10 Fall Road Trips from Los Angeles
FALL IS JUST A drive AWAY
Here’s the predicament. It’s Fall. You’re in the mood for cozy things, fall foliage, apple picking, pumpkin patches, sweaters, soups, spice and all things nice. You’re desperate to see a leaf that is any color but green. You’re hoping it will finally be cool enough to don a sweater, instead of another swimsuit. You’d like to move to Stars Hollow, or, at the very least, be in a cabin, sitting by a fire, sipping hot cider (I mean, is that really SO much to ask??!). And yet, here you are, in LA, the land of near perpetual summer.
Did I just describe myself? Ok, yes, maybe I did. But I’m guessing that if you’re reading this post that I also maybe described you, too. So what’s a gal (or guy) to do when they find themselves in this predicament of living in a less than autumnal city?! Go on a road trip, obviously.
See the thing is, I’ve been on a near perpetual mission to find fall practically every year since we moved to LA because my New England heart just can’t handle going without it. I mean, when I tell you that I nearly fainted our first fall here because I merely tried to find apple cider donuts only to be met with looks of confusion and questions about what those even are instead. Like ARE YOU KIDDING ME???! You are not living if your life does not include apple cider donuts! But I digress… Slowly but surely my research has paid off, and, while nothing will ever beat a New England fall, California does happen to have a few autumnal gems of its own. With cooler temperatures, less tourists (the summer crowds are long gone), pretty forests, breathtaking coastlines and cozy cabins, there are some pretty magical fall destinations in California. There are even places with fall foliage, apple picking, pumpkin patches, apple pie, special harvest events and yes, apple cider donuts. Even more exciting, some of these destinations are actually close enough to LA that they can be aday trip, while others do require a bit more time to visit them.
So, if you’re ready to find fall foliage in California or hole up in an A-frame cabin somewhere chilly, then keep reading because, below, I’m sharing all the details on 10 fall road trips you can take from Los Angeles and get your fill of the fall feels.
DON’T HAVE TIME TO READ THE FULL POST? HERE ARE MY TOP PICKS for best fall road trips from Los Angeles-
YOSEMITE (stay at Autocamp Yosemite), for the best outdoor destination + foliage
IDYLLWILD (stay at Owl Pine Cabin), for cute cabins and small town vibes not too far from LA
BIG SUR (stay at Deetjen’s Inn or Ventana Big Sur), for an off-the-grid cozy coastal retreat
10 fall road trips from LOS ANGELES
where you can get your foliage fix, cozy up in a cabin and live out your Stars Hollow fantasies
YOSEMITE national park
If your ideal fall getaway includes camping (or glamping), hiking, golden foliage and being off-the-grid and in nature, then this national park is for you. The valleys and trees are bursting into colorful hues, there are less tourists to deal with and the temperatures are perfect for hiking during the day followed by chilly nights spent cuddled up around a fire with hot cocoa and a bowl of chili.
Find my full Guide to Yosemite in the Fall here, and for my personal favorite place to stay definitely book an Airstream or a cabin at AutoCamp Yosemite.
THE HIGHLIGHTS- hiking, nature, foliage, cozy temps, off-the-grid
WHERE TO STAY IN YOSEMITE- AutoCamp Yosemite
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LA TO YOSEMITE- 5-6 hours
IDYLlWILD
Fall is just a couple of hours away in this charming little town. A great spot if you don’t want to drive far but still want to relax in a cozy cabin (there’s a whole lot of A-frames here) with mountain views and not a whole lot to do (but still enough in case you do get bored). All the fall quintessentials you need- foliage, a diner for diner breakfast, apple cider donuts (at the donut shop) and even a brewery. As an FYI, it does get cool here (it even snows in the winter), but fall is a bit delayed on it’s arrival time. So, don’t necessarily expect full on fall weather here, even if the calendar says it should be otherwise.
Be sure to check out my full guide to a fall weekend getaway in Idyllwild here for all the details on where to stay, where to eat, what to do and more.
THE HIGHLIGHTS- close to LA, small town, cabins, foliage, coziness, hiking, nature
WHERE TO STAY IN IDYLLWILD- there are a few small inns around town, but I think a home rental is the best way to go; this cozy Owl Pine Cabin is on my list to stay next time we go, but you can find more cabin and inn options here
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LA TO IDYLLWILD- 2.5 hours
BIG SUR
Quite possibly my favorite cozy getaway of them all. Sure, Big Sur doesn’t have some of the traditional fall things like foliage and pumpkin patches, but what it may lack in pumpkins, it more than makes up for in it’s cozy atmosphere and ethereal landscape. Check out my full Big Sur Guide here for further details on what to do, where to eat and more.
THE HIGHLIGHTS- cozy, by the sea, largely off-the-grid, breathtaking landscape, not much to do besides hike, relax and take in the views (aka it’s super relaxing)
WHERE TO STAY IN BIG SUR- there’s a range of places to stay all the way from camping and glamping to luxe retreats; we usually opt for somewhere in the middle but for optimal coziness I recommend Deetjen’s Inn, a cabin at Glen Oaks or, for the ultimate cozy meets luxe escape, Ventana Big Sur
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LA TO BIG SUR- 6 hours
CENTRAL COAST- CAMBRIA, MORRO BAY + BEYOND
If you’re looking for a simple, cozy seaside escape this autumn, I love the area between Morro Bay and Cambria. It reminds me a lot of being in a seaside New England town and, while you won’t exactly get the foliage in Central Coast that you would in said New England town, you still get the charm and the kind of weather that makes you want to bundle up and sip on something hot.
I don’t have a full Central Coast guide (Yet!!!), but you can check out my Cambria Travel Guide here for more details on one of my favorite cozy places to stay in Central Coast, White Water Cambria, and more details about staying in and around the area.
THE HIGHLIGHTS- seaside, small towns, New England coastal vibes, cozy, perfect weather for sweaters and layers, good chowder, relaxing
WHERE TO STAY IN CENTRAL COAST- there are lots of cute home rentals in the area, but for a hotel, I really love White Water Cambria for aesthetically pleasing design, charm and seaside coziness
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LA TO CENTRAL COAST- 3.5- 4 hours (give or take depending on your exact destination)
NAPA VALLEY
While Napa might not be your first thought when you think about fall getaways, I have to say, it’s truly an underrated time to visit. The harvest season brings out all the autumnal colors in the most magical way, there’s a surprising amount of fall foliage and, of course, you can’t go wrong with the food and wine scene here.
For more details, check out my Itinerary for a Perfect Fall Getaway in Napa here.
THE HIGHLIGHTS- good wine, good food, beautiful fall weather, lovely foliage and autumnal harvest hues
WHERE TO STAY IN NAPA VALLEY- Carneros Resort for more luxe vibes or Calistoga Motor Lodge for something more budget conscious but still aesthetically pleasing
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LA TO NAPA- 6-7 hours
SANTA YNEZ Valley
If you’re looking for the wine, good food and harvest vibes of Napa but without the trek to get there, Santa Ynez Valley is an excellent alternative. At just a few hours away from Los Angeles, it’s perfect for a weekend getaway, or even a day trip if you can manage an early enough start time (but obviously please don’t drink and then drive home). Bonus- it’s also a little more low key and relaxed than Napa can be.
THE HIGHLIGHTS- all the good food and wine of Napa but relaxed and low key
WHERE TO STAY IN SANTA YNEZ VALLEY- The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern or Skyview Los Alamos
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LA TO SANTA YNEZ VALLEY- 2.5 hours
JOSHUA TREE
At first, this might seem like an odd addition to my fall getaway list. But a big part of the autumn season, at least for me, is cozy vibes and I feel like Joshua Tree really delivers that in the fall and winter months. Sure, it may still be fairly warm during the day, but once the sun goes down, it’s downright chilly so expect your evenings to be spent cuddled up around a fire wearing sweaters and eating all the cozy foods your heart desires.
THE HIGHLIGHTS- chill desert vibes with days spent hiking and in the sun and evenings spent around a fireplace
WHERE TO STAY IN JOSHUA TREE- I like to rent a home, such as Le Chacuel or Landing House but AutoCamp Joshua Tree is great if you want to go the glamping route
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LA TO JOSHUA TREE- 2.5 hours
LAKE ARROWHEAD
Lake Arrowhead gives Scandinavian outdoor vibes and I’m here for it. Expect lots of beautiful A-frames and warm and inviting cabins tucked away lakeside, amongst the pine trees. And at just a couple of hours away, you’ll be living your Scandi cabin dream vibes in no time.
THE HIGHLIGHTS- super close to LA, cabins, coziness, nature, hiking
WHERE TO STAY IN LAKE ARROWHEAD- The Kingsley
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LA TO LAKE ARROWHEAD- 1.5- 2 hours
BIG BEAR
Similarly to Lake Arrowhead, you’ll find lots of cozy cabins in the woods and by the lake in Big Bear. Personally, I find Lake Arrowhead to be a bit more refined with just a bit more to do and it is just a bit closer to LA, but Big Bear tends to be more reasonably priced and family friendly. They’re both great and they both offer those quintessential cozy fall vibes, it’s really just a matter of preference.
HIGHLIGHTS- more cabins, coziness, nature, hiking and another one of those spots where there isn’t much to do besides relaxin and just soak up nature
WHERE TO STAY IN BIG BEAR- Noble and Proper (if you want to be in the woods) or Marina Riviera (if you want to be by the water)
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LA TO BIG BEAR- 2.5 hours
MAMMOTH LAKES + JUNE LAKE
Most people think of Mammoth for winter and skiing, but don’t overlook the area in the fall. There aren’t many tourists so it’s not overly crowded and, if you time it right, you might actually see foliage, which just might be some of the best fall foliage in the whole state of California, I might add.
While nature’s beauty certainly abounds in this area of the state, my one gripe is that there aren’t many aesthetically pleasing places to stay, which I wanted to make a note of in case you’re weird like me and care about things like that. And yes, the picture above is from Yosemite a I don’t have any from fall in the Mammoth area. I also don’t have a full guide but you can check out a few of my top places to eat and things to do in Mammoth here.
THE HIGHLIGHTS- prime fall foliage, lots of nature and hiking
WHERE TO STAY IN MAMMOTH- Tamarack Lodge (for old school cozy cabin vibes) or Airbnb
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LA TO MAMMOTH LAKES- 5.5-6 hours
ON MY LIST OF PLACES TO VISIT IN CALIFORNIA IN THE FALL- Oak Glen, Julian, Apple Hill, Pine Mountain
