SoCal Free Spirit Loop
Hey! If you're looking to see a ton of cool stuff without breaking the bank on tickets, a loop through Southern California and the High Desert is unbeatable. There’s so much world-class scenery and quirky art out here that doesn't cost a dime. Since you've got five days and a car, we can hit the coast, the mountains, and the deep desert. I'm starting and ending this at LAX, as it's the easiest hub for a road trip like this. Five days of mountains, desert art, and Pacific sunsets without spending a cent on admission.
LAX → Griffith Observatory → Santa Monica → Route 66 → Mojave → Joshua Tree Area → Palm Springs → Big Bear → La Jolla → LAX
Coastal Breezes & Iconic Views
Grab your rental and head north. We’re skipping the paid museums and heading straight for the views.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Grab your rental and head north. We’re skipping the paid museums and heading straight for the views.
Griffith Observatory
Parking costs money, but hiking up from the bottom is free and gives you the best workout with a view of the Hollywood Sign. You can enter the building for free to see the Tesla Coil and the exhibits.
Echo Park Lake
A perfect spot for a stroll. The lotus beds and the view of the DTLA skyline over the water are totally free and very "LA."
Santa Monica Pier & Palisades Park
Walk the pier to soak up the atmosphere, then head to the bluffs at Palisades Park for a sunset that beats any paid rooftop bar.
Art in the Dust
Say goodbye to the ocean; we’re heading inland.
Santa Monica Pier
Say goodbye to the ocean; we’re heading inland.
Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch
Located on old Route 66, this is a massive forest of "trees" made from glass bottles. It’s a folk-art masterpiece and totally free to wander (though donations are welcomed).
Mojave National Preserve
Skip the paid national parks today. The Mojave Preserve has the Kelso Dunes. You can hike these massive sand mountains for free and hear them "sing" as the sand slides down.
Twentynine Palms
We’ll crash here at the edge of the desert. The murals all over town tell the local history for free.
The Weird & The Wonderful
We're exploring the "Low Desert" today.
Twentynine Palms
We're exploring the "Low Desert" today.
Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum
This is a 10-acre graveyard of junk turned into high art. It’s open to the sun and completely free. It’s eerie, beautiful, and very Joshua Tree.
Pioneer Town
An 1880s Western movie set built in the 1940s. You can walk down "Mane Street" for free. It feels like stepping into a Western, and there's often live (free) music outside Pappy & Harriet’s.
Palm Springs
Walk the Palm Springs Walk of Stars and admire the mid-century modern architecture from the car. It’s like an open-air design museum.
Mountains to the Clouds
Let's get some elevation.
Palm Springs
Let's get some elevation.
Deep Creek Hot Springs
If you're up for a hike (it’s a bit of a trek), these natural pools are a free way to soak in the wilderness. If you want something easier, just drive the Rim of the World Highway (Hwy 18).
Big Bear Lake
Park near the Stanfield Marsh Wildlife and Nature Preserve. The wooden boardwalks over the water are free and great for spotting eagles or ducks.
Lake Arrowhead
End the day in the "Alps of California." Walking around the village and the lakeshore trail is the perfect way to cool off after the desert heat.
The Return to the Blue
Winding back down the mountain.
Lake Arrowhead
Winding back down the mountain.
Chicano Park (San Diego/Barrio Logan)
If we push south, this park has the largest collection of Chicano murals in the world under the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. It’s a powerful, free cultural experience.
La Jolla Cove
Head back north along the coast. Watching the seals and sea lions lounge on the rocks at the Cove is the best free "zoo" on earth.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Back to the hub to drop off the car.
- Day 5: last activity ends 19:00 — aim to wrap by ~18:00 or drop a stop