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The 3 places worth the trip
Places near Isla Vista by type
All 229 places by distance →One day from Isla Vista
5 stops, one loop, back by 3:35 pm
43 km on the road, in driving order so you don’t double back. Times assume an 8 am start and typical visit lengths.
- Leave Isla Vista
- South Coast Railroad Museummuseum · 1.5 hrs
- Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Parkcave · 1 hrs
- San Marcos Foothills Preservenature spot · 2 hrs
- Laguna Blancalake · 45 min
- Arroyo Burro Beachbeach · 1.5 hrs
- Back in Isla Vista
Questions people ask
What are the best places to visit near Isla Vista?
Storke Tower (attraction, about 1 km), North Campus Open Space (nature spot, about 2 km), Mescalitan Island (island, about 3 km), Goleta Beach County Park (beach, about 4 km), South Coast Railroad Museum (museum, about 4 km), Laguna Blanca (lake, about 12 km).
How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Isla Vista?
109 places on Spotwander: 17 beaches & coast, 9 hill stations & viewpoints, 13 wildlife, forests & gardens, 15 parks, 13 forts & heritage.
Which is the nearest beach to Isla Vista?
Goleta Beach County Park, about 4 km by road; More Mesa Beach (7 km) is next.
Which is the nearest viewpoint to Isla Vista?
Mescalitan Island, about 3 km by road; Arlington Peak (19 km) is next.
What is a good one-day trip from Isla Vista?
Start in Isla Vista, visit South Coast Railroad Museum, then Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park, then San Marcos Foothills Preserve, then Laguna Blanca, then Arroyo Burro Beach, and drive back — about 43 km by road in all.