Los Angeles & Hollywood Day Trip from Las Vegas with Lunch

Summary

Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Hollywood—LA’s icons in a day

You’ll go from Las Vegas desert to Pacific air on this small group Los Angeles & Hollywood day tour. Dip your toes at Santa Monica Pier, snap photos by the Beverly Hills sign, stroll Rodeo Drive, and search for your favorite star on Hollywood Blvd—all with round-trip transport, lunch, and plenty of local stories along the way.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest—I booked this Los Angeles & Hollywood day trip from Las Vegas mostly because I’d never seen the Pacific, and something about leaving the desert for the ocean in one day just felt wild. The drive out was longer than I expected (about 4 hours), but our guide, Mark, kept it light with stories about old movie stars and LA traffic jokes. There was this moment when we finally rolled down the windows near Santa Monica and that salty air hit me—felt like I’d landed somewhere completely different. My shoes filled with sand before I even noticed.

We wandered along Santa Monica Pier first. There were street musicians playing something jazzy, kids yelling over the arcade games, and a couple selling churros that smelled so good I almost missed the “End of Route 66” sign. Mark snapped a photo for us there—he had this trick for getting everyone in without cutting off heads (I still managed to blink). Lunch was included at a spot nearby; nothing fancy, but after all that walking it tasted better than it probably should have.

Beverly Hills was next—honestly, Rodeo Drive is as shiny as you’d imagine, but watching people pose by the Beverly Hills sign made me laugh. Our group tried to guess which cars belonged to celebrities (no luck). The real surprise for me was how friendly some of the locals were—a woman with her dog stopped to recommend an ice cream place, though we didn’t have time to try it. Then it was off to Hollywood Blvd. The Walk of Fame is crowded and loud and a little chaotic; I found myself kneeling down to find a star I recognized while someone dressed as Spider-Man waved at us from across the street.

By the end of this small group day tour, my feet were tired but my head felt full—in that good way you get when you’ve seen more than you thought you would. It’s not every day you wake up in Las Vegas and end up watching sunset colors over LA traffic from a Mercedes van seat. I still think about that ocean smell sometimes—you know?

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Full day Los Angeles sightseeing

• Depart Las Vegas for Los Angeles
• Visit Santa Monica Pier and beach
• Take photo at Route 66 sign
• Drive through Beverly Hills
• Stop for selfie at Beverly Hills Sign
• Walk on Rodeo Drive
• Explore Hollywood Boulevard
• View Hollywood Sign

Top questions

How long is the Los Angeles & Hollywood day trip from Las Vegas?

The tour lasts a full day including round-trip transportation—expect about 4 hours each way between Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

Is lunch included on this small group LA tour?

Yes, lunch at a restaurant is included in the tour price.

What are the main stops during the tour?

The tour visits Santa Monica Beach and Pier, Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, and Hollywood Boulevard including the Walk of Fame.

How many people are on each tour?

The group size is limited to 14 participants for a more personal experience.

Does this LA day trip include hotel pickup in Las Vegas?

Yes, pickup is included from select hotels along the Las Vegas Strip.

Is transportation comfortable for such a long drive?

The vehicle is an air-conditioned Mercedes with reclining leather seats, WiFi, USB ports, snacks and bottled water provided.

Are child seats available if traveling with kids?

Child seats are available if requested at booking; minimum age for children is 5 years old.

Do we get free time at each stop or always stay with the guide?

You’ll have free time at Santa Monica Pier and on Hollywood Boulevard to explore on your own.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from select Las Vegas Strip hotels, all entry fees and taxes covered, snacks and bottled water throughout the journey, round-trip transportation in an air-conditioned Mercedes van with WiFi and USB charging ports, live commentary from your driver-guide who shares local stories along every stop—from Santa Monica Beach to Rodeo Drive—and a hot lunch at a local restaurant before heading back in comfort.