Santa Monica Pier, Rodeo Drive and the Walk of Fame in one long day from the Strip.
How much time you really get in LA, what each tour includes, and who should travel another way.
Road time vs LA timeThe hours on the bus, spelled out
Real guest ratingsLive Viator & Tripadvisor figures
Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, on every tour here
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Tours
Choose your Los Angeles day tour
The most reviewed Vegas to LA day trip sits in the centre: small group, hot lunch, four famous
stops. Beside it, a version with breakfast and a picnic lunch, and a six-seat van that adds a Hollywood Sign viewpoint.
A small-group run to the coast with a light breakfast and a sandwich lunch near Santa Monica beach, then an hour on the Walk of Fame. The lowest rated of the three.
What's included
Hotel pickup and drop-off on the Strip and Downtown (about 5 AM)
Light breakfast, a sandwich or salad lunch (choose when booking), snacks and water
Santa Monica Pier (1 hour) and the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1 hour)
Drive-bys of Rodeo Drive, the Hollywood Sign and Baker's giant thermometer
Not included: gratuities; needs a minimum group size to run
The most reviewed LA day trip from the Strip: Santa Monica Pier, Rodeo Drive and the Walk of Fame, with a hot restaurant lunch. Expect about nine hours on the road.
What's included
Strip hotel pickup and drop-off (about 6 AM; time confirmed two days before)
Driver-guide with live commentary in an air-conditioned Mercedes with Wi-Fi
Hot lunch at a restaurant, plus snacks and bottled water all day
Santa Monica Pier (1 hour), Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, Hollywood Walk of Fame (1 hour)
Not included: gratuities for the driver-guide; minimum age 5
A six-seat van that adds a Hollywood Sign viewpoint and the Hollywood Bowl overlook to the pier, Rodeo Drive and the Walk of Fame. Meals are not included.
What's included
Pickup from your Las Vegas hotel (about 5 AM), at most 6 travelers
Santa Monica Pier (1 hour) and Rodeo Drive (45 minutes)
Hollywood Boulevard, the TCL Chinese Theatre, the Walk of Fame and the Dolby Theatre
Hollywood Bowl overlook and a Hollywood Sign viewpoint; snacks, water and Wi-Fi
The three day trips cost about the same. What separates them is lunch, group size, and whether
you stop at a Hollywood Sign viewpoint or only see it through the window. The last rows are for travelers who
can spend a night in LA, which buys far more time in the city.
Time in LA is our estimate from each listing's itinerary stops. Children pay the adult
price on the Vegas day trips; the most reviewed tour takes children from age 5. Driver tips are not included on any
tour. Every tour here cancels free up to 24 hours ahead.
How the day really works
Fourteen hours, nine of them on the road: go in knowing that.
Los Angeles is about 270 miles from the Strip on Interstate 15, a four to five hour drive each way
across the Mojave Desert before any LA traffic. So a "day tour" is a 5 or 6 AM pickup, a morning in the van,
roughly three to four hours of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Hollywood, and a drive back that gets
you to your hotel late at night. Guests who loved it say the guide's stories and the rest stops made the miles
go fast. Guests who did not say exactly one thing: the ride was long.
What you get is the postcard version of LA: your feet in the Pacific at Santa Monica Pier, a walk on Rodeo
Drive, the stars on the Walk of Fame and the handprints at the Chinese Theatre. What you do not get is a theme
park, a beach afternoon, real shopping time, or a close-up of the Hollywood Sign. If those matter, fly (about
an hour) and stay a night instead.
270 mi
Each way on I-15. Plan on four to five hours of driving
in each direction, more on Friday and Sunday afternoons.
Santa Monica PierRodeo DriveWalk of FameChinese Theatre
Griffith Observatory: on the LA city tours, not on most Vegas day trips.
01
How long in LA?
About three to four hours across the stops. Santa Monica and the Walk of Fame get about an hour each.
02
Is lunch included?
On the most reviewed tour, yes, at a restaurant. On the six-seat tour, no: bring money for food.
03
The Hollywood Sign?
Seen from the road or a viewpoint. Nobody gets close to the letters; they are fenced off.
04
Who should skip it?
Anyone after Universal Studios, Disneyland or a beach day. Fly in and stay a night.
The itinerary
How the LA day unfolds
This is the most reviewed tour's day. Stop order can change with traffic, and the guide decides on the day.
01
Strip pickup
Your driver-guide collects you at your hotel and heads south on I-15, with rest stops in the desert.
From about 6 AM
02
Santa Monica Pier
An hour at the pier and beach, with the Route 66 End of the Trail sign, then a hot lunch.
Late morning
03
Beverly Hills
The Beverly Hills sign and about 30 minutes on Rodeo Drive, past the Pretty Woman hotel.
Early afternoon
04
Walk of Fame
An hour on Hollywood Boulevard: the stars, the Chinese Theatre forecourt, then the drive home.
Pickup, prices and ages, the fine print and what to bring: one tab each.
Hotel pickup from Las Vegas Strip hotels is included on all three day trips; one tour also collects Downtown.
Pickups run from about 4 to 6 AM depending on the tour; the operator confirms the exact time one or two days before.
Book at least 48 hours ahead on the most reviewed tour, or hotel pickup is not guaranteed.
You are back at your hotel 14 to 17 hours after pickup, usually late evening.
Los Angeles is in the same time zone as Las Vegas (Pacific Time).
The three day trips run from $280 to $300 per person on Viator, and children pay the same as adults.
Minimum ages differ: 5 on the most reviewed tour, 7 on the premium tour.
Lunch is included on the most reviewed tour (hot, at a restaurant) and the breakfast-and-lunch tour (sandwich or salad).
Driver tips are extra on every tour; bring cash.
Group sizes: at most 14, 13 or 6 travelers, depending on the tour.
None of the day trips is wheelchair accessible.
Some tours need a minimum number of travelers or good weather, or they offer another date or a refund.
Theme parks and studio tours are not part of any of these day trips.
Comfortable shoes and clothes you are happy to be photographed in.
A light jacket: the van gets chilly on the way back, and the coast can be cool.
A phone power bank and cable for the long ride.
Sunglasses, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle.
Cash for tips, souvenirs and anything not in the lunch.
1 hourSanta Monica PierThe Ferris wheel, the beach and the Route 66 End of the Trail sign.
30 minutesRodeo DriveBeverly Hills' famous shopping street: time for photos, not for shopping.
1 hourWalk of Fame2,857 stars on Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street as of September 2026.
On the wayChinese TheatreThe 1927 movie palace with celebrity handprints in the forecourt.
Some toursHollywood SignA 15 to 20 minute viewpoint stop on the six-seat and premium tours.
Not includedTheme parksUniversal Studios and Disneyland need a night in LA.
Where the day starts
Pickup on the Las Vegas Strip
Your Las Vegas hotel lobby
Las Vegas Strip hotels, Las Vegas, Nevada
There is no meeting point to find: you pick your hotel when you book, and the driver collects you at the
lobby or the tour bus area before dawn. The operator sends the exact time one or two days ahead; if you have
not heard by the evening before, call the number on your voucher. Private homes and Airbnbs off a hotel
property are usually not served.
Pickup between about 4 and 6 AM
Drop-off back at your hotel, late evening
Keep your phone on: drivers call if they cannot find you
4.8★★★★★ 1,739 reviews · Los Angeles & Hollywood small-group day trip live Viator & Tripadvisor figure
★★★★★
The trip was great, very organized from pickup to drop off. Our tour guide Steve was very informative. The snacks and water were always available, lunch was delicious with several choices. This tour is very worth taking!
★★★★★
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our Los Angeles tour from Las Vegas! The itinerary allowed just the right amount of time at each stop without feeling rushed. Although the ride was long, the well-timed breaks made it comfortable and enjoyable.
★★★★★
It was so awesome getting to walk down Rodeo Drive and see the Beverly Hills sign and take pics of course, and go down the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Our driver Jose was awesome.
★★★★★
Nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Strip and sightsee Los Angeles and Hollywood. Two birds, one stone! Lunch was great as well; it is included from a nice place in Santa Monica.
★★★★★
My partner and I both really enjoyed our tour guide. He made us feel welcomed and kept the conversation going, making the 5hr trip quicker. Definitely worth the price!
★★★★★
Only advice I would give is to wear cute but comfortable clothes, so you are photo ready and comfortable for the walking. And a light sweater or jacket for the ride back to Vegas, as it can get chilly on the van. Great time!
★★★★★
Our driver filled the long drive with fascinating stories and insights about the areas we passed. Even though the drive was long, we found ourselves immersed in the sights and stories, making every moment enjoyable.
★★★★★
I live in central Illinois, so this day tour was the perfect opportunity to visit both Las Vegas and California. A busy day packed with fun activities!
★★★★★
Great action-packed day. Sammy our driver was top class: excellent coordination, great knowledge, and got us to see everything we wanted and more!
Can you stay a night?
See LA properly instead
The flight from Las Vegas takes about an hour. Land the evening before, and this tour gives you more
than twice the time in the city for about a third of the price.
Los Angeles Tour with Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Beaches
★ 4.9 · 6,680 reviews · 7.5 hours
If you can spare a night in LA, this is the better day: seven and a half hours in the city instead of three or four, with Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Venice and Santa Monica, a Griffith Park stop and lunch at the Original Farmers Market. Fly over from Vegas in about an hour and take this tour the next morning.
A Los Angeles day tour from Las Vegas is one of the longest day trips sold on the Strip, and one
of the most loved. Here is what you are really buying, what it costs once you add the extras, and how to get the
most from a very long day.
What the tour is, and what it isn't
Every day trip on this page follows the same shape. A small van or minibus picks you up at your hotel before
dawn, crosses the Mojave Desert on Interstate 15, and reaches the coast late in the morning. Then come the
famous stops: Santa Monica Pier and its beach, a drive through Beverly Hills with a walk on Rodeo Drive, and
Hollywood Boulevard, where the Walk of Fame and the TCL Chinese Theatre sit side by side. Some tours add a
viewpoint for the Hollywood Sign or the Hollywood Bowl. Then you drive back. It is a sightseeing sampler with a
lot of road in between, not a day of exploring LA at your own pace.
The Walk of Fame gets about an hour on the most reviewed tour.
What it really costs
The three Vegas day trips cost $280 to $300 per person on Viator in 2026, and children pay the same as adults.
On top of that, budget for the driver's tip, which is not included on any tour, and for food on the six-seat
tour, which includes snacks but no meals. A couple on the most reviewed tour, with lunch included, should plan on
the ticket price plus tips and a few souvenirs. That is a lot for three or four hours in LA, which is why the
honest comparison is with flying: a short flight and a $95 to $99 LA city tour the next morning give you seven
hours in the city.
The honest small print: the complaints in the reviews are rarely about the guides, who
are praised again and again. They are about the clock: the drive is long, the stops are short, Rodeo Drive gets
only half an hour, and the Hollywood Sign is seen from far away. If you go in expecting a road trip with
highlights, you will likely love it.
Which tour to pick
For most people, the most reviewed tour is the safe choice: 4.8 stars from over 1,700 reviews, a hot
lunch at a restaurant, at most 14 people and Wi-Fi on board. The six-seat tour is newer and has fewer
reviews, but it squeezes in more stops, including a Hollywood Sign viewpoint; bring money for lunch. The
breakfast-and-lunch tour costs a little more and rates lower, at 4.2, with a sandwich lunch rather than a
restaurant. If you can stay a night, skip all three and see LA properly.
Lunch on the most reviewed tour is a hot meal at a restaurant near the coast.
Making the most of the day
Book midweek if you can, when I-15 traffic is lighter. Sleep on the way out, eat a proper breakfast, and
charge your phone and a power bank the night before. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a light jacket for the cold
van at night. At each stop, head for the one photo you want most first, then explore. And keep some cash for
your driver-guide: guests mention it in review after review.
Sneakers, a layer, a power bank and cash for tips: the day-trip kit.
Straight answers to what travelers ask most about LA and Hollywood day trips from Las Vegas.
Can you do a day trip from Las Vegas to Los Angeles?
Yes. Small-group tours leave the Strip at about 5 or 6 AM, drive roughly 270 miles to the coast, and bring you back to your hotel late at night, about 14 hours later. You get around three to four hours on the ground: Santa Monica Pier, Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. See the tours.
How long is the drive from Las Vegas to Los Angeles?
About 270 miles on Interstate 15 through the Mojave Desert, which takes four to five hours each way without traffic and longer on Friday and Sunday afternoons. Guests regularly describe the ride as the longest part of the day. Read the drive, hour by hour.
How much is a Los Angeles day tour from Las Vegas?
The small-group day trips on this page start at $280 per person on Viator in 2026, and the most reviewed one includes a hot restaurant lunch. A premium small-van version starts at $789. Tips for the driver are extra on every tour. See the price guide.
Is a Las Vegas to Los Angeles day trip worth it?
It is worth it if you have one spare day, have never seen LA and want the famous postcards without renting a car or booking a hotel. It is not worth it if you want theme parks, beach time or shopping: you spend about nine hours in the van. Compare it with flying in and staying a night.
Is lunch included?
On the most reviewed tour, yes: a hot lunch at a restaurant, plus snacks and water all day. The breakfast-and-lunch tour gives you a sandwich or salad lunch. The six-seat tour includes snacks and water but no meals, so bring money for food.
Do you see the Hollywood Sign?
Usually from a distance. Most tours point it out from the road or a viewpoint, and the six-seat tour and the premium tour stop at a viewpoint for 15 to 20 minutes. Nobody walks up to the letters: the sign is fenced off. See the Walk of Fame and the Sign.
What time does the tour leave and get back?
Pickups start between about 4 and 6 AM depending on the tour, and you are back at your hotel roughly 14 to 17 hours later. The operator confirms your exact pickup time a day or two before; book at least 48 hours ahead to be sure of a hotel pickup on the most reviewed tour.
Can you visit Universal Studios or Disneyland on these tours?
No. The tours do not stop at Universal Studios Hollywood, Disneyland or the Warner Bros. studio tour, and there is no time to add one. For a theme park, fly to LA or stay a night.
Are the tours good for kids?
For older kids who sit well in a van, yes. The most reviewed tour has a minimum age of 5 and child seats on request. Fourteen hours is a lot for small children, and every seat costs the same.
Do you need to tip the driver?
Gratuities are not included on any of these tours, and guests recommend bringing cash for the driver-guide. In the US, 15 to 20 percent of the tour price is the common guide for a full day.
Can I cancel?
Yes. Every tour on this page cancels for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time on Viator.
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