Los Angeles is an ideal location for some of the most gorgeous journeys on the West Coast, made even more affordable thanks to Amtrak’s California Rail Pass. From San Juan Capistrano to San Diego, here are some of the best train trips from Los Angeles that you can book through Amtrak and Metrolink. Whether you’re seeking an easy weekend getaway or planning a long-haul journey across the state, use this list to get inspired about the possibilities of rail travel in California.
1. San Juan Capistrano
This historic city in Orange County is centered around Mission San Juan Capistrano. Spanish missionary Junípero Serra founded the mission in 1776 as the seventh of 21 Spanish missions in California, which infamously subjugated tens of thousands of indigenous people to the devastating effects of colonization. You’ll find many fascinating relics of California history here. From walking through California’s oldest neighborhood to buying Native American goods at Ortega’s Capistrano Trading Post, it’s a great one-day Metrolink or Amtrak trip from Los Angeles.
🚂 Train routes:
- Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from L.A.’s Union Station to San Juan Capistrano station (1 hour and 15 minutes)
- Metrolink Orange County Line 608 from L.A.’s Union Station to San Juan Capistrano station (1 hour and 30 minutes)
2. San Clemente
The gorgeous beach town of San Clemente is a popular weekend destination in SoCal thanks to its wealth of activities and ambiance, including pristine beaches, lovely boutique shopping, world-class restaurants, and scenic hikes. Some popular destinations include the San Clemente Pier, a historic landmark dating back nearly a century; and the pet-friendly Beach Trail, which offers 2.3 miles of gorgeous ocean views and beach access points. Leave plenty of time to explore Downtown San Clemente, which is packed with specialty boutiques, surf shops, breweries, and restaurants.
🚂 Train routes:
- Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from L.A.’s Union Station to San Clemente Pier (1 hour and 30 minutes)
- Metrolink Orange County Line 608 from L.A.’s Union Station to San Clemente Metrolink Station (1 hour and 30 minutes)
3. Ventura
The city of Ventura began with Mission San Buenaventura, the ninth of California’s Spanish missions. Today, the 32-square-mile beach city is a delightful destination with many local historical ties, surfing, shopping, museums, hiking, and so much more. Stroll through the Ventura Botanical Gardens, check out the view from the top of Grant Park, or use the city as a takeoff point to check out the Channel Islands. When it comes to train trips from L.A., this is a fairly easy ride with multiple routes available.
🚂 Train routes:
- Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from L.A.’s Union Station to Ventura’s Downtown/Beach Amtrak Station (2 hours)
- Metrolink Ventura County Line A777 from from L.A.’s Union Station to Ventura’s Downtown/Beach Amtrak Station (2 hours)
4. Palmdale
The desert town of Palmdale is an oft-overlooked destination in SoCal, but it makes for a nice day trip by train from Los Angeles. Some popular attractions include the six-acre, seasonal DryTown Water Park, known for its 35-foot tower structure with three massive slides; the fashionable Antelope Valley Mall, which holds over 120 retailers; and of course the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark, where you can see beautifully-maintained U.S. military aircraft on display. The city is also popular among golfers, who come to play on championship courses including the Rancho Vista Golf Club and Antelope Valley Country Club.
🚂 Train route: Metrolink Antelope Valley Line 203 from L.A.’s Union Station to Palmdale (2 hours)
5. Carpinteria
Carpinteria is a quintessential California beach town with many charming corners that feel trapped in time. After you get off the train, you can wander the 8-block stretch of Linden Ave which is packed with local businesses and takes you straight to the beach. Go surfing at Carpinteria City Beach, known as the “world’s safest beach” for over a century, or time your visit with the California Avocado Festival in October.
🚂 Train route: Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from L.A.’s Union Station to 475 Linden Ave, Carpinteria (2 hours and 20 minutes)
6. Santa Barbara
Anyone who grew up on the California coast will appreciate Santa Barbara’s mix of small-town nostalgia and big-city attractions. From spending all evening wandering the Funk Zone, to exploring the gorgeous Spanish-style Santa Barbara Courthouse, to hiking Inspiration Point, we love Santa Barbara for its wealth of activities for any kind of traveler. Whether you’re there for beach volleyball in the sunshine or wine tasting on the wharf, you’ll find plenty of fun ways to max out your time there.
🚂 Train routes:
- Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from L.A.’s Union Station to Santa Barbara (2 hours and 40 minutes)
- Amtrak Coast Starlight from L.A.’s Union Station to Santa Barbara (2 hours and 20 minutes)
7. San Diego
Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner makes a stop in Old Town San Diego, the first European settlement in California; and the Santa Fe Depot, which is in the heart of Downtown. As one of the most sought-after destinations on the West Coast, San Diego offers plenty of activities for you to enjoy on a day trip there. Spend the day at Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, the USS Midway Museum, the San Diego Museum of Art, or any of the city’s many other worthwhile attractions.
🚂 Train route: Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from L.A.’s Union Station to Santa Fe, San Diego (2 hours and 40 minutes)
8. San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, a.k.a. SLO, is a lovely central coast destination a few hours north of Los Angeles. Downtown is a great place to start, with a nice lineup of historic sites, boutique shops, excellent restaurants, and the famous Bubblegum Alley. Whether you decide to spend the whole time at the one-and-only Madonna Inn, or you want to go whale watching off of Avila Beach, SLO offers a great mix of high-quality activities in a low-key environment.
🚂 Train routes:
- Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from L.A.’s Union Station to San Luis Obispo (5 hours and 30 minutes)
- Amtrak Coast Starlight from L.A.’s Union Station to San Luis Obispo (5 hours)
9. Paso Robles
Paso Robles is a rustic city in California’s wine country with plenty of opportunities for adventurers. If the hot air balloon rides at Balloons Over Paso are a little out of your comfort zone, consider an afternoon of horseback riding through the area’s many vineyards. You could also catch a concert at the gorgeous Vina Robles Amphitheater, check out the historic Warbird and Pioneer museums, or visit the Mission San Miguel. No matter what you do, just make sure you end your day at Bruce Munro’s famous Sensorio light installation, which is worth the trip all on its own.
🚂 Train route: Amtrak Coast Starlight from L.A.’s Union Station to Paso Robles (6 hours and 20 minutes)
10. San Francisco
Yes, there is technically a train trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco, but get ready for a hell of a journey. The Coast Starlight runs once daily and drops you off in Emeryville after about 11 hours, at which point you can take BART to get into the city. We don’t have to tell you that SF is one of the most popular travel destinations in the country; from museum exhibitions to must-see attractions, you’ll want to plan plenty of time to see everything.
🚂 Train route: Amtrak Coast Starlight from L.A.’s Union Station to Emeryville (11 hours), then BART into the city (30-40 minutes)
11. Grand Canyon
Here’s another long train trip from Los Angeles that might be worth the time tradeoff, depending on your priorities and prices at checkout. Amtrak has one overnight train running from L.A. to Flagstaff, AZ. From Flagstaff you can take an Amtrak connecting bus to Williams, AZ and catch the Grand Canyon Railway train to the South Rim. To simplify things, it might be worth booking the “Rails to the Grand Canyon” Amtrak Vacation from Los Angeles, which takes away the guesswork. Does all this still beat flying? We’ll let you be the judge… just remember there’s a bucket list-worthy national park at the end of the tracks.
🚂 Train routes:
- Amtrak Southwest Chief from L.A.’s Union Station to Flagstaff, AZ (13+ hours), connecting bus to Williams, AZ (1 hour), Grand Canyon Railway to Grand Canyon Depot (2+ hours)
- “Rails to the Grand Canyon” Amtrak Vacation (5 days roundtrip)