A city famous for its glitz and glamour, celebrities and beach life, Los Angeles is so much more than Hollywood. Few people are aware that just beyond the urban sprawl of L.A., some amazing nature awaits.
The Santa Monica Mountains, for example, lie within eyesight of Los Angeles, but are surprisingly wild and home to a large mountain lion population. The most impressive natural scenery, however, is found in the national parks around Los Angeles.
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7 Best National Parks Near Los Angeles, California
Situated on the coast of Southern California, Los Angeles makes for a great base for national park road trips. California is, after all, the state with most national parks in America—nine to be exact. No fewer than seven of them are pretty easily accessible from L.A.
The following national parks are within easy driving distance from the city. If the notoriously congested traffic cooperates, you should be able to get to these awesome California national parks near L.A. in 5 hours or less.
A couple of these parks can be visited on a day trip, while the rest requires at least one overnight to make to most of your visit.
Additionally, you can also combine some—if not all—in one epic road trip to the Southern California national parks near Los Angeles.
Channel Islands National Park
70 miles + boat ride (1.5 + 2 hours from L.A.)
Five of the eight Channel Islands are protected as Channel Islands National Park, the nearest national park to Los Angeles.
This beautiful archipelago lies just off of the Southern California coast, a relatively short boat ride from Ventura.
Over 2,000 species of plants and animals live in Channel Islands National Park, which is sometimes referred to as the “Galapagos of North America”.
Those include three endemic mammals—the cute Channel Islands fox, deer mouse and spotted skunk—and one reptile—the island fence lizard.
It’s the surrounding waters, however, that harbor the biggest biodiversity. Located at the meeting point of warm subtropical and cool northern ocean currents, these waters burst with life.
From micro-plankton to blue whales, animals of all kinds and sizes are present here.
On a boat ride from the mainland, you’re almost certain to spot common dolphins, while California sea lions, harbor seals, gray whales and humpback whales are regular sights as well.
Orcas, blue and fin whales are less common, but can occasionally be spotted in summer.
It’s no surprise that this island national park near Los Angeles is one of the best national parks for wildlife viewing. It’s also particularly popular among scuba divers and sea kayakers.
More About Channel Islands National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
130 miles (2.5 hours from L.A.)
One of my personal favorite U.S. national parks, Joshua Tree is one of the closest national parks to Los Angeles. Merely 2.5 hours after leaving the city behind, you’ll be immersed in some of America’s greatest desert scenery.
In Joshua Tree National Park, piles of boulders and stacks of rocks dominate a landscaped dotted with iconic Joshua trees.
Barren hills make up the backdrop while blue skies create a vibrant contrast with the browns of the Southern Californian deserts.
Although a visit to Joshua Tree is possible as a day trip from Los Angeles, I really recommend spending a night or two in the park. The Jumbo Rocks Campground is one of my all-time favorite national park campgrounds.
This is one of the best places for stargazing in the country, while popular daytime activities in Joshua Tree range from desert hikes to road cycling and rock climbing.
More About Joshua Tree National Park
- Park Website
- Travel Guide
- Topographic Map
- Best Joshua Tree Hikes
- Top Things To Do in Joshua Tree National Park
- Scenic Views in Joshua Tree
- Accommodation
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
205 – 240 miles (4 – 4.5 hours from L.A.)
Some of the most popular national parks around Los Angeles, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are two separate parks that are administered together by the National Park Service.
These twin parks lie side by side in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains, about 4 hours by car from L.A.
In terms of natural variety, few parks can match what Sequoia and Kings Canyon have to offer. In Sequoia National Park, you can see General Sherman, the largest living tree on the planet.
This massive tree grows in the appropriately called Giant Forest, which is home to no fewer than five of the world’s ten biggest trees.
Additionally, Sequoia is home to Mount Whitney, which with its height of 14,505 feet is the highest mountain in the continental U.S.
In Kings Canyon National Park, you can also hike among towering trees, specifically at Cedar Grove and Grant Grove, which is home to General Grant, the world’s second-largest tree.
Additionally, this park comprises one of America’s deepest canyons—Kings Canyon is more than a mile deep.
The magnificent Generals Highway connects Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. This is one of America’s most spectacular national park roads and an absolute must-do on a Los Angeles national parks road trip.
More About Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Death Valley National Park
210 miles (4 hours from L.A.)
The largest national park in the continental U.S., Death Valley National Park encompasses a wide variety of landscapes.
From seemingly endless salt flats and huge sand dunes to snowcapped mountain peaks, barren badlands, hidden canyons and even volcanic craters, Death Valley’s scenery is nothing short of spectacular.
If you’re looking for a national park near Los Angeles to really escape the crowds, there’s no better place than this.
There are only a couple of developed areas in this massive park—Stovepipe Wells and Furnace Creek. Besides a number of campgrounds, the rest of this park is basically desert wilderness. It’s a hiker’s paradise.
While many visitors simply drive through the park and pay a quick visit to places like Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, I recommend stretching your visit to two or three days.
There’s plenty to discover here. Major Death Valley highlights include the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, the views from Dante’s View and Zabriskie Point, Golden Canyon and Artist’s Drive.
Additionally, Death Valley is also an official International Dark Sky Park. The night sky is breathtaking here—yet another reason to spend a couple of nights.
It’s one of the top national parks in Southern California, located only about 4 hours east of Los Angeles.
More About Death Valley National Park
- Park Website
- Travel Guide
- Topographic Map
- Best Death Valley Hikes
- Top Things To Do in Death Valley National Park
- Viewpoints
- Accommodation
Pinnacles National Park
270 miles (5 hours from L.A.)
Much less-known and less-visited than the superstar national parks in California, such as Yosemite, Death Valley and Sequoia, Pinnacles National Park is about 5 hours north of Los Angeles.
After a peaceful drive through the Salinas Valley farmlands, you’ll arrive at this remarkable park.
Pinnacles National Park lies on the San Andreas Fault and encompasses a part of an ancient volcanic field.
The fault split the field in half, dragging the monoliths and rock formations of Pinnacles National Park to the north, while the other part stayed put, currently about 195 miles to the southeast.
This is by no means the biggest or most jaw-dropping of the national parks near Los Angeles, but its geological history and wonderful scenery do make it worth visiting.
The High Peaks Trail, for example, is a fantastic day hike. Additionally, Pinnacles may also be of interest to birders since this is one of only a few locations where captive-bred California condors are released into the wild.
Rock climbing and camping are also among the most popular things to do in Pinnacles National Park. The Bear Gulch Cave, which is accessible via a hiking trail, is one of the most remarkable types of caves in the national parks system.
More About Pinnacles National Park
Yosemite National Park
280 miles (5 hours from L.A.)
Waterfalls and wildlife, glorious views and granite rock walls, fall foliage and scenic drives,… Yosemite National Park epitomizes the very idea of what a national park should be.
Even though it’s become hugely overcrowded in summer, this remains one of the greatest national parks on Earth. That said, you’re encouraged to avoid the park in summer, though. Instead, visit Yosemite in spring or fall.
This is easily one of the best parks near Los Angeles, also easily reached from nearby San Francisco, a place of such immense beauty, it’s hard to put in words.
The centerpiece of Yosemite National Park is Yosemite Valley, home to El Capitan, Half Dome, Tunnel View, the Merced River, Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Falls.
Other areas include Mariposa Grove, which is home to giant sequoias, and Tuolumne Meadows, featuring wildflowers, lakes and great high-country scenery.
From L.A., it’s about 5 hours by car. On the way, you’ll basically pass by Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, too, so it’s advisable to combine those three beautiful national parks near Los Angeles in one epic multi-day drive.