Van Nuys, CA Road Trips
Sitting in the Pacific Coast, Van Nuys, CA is a local road trip base with 5 trip routes mapped and ready to explore. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 48-mile quick runs to 368-mile cross-state drives. Routes from Van Nuys, CA spread mainly east and north, covering a wide geographic range.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
368.1 mi
San Francisco, CA
Quickest Drive
1h 3m
Santa Ana, CA
Plan Around Van Nuys, CA
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Van Nuys, CA is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Van Nuys, CA
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Van Nuys, CA
Driving from Van Nuys, CA
The typical drive from Van Nuys, CA covers about 201 miles and takes around 3h 47m. There is a healthy spread of short hops, medium drives, and longer road trips to pick from. The longest mapped route runs 368 miles (6h 49m), while the shortest is just 48 miles.
Popular Destinations
Drivers leaving Van Nuys, CA most often head toward San Francisco, CA (368.1 mi, 6h 49m), Stockton, CA (323.3 mi, 5h 55m), Fontana, CA (64.3 mi, 1h 19m), and Santa Ana, CA (48.3 mi, 1h 3m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
For the average 201-mile drive from Van Nuys, CA, expect to burn about 7.9 gallons of fuel one way at 25 MPG. Check local pump prices before you go to lock in your budget.
Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 4 mapped routes leaving Van Nuys, CA and 1 routes heading into Van Nuys, CA, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 48 to 368 miles.
The longest mapped route from Van Nuys, CA covers 368 miles and takes approximately 6h 49m. Shorter options start at just 48 miles.
The average route from Van Nuys, CA runs about 201 miles with a drive time of roughly 3h 47m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
The most popular road trip destinations from Van Nuys, CA include San Francisco, CA, Stockton, CA, Fontana, CA and Santa Ana, CA. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Traveler Guide to Van Nuys, CA
Van Nuys is a prominent neighborhood in the middle of the San Fernando Valley, a part of the city of Los Angeles in Southern California. Although there are few tourist attractions here, Van Nuys serves as a civic and commercial center for the Valley.
1 The Japanese Garden, 6100 Woodley Ave, ☏ +1 818 756-8166. M-Th 11AM-4PM, Su 10AM-4PM. A tranquil and gorgeous Japanese garden with a dry Zen meditation garden, a tea garden, and a wet garden with lakes, waterfalls, and streams which uses reclaimed water from the adjacent water treatment plant. Free.
1 Van Nuys Golf Course, 6550 Odessa St, ☏ +1 818 785-8871. This small park boasts an 18-hole, par 3 course for beginners as well as a driving range. 2 Sky Zone Trampoline Park. (updated Jun 2017) 3 Iceland Ice Skating Center, 14318 Calvert St, ☏ +1 818 785-2171. This indoor ice skating rink offers bumper cars, "easy skaters" (or, walkers for new skaters), and three party rooms. Also a recognizable landmark for fans of the 2005 film Me and You and Everyone We Know. 4 Woodley Lakes Golf Course, 6331 Woodley Ave, ☏ +1 818 780-6886. Woodley Lakes has tournament-like greens with flat, wide, and forgiving holes that are great for beginners. (updated Apr 2016)
1 Dr. Hogly Wogly's Tyler Texas BBQ, 8136 Sepulveda Blvd, ☏ +1 818 780-6701. It gets really busy on the weekends. Try the beef ribs, pork ribs, beans and macaroni salad. It also has delicious bread. 2 El Katracho, 14838 Burbank Blvd, ☏ +1 818 780-7044. Honduran. 3 Kyushu Ramen, 15355 Sherman Way Ste N, ☏ +1 818 786-6005. Authentic Japanese food. Open late. 4 Lido Pizza, 15232 Victory Blvd, ☏ +1 818 781-2551. Casual Italian. 5 Little Ocha of the Valley, 13724 Sherman Way, ☏ +1 818 782-1898. Thai. Los Tres Hermanos, 6269 Van Nuys Blvd (corner of Van Nuys and Sylvan), ☏ +1 818-786-7600. 9AM to 10PM. A local Mexican restaurant that mixes in some authentic food from Mexico. Most of the time the restaurant is busy during the week with most of the customers coming from the local businesses. $14. 6 Lulu's Restaurant, 16900 Roscoe Blvd, ☏ +1 818 988-0707. American Traditional and sports bar. 7 Mercado Buenos Aires, 7540 Sepulveda Blvd, ☏ +1 818 786-0522. Argentine steakhouse. 8 Norm's Restaurant, 13636 Sherman Way, ☏ +1 818 780-5060. 24/7 diner. 9 Yagumo Sushi, 14554 Vanowen St, ☏ +1 818 787-9383. Japanese sushi.
Van Nuys isn't exactly known for its nightlife, but there are a few local spots that offer a laid-back neighborhood atmosphere as well as live music. 1 Springbok Bar & Grill, 16153 Victory Blvd, ☏ +1 818 988-9786. South African pub known for BBQ, beer, rugby fans, international beers on tap, and live performances. 2 Ireland's 32, 13721 Burbank Blvd, ☏ +1 818 785-4031. Irish charm, pub food, and live bands or karaoke.
Travelers should be wary of staying at any "motel" or "motor inn" in the area, as many along Sepulveda Boulevard are not suitable for tourists. There are only a few legitimate hotels in Van Nuys: 1 Airtel Plaza Hotel, 7277 Valjean Ave, ☏ +1 818 997-2823. 2 Holiday Inn Express, 8244 Orion Ave, ☏ +1 818 989-5010.
Van Nuys sits north of U.S. Route 101 and straddles Interstate 405, which runs north–south through the middle of Van Nuys. To the immediate south is Sherman Oaks, while to north are North Hills and Panorama City. Like the rest of the Valley, the major streets are laid out in a grid pattern. 1 Van Nuys station, 7720 Van Nuys Blvd. (updated Jan 2023) Train operators: Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates train service around the United States of America. (updated Mar 2022) Routes stopping in Van Nuys: Coast Starlight operates daily between Seattle and Los Angeles. Stops include Tacoma, Lacey, Centralia, Kelso, Vancouver, WA, Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Dunsmuir, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank. Pacific Surfliner operates daily between San Luis Obispo and San Diego via Los Angeles. Metrolink provides commuter rail from Los Angeles via the San Fernando Valley on the Ventura line (weekdays only). 2 Van Nuys Airport (VNY IATA) (located within the neighborhood). Is strictly general aviation only. The airport is noted for being one of the busiest general aviation airports in the world, often used by Hollywood celebrities looking to arrive in the city away from prying eyes. The nearest airport offering commercial service is Bob Hope Airport (BUR IATA) in Burbank, due east of Van Nuys.
Public transit is offered by the city-wide Metro service, with bus service on every major street in Van Nuys. A prominent Metro service through Van Nuys is the Orange Line, a busway that runs east–west across the Valley from North Hollywood to Chatsworth. In North Hollywood, the Orange Line connects to the Metro Rail system.
Travel tips adapted from Van Nuys on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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