In Joshua Tree National Park, the Mojave and Colorado desert ecosystems that are two separate desert ecologies collide. In a landscape that has been shaped by powerful winds and sporadic downpours of rain, a remarkable array of flora and animals call it home.

A rich cultural past, ominous geological features, and starry nights all contribute to the enchantment of this enormous wilderness in southern California. Come investigate on your own. Thousands of Joshua tree species dot this unusual desert terrain, which is also home to the famed rocks and rock formations that give the vistas their distinctive look.

Elevation changes provide settings with sharp contrasts like bleached sand dunes, arid lakes, rough mountains, wildflower-filled valleys, and enormous groups of granite monoliths. The west entrance to Joshua Tree National Park is situated 5 miles (8.0 km) south of the Joshua Tree Visitor Center, which is situated at the intersection of Park Boulevard and Highway 62 in the city of Joshua Tree.

Location: California

Movement time: 2hr 30min from L.A.

Operating Hours: 7:30 AM–5:00 PM

Phone numbers: (760) 367-5500

As one of the very first places on the list of the National Parks within driving distance of L.A., wide-ranging recreational activities are offered by Channel Islands National Park, which also offers a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. The decision of where to go, what to do, and how to do it can be difficult, though, as the park spans five islands and the water that surrounds them by a mile.

To begin organizing a fantastic vacation to the park, click on the buttons in the menu or the ones below. There are many locations to go in the park whether you stay for a day or a week. The decision of where to go can be difficult, though, as the park includes five islands and the water that surrounds them on all sides.

The Channel Islands National Park offers a relaxing respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. The islands are perfect for spending peaceful, undisturbed time with loved ones; they're fantastic locations for hiking, camping, snorkeling, kayaking, birdwatching, taking pictures, sketching, or simply unwinding to the peaceful sounds of nature.

Location: California
Movement time: 2hr drive, plus a 1–4hr boat ride, from L.A.

Operating Hours: 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Phone numbers: 805 658-5730

Huge mountains, rocky slopes, deep gorges, enormous caverns, and the biggest trees in the world are examples of the region's diversity in geography, life, and beauty. Let's investigate to discover the local flora and fauna and the dangers they confront. Despite its appearance of invincibility, the old huge sequoias are nonetheless susceptible.

In any season, Sequoia provides a broad variety of activities in varied surroundings. Adventure is waiting for you here, whether you like a little stroll or a week in the forest, a serene sunset or a thundering river. Prepare for anything you decide to do. At various heights, the weather changes greatly, and storms can occur at any time of the year.

The Giant Forest in this Sequoia park, home to some of the biggest trees in the world, including General Sherman, is protected. A picturesque section of the Sierra Nevada, which includes the tallest peak in the contiguous United States, more than 240 caverns, and a stairway climb to the top of Moro Rock are also included.

Location: California
Movement time: 3hr 45min from L.A.

Operating Hours: 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Phone numbers: 559 565-3341

The biggest preserved grove of sequoia trees in the world may be found at Kings Canyon National Park, which has a landscape resembling Yosemite Valley. John Muir famously referred to Kings Canyon National Park as "a competitor to Yosemite" due to its deep valleys, tall trees, and unusual rock outcroppings.

The two unique regions of Grant Grove and Cedar Grove make up Kings Canyon Park, which is close to Sequoia National Park and has the General Grant tree, also referred to as "the Nation's Christmas Tree." Visitors visiting Grant Grove take pictures while awestruck by the sequoia grove's immense size.

Redwood Canyon, the world's biggest surviving grove of sequoia trees, is also located in Kings Canyon. Along with the renowned sequoias of Kings Canyon National Park, this glaciated valley offers miles of hiking trails, horseback riding, and camping, making it the ideal destination for outdoor lovers of all ages. Let's make reservations for your stay right now so you can see Kings Canyon for yourself!

Location: California
Movement time: 4hr 15min from L.A.

Entrance Fees: Vehicle Pass - $35.00, Individual Entry Pass - $20.00, Non-Commercial Group - $20.00

Operating Hours: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM

About five miles (8.0 km) east of Soledad and 130 kilometers (80 miles) southeast of San Jose, in Central California, is the hilly region protected by Pinnacles National Park, an American national park. The remnants of the western half of an extinct volcano that has shifted 200 miles (320 km) from its original site on the San Andreas Fault and is entrenched in a section of the California Pacific Coast Ranges are the park's namesakes.

The National Area Service oversees Pinnacles, and the vast portion of the park is wilderness-protected. The East and West Divisions of the national park are separated by the rock formations and are only connected by footpaths. Water and shade are on the east side, while tall walls are on the west. Granite climbers are drawn to the stunning pinnacles that the rock formations create.

There are remarkable talus caverns in the park that are home to at least 13 different kinds of bats. Due to the extreme heat in the summer, spring and fall are the best times to explore Pinnacles. In addition to serving as a release place for California condors that have been bred in captivity, park grounds provide an ideal home for prairie falcons.

Location: California
Movement time: 4hr 30min from L.A.

Operating Hours: 24 hours
Entrance Fees: Death Valley Entrance Fee - per vehicle - $30.00, Death Valley Entrance Fee - per motorcycle - $25.00

Yosemite is home to one of the nation's biggest waterfalls, Yosemite Falls, as well as the rock faces Half Dome and El Capitan, the Yosemite Valley, and towering granite cliffs, spectacular waterfalls, and old-growth woods. You should visit there to witness three enormous sequoia groves and a pristine wilderness in the Sierra Nevada, which is home to several endangered plant and animal species.

A million years ago, glaciers began to develop at higher elevations. As they melted and drifted downslope, they carved and sculpted the U-shaped valley that is now so popular with tourists for its breathtaking views. European American settlers first came across the Yosemite Valley in 1851.

Although James D. Savage is credited for finding the region that is today known as Yosemite National Park, there are earlier occurrences of other people accessing the Valley. The park has a wilderness designation for over 95% of its area. A variety of flora and animals may be found in Yosemite, which is one of the Sierra Nevada's biggest and least fragmented habitat blocks.

Location: California
Movement time: 4hr 45min from L.A.

Entrance Fees: Motorcycle - $30.00, Commercial Tour (sedan up to six seats) - $25.00

Zion is also one of the National Parks within driving distance of L.A. Follow the trails that early settlers and Native Americans took as you marvel at the enormous cream, pink, and red sandstone cliffs that rise into the clear blue sky. Wilderness can be encountered in a small slot canyon. Zion's distinctive collection of flora and animals will amaze you as you take in the past's rich history and the present's exhilarating experiences.

American national park Zion is situated close to the town of Springdale in southwest Utah. The park, which is situated at the meeting point of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert areas, has a distinctive topography and a range of living zones that support an uncommon diversity of plants and animals.

The objectives of Zion National Park are to safeguard the park's wilderness character, its wild and scenic river values, to protect evidence of human history, to facilitate scientific research, to provide for public enjoyment and education, and to preserve the dramatic geology, including Zion Canyon and a labyrinth of deep and brilliantly colored Navajo sandstone canyons formed by extraordinary processes of erosion at the margin of the Colorado Plateau.

Location: Utah
Movement time: 6hr 30min from L.A.

Operating Hours: 24 hours

Entrance Fees: Private Vehicle: Valid for 7 days. - $35.00, Motorcycle: Valid for 7 days. - $30.00, Per Person: Valid for 7 days. - $20.00

Saying that there are few sites that astound people as much as when they are immediately opposite, taking in the magnificent beauty at the Grand Canyon National Park and the Grand Canyon, is not an exaggeration. Here, the globe appears larger and the storms, sunsets, and sunrises are more magnificent and dazzling. Sunrise and sunset are the two most stunning times to see the Grand Canyon.

When that happens, the sun shines on the vivid canyons, changing their hues according on where they are in the canyon and the time of day. In the Grand Canyon, the majority of the cliffs are made of red sandstone that changes color depending on the hue of the sun.

Small, unnoticed streams may also be found in the gorge, which makes for a really eye-catching landscape. There are still wooded regions with diverse ecosystems in the national park, even if the majority of the terrain is rocky. Grand Canyon National Park has long been a favored destination for nature enthusiasts, explorers from all over the world, and both experienced and novice mountaineers.

Location: Arizona
Movement time: 7hr 15min from L.A.

Entrance Fees: Free

Saguaro National Park is a US national park in southeast Arizona's Pima County that protects the flora, animals, and terrain of the Sonoran Desert, notably the enormous saguaro cactus. The saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea), a huge cactus that is indigenous to the Sonoran Desert and does not normally occur elsewhere, gave the park its name.

The surface rocks of the Rincon Mountain District are quite different from the volcanic rocks on the surface of the Tucson Mountain District because, during the past 30 million years, crustal stretching pushed rocks from under the Tucson Mountains to create the Rincon Mountains. The Rincon Mountains are substantially higher and drier than the Tucson Mountains due to uplift, dome formation, and erosion.

Hiking on the park's 165 miles (266 km) of trails and touring along paved roads close to its two visitor centers are two of the park's most well-liked activities. Both districts permit riding horses on specific routes and trails. There is a little amount of wilderness camping available in the Rincon Mountain District, but there isn't any in the Tucson Mountain District.

Location: Arizona
Movement time: 7hrs 30min from L.A.

Entrance Fees: Free

Phone numbers: 520 733-5153

Great Basin National Park is also one of the National Parks within driving distance of L.A. It is an American national park that was founded in 1986 and is situated in White Pine County in east-central Nevada, close to the Utah border. The most popular entrance to the park is via Nevada State Route 488, which connects to U.S. Routes 6 and 50 via Nevada State Route 487 via the nearby tiny town of Baker.

The arid, hilly area between the Sierra Nevada and the Wasatch Mountains that bears the name of the park is known as the Great Basin. There are both constructed campsites and bush camping options in the park. Great Basin National Park and the Highland Ridge Wilderness are next to one other. The Great Basin National Park and the surrounding valleys are home to approximately 800 plant species and eleven types of conifer trees.

Great Basin National Park, which is centered on Wheeler Peak, Nevada's second-tallest peak, is home to bats, pronghorns, and trout in addition to bristlecone pines that are 5,000 years old, a rock glacier, and the limestone Lehman Caves. It also has among of the darkest night sky in the nation.

Location: Lehman Caves Visitor Center, Nevada 488, Baker, NV 89311
Movement time: 8hr from L.A.

Operating Hours: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM

Phone numbers: (775) 234-7510