treasure Island Beach; The Ranch is tucked into Aliso Canyon.

Do
  • Gallery walk More than 80 art galleries and 400 working artists, per Visit Laguna Beach.
  • Spa Montage A 20,000-square-foot spa above the Pacific.
  • Nine holes at The Ranch The resort says its nine-hole course is the only golf course in Laguna Beach.
Stay
  • Montage Laguna Beach 263 rooms, suites and villas on 30 bluff-top acres, a four-minute walk from Treasure Island Beach.
  • The Ranch at Laguna Beach 97 rooms and suites on 87 acres in Aliso Canyon, with Harvest restaurant supplied by a half-acre farm.

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Winter tip Driving from the north, take the 405 or 5 to Highway 133 (Laguna Canyon Road); Pacific Coast Highway is the slower, scenic alternative.

2 hr
Photograph · Visit Greater Palm Springs
Coachella Valley, California

Palm Springs

About 2 hours by car via I-10, per Visit Greater Palm SpringsPalm Springs International Airport (PSP) is in town; Visit Greater Palm Springs lists LAX as a two-hour drive.

Palm Springs has two dated winter events within six weeks of each other: the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January and Modernism Week in February. Between them sit the desert's design hotels, from the Parker's color-saturated rooms to the adults-only bungalows of L'Horizon.

Time it for Palm Springs International Film Festival 7–18 Jan 2027

The 38th edition, opening with the Film Awards on 7 January.

Do
  • Modernism Week Eleven days of bus and walking tours, home tours including the Albert Frey House II and Sunnylands, and the Modernism Show & Sale with more than 140 vendors.
  • Palm Springs International Film Awards Opening-night awards on Thursday 7 January 2027 at the Palm Springs Convention Center, billed by the festival as the first stop on the Academy Awards campaign trail.
  • Palm Springs Yacht Club The spa at Parker Palm Springs.
Stay
  • Parker Palm Springs Visit Greater Palm Springs describes bold reds, turquoise and tangerine interiors, several pools, five dining venues and the Palm Springs Yacht Club spa.
  • L'Horizon Resort & Spa Adults-only mid-century retreat built in 1952 minutes from downtown, with 25 bungalows, a spa and open-air dining.
  • Avalon Hotel & Bungalows Palm Springs Historic Spanish-style studios, suites and bungalows tucked away in old downtown, with a spa and poolside dining.

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Winter tip Modernism Week publishes its schedule on 25 October 2026 and opens ticket sales on 1 November 2026 at noon; home tours are the first to go.

2 hr
Photograph · Big Bear Mountain Resort
San Bernardino Mountains, California

Big Bear Lake

About 2 hours by car, per Big Bear Mountain Resort, which advises allowing triple that in snow, on holidays and on weekends

Big Bear is the quickest ski trip in this list, with three resorts under one operator: Snow Summit and Bear Mountain in Big Bear Lake and Snow Valley in Running Springs. Night Sessions run until 8:30 p.m. on select dates.

Do
  • Snow Summit, Bear Mountain and Snow Valley Three ski and snowboard resorts managed by Big Bear Mountain Resort, with terrain parks at Bear Mountain and Snow Valley.
  • Night Sessions Skiing and snowboarding until 8:30 p.m. on select dates.
Stay
  • Sessions Retreat & Hotel Boutique hotel of 35 individually designed rooms on Big Bear Boulevard, with a guest-only bar, The Flatlander.
  • Hotel Marina Riviera Refurbished lakeside hotel with modern interiors, a lakeside sauna and a private beach, per Visit Big Bear.

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Winter tip Buy lift tickets online ahead: the resort says day tickets can sell out, and chains or four-wheel drive may be required November to April. Visit Big Bear listed Highway 38 as closed when checked; use Highway 330 or the Highway 18 east entrance.

2 hr 30 min
Photograph · Visit Solvang
Santa Barbara County, California

Santa Ynez Valley and Solvang

About 2 hr 30 min (129 miles) by car from downtown Los Angeles via US-101, per Solvang USAVisit the Santa Ynez Valley says Amtrak connects daily via Amtrak Thruway coach from Santa Barbara, itself about 2 hr 35 min from Union Station by Pacific Surfliner.

Six small towns share the valley, and Solvang turns its Danish streets into Julefest from late November to early January. Beyond the holidays, the valley's wineries and Solvang's Michelin-starred restaurants carry the trip.

Time it for Solvang Julefest 27 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027

Solvang's annual holiday season of nightly light shows, a gnome hunt and a tree-lighting weekend.

Do
  • Julefest Light & Music Show Ten-minute shows in Solvang Park nightly at 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m., with a New Year program from 26 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
  • Solvang Nisser Adventure A downtown gnome hunt; clue lists from the Solvang Visitor Center.
  • Six-town crawl Solvang, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and Ballard; Visit the Santa Ynez Valley points to Solvang's Michelin-starred restaurants.
Stay
  • The Inn at Mattei's Tavern Auberge resort on an 1886 stagecoach stop in Los Olivos, with historic cottages, the Lavender Barn spa and an outdoor pool.
  • Alisal Ranch Guest ranch on 10,500 acres with complimentary shuttles to Solvang village.

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Winter tip Visit the Santa Ynez Valley puts the drive at two hours and Solvang USA at two and a half from downtown; allow the longer figure on Friday evenings.

3 hr
Photograph · Serena Munro / Sensorio (Field of Light © Bruce Munro Ltd.)
San Luis Obispo County, California

Paso Robles

About 3 hours by car, per Travel PasoTravel Paso lists San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport 32 miles away.

Paso Robles leans into winter with fireside tastings and heated terraces, and Sensorio's Field of Light glows across the hills on winter evenings. Travel Paso singles out Firestone Walker's brewery tours and Linne Calodo's heated seating.

Do
  • Sensorio More than 100,000 glowing bulbs across rolling hills. Winter hours: Thursday to Sunday in December plus 21 to 23 and 28 to 30 December, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays in January. General admission from $65, Terrace from $110.
  • Firestone Walker Brewing Company Taproom and behind-the-scenes brewery tours.
  • Fireside tastings Epoch Estate Wines pours beside an outdoor fireplace; Linne Calodo has heated indoor and outdoor seating.
Stay

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Winter tip Sensorio sells by date through TIXR and sunset times shift through the season; the Terrace adds reserved fireside seating and priority entry.

3 hr
Photograph · California State Parks
San Diego County, California

Anza-Borrego and Borrego Springs

About 3 hours southeast of Los Angeles by car, per the Anza-Borrego FoundationCalifornia State Parks puts the park about two hours by car from San Diego, Riverside and Palm Springs.

California's largest state park is a winter landscape: palm oases, badlands and some of the darkest skies in Southern California. The park is an International Dark Sky Park and Borrego Springs a Dark Sky Community.

Do
  • Borrego Palm Canyon A three-mile round trip to an oasis of California's only native palm; watch the canyon walls for endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep.
  • Fonts Point Badlands overlook that the foundation says is at its best in winter light; high-clearance four-wheel drive required.
  • Wind Caves A moderate two-mile round trip to wind-carved sandstone in the Fish Creek Badlands; go in the morning or late afternoon.
Stay
  • La Casa del Zorro Desert resort and spa with 19 casitas of one to four bedrooms, eleven with private pools, plus Fox Bistro and Fox Bar.

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Winter tip State Parks expected strong wildflower displays in spring 2026; bloom timing varies every year, so check before planning a March trip around it.

5 hr
Photograph · The Oasis at Death Valley
Inyo County, California

Death Valley

About 295 miles by car via I-15 and Highway 127, which The Oasis at Death Valley calls an easy half-day road tripThe Oasis has a paved, lighted 3,040-foot airstrip for private and charter aircraft.

Winter is the window for Death Valley, and The Oasis describes it as a Gold Tier Dark Sky Park with skies that regularly reach Bortle Class 2. The Inn at Death Valley, open since 1927, has a spring-fed pool held at 84 degrees.

Time it for Death Valley Dark Sky Festival 5–7 Feb 2027

National Park Service festival of talks, astronomy programs and astrophotography meetups; the day-by-day 2027 schedule is still to come.

Do
  • Death Valley Dark Sky Festival Auditorium and field talks, astrophotography meetups, astronomy and family programs; the 2027 schedule is not yet posted.
  • Stargazing at The Oasis Stardust Astrotours leave from the resort; the Quadrantid meteor shower peaks before dawn on 3 to 4 January 2027, per The Oasis.
  • Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and Trona Pinnacles Stops on The Oasis's suggested LA road trip; Trona Pinnacles is reached by a five-mile dirt road.
Stay
  • The Inn at Death Valley Opened in 1927 as the Furnace Creek Inn, where Clark Gable and Carole Lombard honeymooned; 66 rooms plus 22 newer casitas and a spring-fed pool kept at 84 degrees.
  • The Ranch at Death Valley The Oasis's family-friendly counterpart, described as part dude ranch, part national park lodge.

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Winter tip The Park Service warns against relying on GPS; cell service is unavailable in most of the park, and the nearest rapid EV chargers are in Beatty, Nevada, 43 miles from Furnace Creek.

5 hr
Photograph · Mammoth Mountain
Eastern Sierra, California

Mammoth Lakes

About 5 hours by car (307 miles via US 395), per Mammoth MountainVisit Mammoth says Advanced Air runs public charter flights from Hawthorne (HHR) to Mammoth Yosemite Airport, 10 minutes from town; flight times are not published. United serves Bishop (45 minutes south) from San Francisco and Denver only.

Mammoth is the big-mountain option within a day's drive of Los Angeles, with a summit at 11,053 feet and a season the resort says runs from early November into June. Opening Day for 2026-27 is 13 November, so the whole December to March window is in play.

Time it for Mammoth Mountain 2026-27 Opening Day 13 Nov 2026

Season opening at Main Lodge, per Visit Mammoth.

Do
  • Ski Mammoth Mountain 3,500+ skiable acres, 25 lifts and 175 named trails from a 7,953-foot base to the 11,053-foot summit, with average snowfall at the base of over 400 inches (resort fact sheet).
  • A long season The resort's fact sheet gives the season as early November through June, sometimes later, so a March trip is mid-season rather than the tail end.
Stay
  • The Westin Monache Resort Part of the Mammoth Lodging Collection, which the resort says includes slopeside, family-friendly and luxury options.
  • The Village Lodge Studio to three-bedroom condominiums in the heart of The Village at Mammoth (resort fact sheet).

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Winter tip Check Caltrans chain controls on US 395 before leaving; Visit Mammoth points drivers to Caltrans QuickMap for current conditions.

By train 3 trips

2 hr 35 min
Photograph · Konrad Summers / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Santa Barbara County, California

Santa Barbara and Montecito

About 2 hr 35 min by Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, Los Angeles Union Station to Santa Barbara (Amtrak timetable)Monday to Saturday Surfliner departures at 9:13 a.m., 11:13 a.m. and 3:13 p.m. take 2 hr 33 min to 2 hr 35 min; the 7:13 a.m. takes 2 hr 45 min. Visit Santa Barbara says Santa Barbara Airbus runs 16 trips a day to and from LAX, and suggests leaving the car parked once you arrive: MTD buses, an open-air trolley, a water taxi and the bike path cover the city.

The Surfliner puts Santa Barbara under three hours from Union Station, and the city works without a car once you are there. In February the 42nd Santa Barbara International Film Festival fills its theaters from morning to night, with panels and evening tributes.

Time it for Santa Barbara International Film Festival 3–13 Feb 2027

The 42nd edition of the festival, with screenings, panels and evening tributes across downtown Santa Barbara.

Do
  • Santa Barbara International Film Festival Films, panels and evening tributes over eleven days, which Visit Santa Barbara describes as a morning-to-night cinematic feast.
  • Urban Wine Trail Visit Santa Barbara counts dozens of tasting rooms and working wineries in the city itself; the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria valleys are about 45 minutes over the hills by car.
  • Parade of Lights December boat parade of more than 30 lit boats through Santa Barbara Harbor and around Stearns Wharf; 2026 date not posted.
Stay
  • San Ysidro Ranch Montecito foothills retreat of 38 units with The Stonehouse and Plow & Angel restaurants; Visit Santa Barbara notes it as the setting of John and Jackie Kennedy's honeymoon and lists it as a Forbes 5-Star hideaway.
  • Simpson House Inn Historic landmark inn with English gardens and 15 rooms, suites and cottages, per Visit Santa Barbara.

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Winter tip The Santa Barbara International Orchid Show returns in March 2027 for three days with more than 50 exhibitors; Visit Santa Barbara has not posted the dates yet.

2 hr 55 min
Photograph · Rhododendrites / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
San Diego County, California

San Diego and La Jolla

About 2 hr 55 min by Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, Los Angeles Union Station to San Diego Santa Fe Depot (Amtrak timetable)Daily Surfliner departures from Union Station run hourly through most of the day; the 6:10 a.m. reaches San Diego in 2 hr 54 min and most others in 2 hr 57 min. Trains stop at Solana Beach about 2 hr 13 min out.

Gray whales pass the San Diego coast on their migration from mid-December to April, and the city's harbor cruises and La Jolla's Birch Aquarium are set up to show them. The Surfliner gets you there in under three hours, and the tourism authority calls winter the uncrowded season.

Do
  • Gray whale watching San Diego Tourism Authority lists the migration as mid-December to April, with seasonal whale-watching cruises from Flagship Cruises & Events and City Cruises.
  • Birch Aquarium at Scripps Listed by the tourism authority as a land-based whale-viewing spot in La Jolla.
  • Torrey Pines State Reserve Hiking on the bluffs next to The Lodge at Torrey Pines.
Stay
  • The Lodge at Torrey Pines A 170-room hotel opened in 2002, modeled on Greene and Greene's Gamble and Blacker houses, overlooking Torrey Pines Golf Course and the Pacific; billed as an AAA Five Diamond property.

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Winter tip San Diego Tourism Authority describes winter as the season when beaches, attractions and restaurants are uncrowded; San Diego Restaurant Week runs in January, but 2027 dates are not posted.

On Not An Atlas: San Diego Turns to Día de los Muertos

4 hr 55 min
Photograph · Visit Pismo Beach
San Luis Obispo County, California

Pismo Beach

About 5 hours by Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, Los Angeles Union Station to Grover Beach (Amtrak timetable)Only some Surfliners run beyond Santa Barbara: the 9:13 a.m. (arrives 2:07 p.m.) and 3:13 p.m. (arrives 8:14 p.m.) on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays, and the 5:13 a.m. (arrives 10:24 a.m.). Experience Pismo Beach says the Monarch Butterfly Grove sits on Highway 1 between Pismo Beach and Grover Beach.

California State Parks says the Pismo State Beach grove generally holds one of the largest overwintering western monarch populations, and the season runs through February. Entry is free, docents talk on peak-season weekends, and Pismo's resorts line Shell Beach Road.

Do
  • Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove Free entry and parking at 445 South Dolliver Street; docent talks at noon on peak-season weekends, depending on volunteers and weather.
  • Western monarch context State Parks notes the monarch population has fallen about 90 percent over 25 years; the grove is open sunrise to sunset.
Stay

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Winter tip Check the day of travel: the Surfliners that continue past Santa Barbara to Grover Beach do not run every day.

A short flight 4 trips

1 hr 45 min
Photograph · Experience Scottsdale
Arizona, USA

Scottsdale

1 hr 30 min nonstop LAX to Phoenix Sky Harbor, then about 15 minutes by road, per Experience ScottsdaleExperience Scottsdale says Sky Harbor is 7 miles west of downtown Scottsdale and an easy 15-minute drive.

Scottsdale's winter calendar is crowded: the Barrett-Jackson auction in January, then the WM Phoenix Open and the Arabian Horse Show in February. Experience Scottsdale cites more than 330 days of sunshine a year.

Time it for WM Phoenix Open 8–14 Feb 2027

PGA Tour event at TPC Scottsdale that Experience Scottsdale calls the best-attended on tour, with more than 500,000 spectators a year.

Do
  • Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction Nine days at WestWorld of Scottsdale, 23 to 31 January 2027, with more than 2,000 classic cars to view.
  • Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show Running since 1955 and grown to nearly 2,000 horses, at WestWorld, 11 to 21 February 2027.
  • The 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale The enclosed par-3 known as The Coliseum, busiest on Saturday of tournament week.
Stay
  • Hotel Valley Ho Restored 1956 mid-century hotel in Old Town with 241 rooms, the VH Spa, ZuZu and the OH Pool Bar.
  • The Phoenician 585-room resort at the base of Camelback Mountain with eight pools, an 18-hole course and a spa the listing calls Forbes Four-Star.

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Winter tip Phoenix Open week and the Arabian Horse Show overlap on 11 to 14 February 2027; book rooms early for that week.

On Not An Atlas: Scottsdale: Five Reasons It’s Easier This Winter

1 hr 55 min
Photograph · Visit Lake Tahoe
California and Nevada, USA

South Lake Tahoe

About 1 hour nonstop to Reno-Tahoe, per Visit Lake Tahoe, then about 55 minutes by road to Stateline, per Edgewood TahoeVisit Lake Tahoe lists Southwest, United, American and JetBlue to Reno, many nonstop from LAX, Burbank, Ontario and Long Beach.

A short flight to Reno puts the south shore within two hours of Los Angeles, with Heavenly's gondola a mile from the lakefront. Visit Lake Tahoe says the lake reaches 1,645 feet at its deepest, with visibility to 75 feet.

Do
  • Heavenly Mountain Resort The gondola is one mile from Edgewood Tahoe, and shuttles run to Heavenly Village.
  • Spa Edgewood 8,500 square feet with six massage rooms; adults 18 and over.
  • Snowshoeing and skating at Edgewood Snowshoe the golf course or skate at Edgewood on Ice.
Stay
  • Edgewood Tahoe Resort Lakefront lodge at Stateline with a guests-only lakefront pool, The Edge restaurant and a 2.5-mile complimentary shuttle radius.

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Winter tip Check road conditions before driving up from Reno; Visit Lake Tahoe links to a live weather and roads dashboard.

On Not An Atlas: Expedia’s 2027 Trends: South Lake Tahoe Searches Up 195%

3 hr 15 min
Photograph · Los Cabos Tourism Board
Baja California Sur, Mexico Passport needed

Los Cabos

About 2 hr 30 min nonstop LAX to Los Cabos (SJD), per a Visit Los Cabos guide, then about 45 minutes to Cabo San LucasSouthwest lists 50 weekly flights from Los Angeles to Los Cabos (911 miles). The airport is about 8 miles from San José del Cabo, per American Airlines.

Los Cabos is the warm-water option under three hours from LAX, and whale season runs from December to mid-April. Visit Los Cabos steers swimmers to the calmer Sea of Cortés side.

Do
  • Whale watching December to mid-April is the best time to see whales and whale sharks, per Visit Los Cabos.
  • Swim the Sea of Cortés side Visit Los Cabos says the region's best swimmable beaches are on the calmer, sheltered Sea of Cortés side.
Stay
  • Viceroy Los Cabos Beachfront resort with high-end modern design, per Visit Los Cabos.
  • Hotel El Ganzo Waterfront boutique hotel with an artistic atmosphere, per Visit Los Cabos.

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Winter tip A passport book is required; Visit Los Cabos notes that a passport card is not accepted for air travel to Mexico.

3 hr 30 min
Photograph · Terrydarc / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Arizona, USA

Sedona

1 hr 30 min nonstop LAX to Phoenix (per Experience Scottsdale), then about 2 hours (113 miles) by car, per Visit SedonaVisit Sedona puts the drive from Los Angeles at 7 hr 30 min (482 miles). Groome Transportation and several private operators run airport shuttles from Phoenix.

Sedona sits at about 4,500 feet, so Visit Sedona gives a winter average of 60 degrees by day and 34 at night, with about 3.5 inches of snow a year. It pairs easily with Scottsdale on a single Phoenix flight.

Do
  • Red Rock Country hikes A Red Rock Pass may be needed at some trailheads, but not for photo stops within sight of your car.
  • Mii amo Listed by Visit Sedona among the town's top resort spas, at Enchantment Resort in Boynton Canyon.
Stay

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Winter tip Visit Sedona says temperatures drop sharply after sunset from October onward; pack for near-freezing nights even after a 60-degree day.

The season

The winter calendar

The dates that make a winter trip, as the organisers have announced them. Events still waiting on 2027 dates are listed with their trip, not here.

November 2026

January 2027

  • 7–18 Jan 2027Palm Springs International Film FestivalPalm Springs
  • 23–31 Jan 2027Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale AuctionScottsdale

February 2027

LAUSD's winter recess runs Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 8 January 2027, with the second semester starting 11 January, and spring recess is 22 to 26 March 2027. Surfliner seats, Big Bear and Mammoth lodging and Palm Springs hotels go early for both. School holidays in Los Angeles →

Questions

Quick answers

What are the best weekend getaways from LA in winter?

Temecula Valley and Laguna Beach are each about 90 minutes by car, Palm Springs about 2 hours and Solvang about 2 hours 30 minutes. Santa Barbara is about 2 hours 35 minutes by Pacific Surfliner from Union Station, and Scottsdale is a 1 hour 30 minute flight from LAX.

Where can you ski near Los Angeles?

Big Bear's three resorts are about 2 hours away by car, though Big Bear Mountain Resort advises allowing triple that in snow and on holidays. Mammoth Mountain is about 5 hours (307 miles) via US 395 and opens for 2026–27 on 13 November. South Lake Tahoe is about an hour's flight to Reno plus about 55 minutes by road.

What are the most romantic getaways from Los Angeles?

San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, where John and Jackie Kennedy honeymooned; The Inn at Death Valley, where Clark Gable and Carole Lombard did; The Inn at Mattei's Tavern in Los Olivos; Montage Laguna Beach on its bluff above Treasure Island Beach; and L'Horizon, the adults-only bungalow hotel in Palm Springs.

What are the best desert getaways from LA?

Palm Springs is about 2 hours by car, Anza-Borrego about 3 hours and Death Valley about 295 miles. By air, Scottsdale is 1 hour 30 minutes to Phoenix plus 15 minutes by road, and Sedona is about 2 hours' drive beyond Phoenix.

What are the best LA weekend trips without a car?

The Pacific Surfliner reaches Santa Barbara in about 2 hours 35 minutes and San Diego in about 2 hours 55 minutes, and some trains continue to Grover Beach for Pismo's monarch grove in about 5 hours. Solvang is an Amtrak Thruway coach ride beyond Santa Barbara, and Laguna Beach is a train to San Juan Capistrano plus a 13-mile taxi.

When are the big winter events near Los Angeles in 2027?

The Palm Springs International Film Festival runs 7 to 18 January, Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale 23 to 31 January, Santa Barbara International Film Festival 3 to 13 February, Death Valley's Dark Sky Festival 5 to 7 February, and Modernism Week in Palm Springs and the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show both 11 to 21 February.

What are the best winter getaways from Los Angeles by car?

The closest are Temecula Valley (1 hr 30 min), Laguna Beach (1 hr 30 min), Palm Springs (2 hr), Big Bear Lake (2 hr). Times are the tourism boards' own figures from downtown in normal conditions; allow more in snow.

Where can you go from Los Angeles by train in winter?

By train: Santa Barbara and Montecito (2 hr 35 min), San Diego and La Jolla (2 hr 55 min), Pismo Beach (4 hr 55 min). Rail skips winter driving entirely; book early for school-holiday weeks, when trains sell out.

Do I need a passport for these trips?

Only for the trips that cross a border: Los Cabos. Check passport and entry rules for your nationality before booking; everything else on this list is domestic.

Sources (79)

Checked 21 October 2026. Dates change: confirm with the event or hotel before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us via our corrections policy.

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