The 13 Best Day Trips from Santa Clarita
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 13 good day trips from Santa Clarita, United States, led by Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Anaheim. The closest is Van Nuys, about 35 min by car, and 4 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 13 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Santa Clarita
- 1
Los Angeles, United States
Half-day tripAbout 55 min by car47 km south-east of Santa ClaritaKnown for Hollywood Sign.
- 2
Bakersfield, United States
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car117 km north of Santa Clarita - 3
Anaheim, United States
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car85 km south-east of Santa Clarita - 4
Santa Ana, United States
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car95 km south-east of Santa Clarita - 5
San Bernardino, United States
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car119 km east of Santa Clarita - 6
Oxnard, United States
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 10 min by car62 km west of Santa Clarita - 7
Moreno Valley, United States
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 5 min by car131 km east of Santa Clarita - 8
Huntington Beach, United States
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car96 km south-east of Santa Clarita - 9
Rancho Cucamonga, United States
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car93 km east of Santa Clarita - 10
Torrance, United States
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car65 km south of Santa Clarita - 11
Van Nuys, United States
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car24 km south of Santa Clarita - 12
Thousand Oaks, United States
Half-day tripAbout 45 min by car37 km south-west of Santa Clarita - 13
Simi Valley, United States
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car26 km south-west of Santa Clarita
A sample day: Santa Clarita to Los Angeles
- 08:30Leave Santa Clarita
- 09:25Arrive in Los Angeles (55 min drive)
- 09:40Hollywood Sign
- 11:40Lunch
- 12:55Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Los Angeles
- 15:25Head back to Santa Clarita
- 16:20Home in Santa Clarita
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Santa Clarita?
- The best day trips from Santa Clarita are Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Santa Ana, San Bernardino. The closest is Van Nuys, about 35 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Santa Clarita?
- Van Nuys is the closest, 24 km south of Santa Clarita, roughly 35 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Santa Clarita?
- 4 places are within about an hour's drive of Santa Clarita: Van Nuys (35 min), Simi Valley (40 min), Thousand Oaks (45 min), Los Angeles (55 min).
- What is the biggest city near Santa Clarita for a day out?
- Los Angeles is the largest city in day-trip range, 47 km south-east of Santa Clarita and about 55 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Santa Clarita?
- For a weekend away from Santa Clarita, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Moreno Valley (131 km, 2 hr 5 min), San Bernardino (119 km, 1 hr 50 min), Bakersfield (117 km, 1 hr 50 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Santa Clarita?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Moreno Valley at 131 km, around 2 hr 5 min by car.
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