• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • SIXTMUSIC
  • Travel
  • Road Trips
  • Guides & Tips
  • Fleet
  • News
  • Special Offers
  • Rent a car

SIXT rent a car Magazine

Travel Tips and News

Top 5 Small Towns Near Los Angeles

There’s more to Los Angeles than its sprawling freeways and red carpet photo shoots. Within a short drive from Hollywood or Downtown LA, you can find yourself surrounded by mountains, desert or breathtaking ocean shoreline. There is no lack of small adventures to be had a short drive away from Los Angeles. Here are five of our favorite small town getaways.

Book LA Car Rental

1. Claremont

Sitting in the Pomona Valley, east of Los Angeles, is Claremont, with a population of approximately 35,000. Claremont is a typical California town, yet it also has gems for you to explore. Get a rare glimpse into California architecture dating from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century with a walking or self-guided tour of the village. Visit the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, an 86-acre park that is home to native California plants. At Scripps College, take a break in the Margaret Fowler Garden, with its fragrant olive and orange trees and purple wisteria. Dating back to 1937, the garden features a 1946 fresco by Mexican muralist Alfredo Ramos Martinez.

2. Hermosa Beach

It’s hard to choose a favorite South Bay beach town. Bordered by Manhattan Beach to the north and Redondo Beach to the south, Hermosa offers laid back, SoCal surfer style. Skate, bike, run or walk along the water on a path that starts south in Torrance and extends north to Santa Monica. Stroll the scenic Hermosa Beach Pier for a dazzling ocean view. Visit The Lighthouse Café, which has been offering live jazz since 1940 and helped put West Coast Jazz on the musical map. Artists like Art Pepper, Art Blakey, and Cannonball Adderley made live recordings there and it was featured in the movie LaLa Land.

Hermosa Beach
Near the coast at Hermosa Beach

3. Joshua Tree

East of Los Angeles, not far from San Bernardino and Palm Springs is Joshua Tree National Park. Stunning rock formations, open sky, and Joshua Trees, members of the Yucca family, create an arresting landscape. The park spans 790,737 acres and is larger than the US state of Rhode Island. Drive through and take in the natural beauty, hike one of the trails or try rock climbing. There are camping areas and stargazers are always welcome. For food and lodging, try nearby Twenty-Nine Palms or Pioneertown on Highway 62. Don’t miss a chance to go to beloved Pappy and Harriet’s. Originally a movie-set cantina, it is now a restaurant and renowned intimate live concert venue.

Joshua Tree California
Some of the scenery at Joshua Tree

4. Malibu

Yes, that Malibu. It may seem cliché, but this is one of the most beautiful small towns in the world. It’s a short drive up the Pacific Coast Highway to this residential enclave of 12,000. Along the way, you can see Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities at the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades. Check out the beach at Point Dume or stroll through Malibu Creek State Park. When you get hungry, pull into the Malibu Country Mart for a range of dining and shopping options. You can also try a yoga class, get pampered at a salon and maybe even do some celebrity watching.

Malibu houses
Houses on the coast at Malibu

5. Ojai

Located in Ventura County, Ojai is a quaint town with a population of 7,500. Inland from Santa Barbara, it offers hiking, horseback riding, golf, tennis, and small-town flavor. Known for its wellness culture, there are several spas in the area to choose from. The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts houses a permanent collection of the artist’s work and insight into her long life, as well as rotating exhibits and events. A must for every visit is a stop at Ojai Ice Cream for kids and adult kids alike. It offers homemade ice creams, homemade fudge, candies and lots of old-fashioned charm.

Book LA Car Rental

Ojai valley
A view of Ojai from afar

Those were 5 small towns near Los Angeles, however if you have a couple more days on hand, you can also plan a road trip to the Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas.

Your journey will become comfortable and memorable with an exotic car or an SUV. With SIXT, it is easy to rent your favorite car. To enjoy your trip with your dream car for a long time, try out the weekly car rental packages of SIXT.

Primary Sidebar

Road trips

North Carolina BBQ Road Trip: Where to find the best pork, ribs & more

Every barbecue region in the US has its own style. In Texas … [Read More...] about North Carolina BBQ Road Trip: Where to find the best pork, ribs & more

Texas BBQ Road Trip: Where to get the best brisket, sausage & more

The massive state of Texas is a great place for a road trip. … [Read More...] about Texas BBQ Road Trip: Where to get the best brisket, sausage & more

Melbourne to Sydney: A coastal road trip full of hidden treasures

From breathtaking mountain views to the whitest sand in … [Read More...] about Melbourne to Sydney: A coastal road trip full of hidden treasures

More Posts from this Category

Follow us on

Tags

arizona atlanta austria bmw cadillac california canada convertible Electric car Electric car charging europe florida ford mustang georgia germany Hawaii israel italy las vegas los angeles mercedes-benz miami mydriver nevada new station new york North Carolina one-way route Pennsylvania roadtrip Roadtrips Road trips san francisco seattle shuttle SIXT ride Special offers suv switzerland Tesla Tesla Model 3 Tesla Model Y texas toll roads usa

Footer

Sixt in the USA

  • JFK
  • Dallas Airport
  • Atlanta Airport
  • Chicago Airport
  • Denver Airport
  • Houston Airport
  • Minneapolis Airport
  • SeaTac Airport
  • Las Vegas Airport
  • LAX
  • All Sixt US Locations

  • Long-term car rental
  • Luxury car rental

SIXT WORLDWIDE

Austria Belgium France Germany Italy
Netherlands Spain Switzerland United Kingdom United States
Australia

All SIXT Services

  • SIXT rent
  • SIXT share
  • SIXT ride

Follow Us On

Sixt App

Sixt app Android Sixt app iOS
Contact Us Imprint & Privacy Terms & Conditions

Copyright Sixt © 2023. All rights reservered.