Day trips

The 13 Best Day Trips from Van Nuys

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 13 good day trips from Van Nuys, United States, led by Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Anaheim. The closest is Los Angeles, about 35 min by car, and 5 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Van Nuys at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
Los Angeles24 km SE35 minHalf-day trip
Bakersfield142 km N2 hr 15 minLong day or overnight
Anaheim63 km SE1 hr 15 minFull-day trip
Santa Ana73 km SE1 hr 25 minFull-day trip
San Bernardino107 km E1 hr 40 minFull-day trip
Oxnard67 km W1 hr 15 minFull-day trip
Moreno Valley116 km E1 hr 50 minFull-day trip
Huntington Beach72 km SE1 hr 25 minFull-day trip
Santa Clarita24 km N35 minHalf-day trip
Rancho Cucamonga79 km E1 hr 30 minFull-day trip
Torrance40 km S45 minHalf-day trip
Thousand Oaks36 km W40 minHalf-day trip
Simi Valley32 km W35 minHalf-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Van Nuys

  1. 1

    Los Angeles, United States

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car24 km south-east of Van Nuys1 hr 10 min round trip

    Known for Hollywood Sign.

    Also nearby: East Los Angeles, Koreatown.

  2. 2

    Bakersfield, United States

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car142 km north of Van Nuys4 hr 30 min round trip
  3. 3

    Anaheim, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 15 min by car63 km south-east of Van Nuys2 hr 30 min round trip
  4. 4

    Santa Ana, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 25 min by car73 km south-east of Van Nuys2 hr 50 min round trip
  5. 5

    San Bernardino, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 40 min by car107 km east of Van Nuys3 hr 20 min round trip
  6. 6

    Oxnard, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 15 min by car67 km west of Van Nuys2 hr 30 min round trip
  7. 7

    Moreno Valley, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car116 km east of Van Nuys3 hr 40 min round trip
  8. 8

    Huntington Beach, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 25 min by car72 km south-east of Van Nuys2 hr 50 min round trip
  9. 9

    Santa Clarita, United States

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car24 km north of Van Nuys1 hr 10 min round trip
  10. 10

    Rancho Cucamonga, United States

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car79 km east of Van Nuys3 hr round trip
  11. 11

    Torrance, United States

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car40 km south of Van Nuys1 hr 30 min round trip
  12. 12

    Thousand Oaks, United States

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car36 km west of Van Nuys1 hr 20 min round trip
  13. 13

    Simi Valley, United States

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car32 km west of Van Nuys1 hr 10 min round trip

A sample day trip: Van Nuys to Los Angeles

A realistic pace for Los Angeles, 24 km from Van Nuys. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 08:30Leave Van Nuys
  2. 09:05Arrive in Los Angeles (35 min drive)
  3. 09:20Hollywood Sign
  4. 11:20Lunch
  5. 12:35Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Los Angeles
  6. 15:05Head back to Van Nuys
  7. 15:40Home in Van Nuys

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Van Nuys?
The best day trips from Van Nuys are Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Santa Ana, San Bernardino. The closest is Los Angeles, about 35 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Van Nuys?
Los Angeles is the closest, 24 km south-east of Van Nuys, roughly 35 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Van Nuys?
5 places are within about an hour's drive of Van Nuys: Los Angeles (35 min), Santa Clarita (35 min), Simi Valley (35 min), Thousand Oaks (40 min), Torrance (45 min).
How far is too far for a day trip from Van Nuys?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Bakersfield at 142 km, around 2 hr 15 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.

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