LA Day Trips Between World Cup 2026 Matches: 5 Easy Escapes
With multi-day gaps between SoFi Stadium matches, the best LA day trips are San Diego (about 120 miles by Amtrak Pacific Surfliner), Disneyland in Anaheim (~30 miles), Santa Barbara, Joshua Tree, and Catalina Island. Here's how to plan each one.
Published June 16, 2026·5 min read
Summary
SoFi Stadium's group-stage matches are spaced days apart, so you'll have rest days between games. The strongest LA day trips are San Diego (about 120 miles, reachable by Amtrak Pacific Surfliner), Disneyland in Anaheim (~30 miles), Santa Barbara up the coast, Joshua Tree National Park, and Catalina Islandby ferry. Here's how to fit each one around your LA match schedule.
Five escapes that fit a rest day
With matches at SoFi falling several days apart through the group stage, you can comfortably slot a full-day excursion without missing a kickoff. The coast and the desert are both within reach, and most trips work car-free if you plan around train and ferry times.
| Destination | Distance from LA | Best way there |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego | ~120 mi | Amtrak Pacific Surfliner (~3 hr) |
| Disneyland (Anaheim) | ~30 mi | Car / shuttle (45–75 min) |
| Santa Barbara | ~95 mi | Pacific Surfliner or car |
| Joshua Tree | ~130 mi | Car (2–2.5 hr) |
| Catalina Island | ~22 mi offshore | Ferry from Long Beach (~1 hr) |
For a no-car day, the Pacific Surflinerfrom Union Station to San Diego is the easy winner — about 3 hours each way along the ocean. Joshua Tree, per the National Park Service, is a car trip but rewards an early start to beat the summer heat.
Stay connected on the road — eSIM vs roaming vs pocket Wi-Fi
| Option | Cost | Setup time | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM | Low | ~5 min (pre-install on Wi-Fi) | Excellent (local carrier) |
| Carrier roaming | High | Instant (already enabled) | Medium (partner-dependent) |
| Pocket Wi-Fi | Medium | Airport pickup / rental | Good (extra device to charge) |
Day trips lean hard on data: train tickets, park reservations, maps through canyon dead zones, and a ride back from the ferry terminal. A North America eSIM keeps you on T-Mobile or AT&T across California — and into Mexico if you cross the border — from US$5 with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or card.
FAQ
QWhat are the best day trips from LA during the World Cup?
ASan Diego, Disneyland in Anaheim, Santa Barbara, Joshua Tree, and Catalina Island. They suit the multi-day gaps between SoFi Stadium matches, and most work car-free with a little planning.
QCan you get from LA to San Diego without a car?
AYes — Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner runs frequent coastal trains from Union Station to San Diego in roughly 3 hours. You get ocean views and no parking hassle; book ahead for summer World Cup weekends.
QHow far is Disneyland from SoFi Stadium?
ADisneyland in Anaheim is about 30 miles southeast of SoFi, typically 45–75 minutes by car. It is a popular rest-day trip for families attending World Cup matches in Los Angeles.
QWill my phone work on a day trip outside LA?
AA North America eSIM keeps you on T-Mobile or AT&T across California and into Mexico. Navigation, train tickets, and park apps keep working in San Diego, Anaheim, or the desert at Joshua Tree.
Bottom line
Rest days are part of the World Cup rhythm — use them. Take the Surfliner to San Diego or the desert to Joshua Tree, then be back for kickoff. Plan around the LA match schedule, pick a good base camp, and keep every booking live with a World Cup 2026 eSIM.