13 days in Los Angeles & Austin Itinerary

Surrounded by mountain ranges, forests, valleys, beaches, and deserts, the metropolitan area of Los Angeles is home to over 17 million people.

Relax by the water at Santa Monica Bay and Zuma Beach. Visiting Dolphin & Whale Watching and Crystal Cove will get you outdoors. Change things up with these side-trips from Los Angeles: Manhattan Beach (in Manhattan Beach), Laguna Beach (Heisler Park, Main Beach, &more) and R6 Distillery (in El Segundo). There's much more to do: stroll through El Matador State Beach, make a trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, take in the pleasant sights at 26-Mile Bike Path, and brush up on your military savvy at Battleship USS Iowa Museum.

For ratings, traveler tips, reviews, and more tourist information, refer to the Los Angeles online trip itinerary builder.

The Route module shows you all the different ways you can get to Los Angeles. In July, daily temperatures in Los Angeles can reach 83°F, while at night they dip to 66°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 25th (Sat) early enough to travel to Austin.

Despite its laid-back college vibe, Austin is an influential center for politics, technology, film, and music.

Get outdoors at Lady Bird Lake Hike-and-Bike Trail and Barton Springs Pool. Explore hidden gems such as Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Boat Tours & Water Sports. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Austin: Jacob's Well Natural Area (in Wimberley) and Hamilton Pool Preserve (in Dripping Springs). There's much more to do: see the sights as you ascend with a climbing tour, get engrossed in the history at LBJ Presidential Library, Head underground at Inner Space Cavern, and identify plant and animal life at Austin Nature & Science Center.

To see photos, maps, traveler tips, and other tourist information, you can read our Austin visit planner.

Traveling by flight from Los Angeles to Austin takes 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. The time zone difference when traveling from Los Angeles to Austin is 2 hours. Prepare for a bit warmer weather when traveling from Los Angeles in July: high temperatures in Austin hover around 98°F and lows are around 75°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 31st (Fri) to allow time to travel back home.