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Some of the best reasons to earn a pilot certificate in Los Angeles are the places you can reach for lunch: warbird museums in Camarillo and Chino, wine country at Santa Ynez, a beach walk from the ramp at Oceano, a mountain lake at Big Bear and an island runway on Catalina. Here are our favorite day trips from Van Nuys, with the airport facts and planning notes that matter for each.
Camarillo, Santa Paula and Chino all have aviation museums on or next to the field.
Santa Ynez puts you close to Solvang and the vineyards; Oceano puts you a short walk from the sand.
Big Bear and Catalina are bucket-list destinations that demand extra planning and skill.
Several favorites have short or narrow runways, no night operations or strict noise procedures.
Marine layer and afternoon wind often change conditions before you fly back.
Private pilots may share operating expenses with passengers on a pro rata basis under 14 CFR 61.113(c).
A day trip is where your training turns into freedom. It is also where your planning skills matter most. Under 14 CFR 91.103, the pilot in command must become familiar with all available information concerning a flight, including weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements, alternatives if the flight cannot be completed as planned, and runway lengths at the airports you intend to use. Under 14 CFR 91.151, VFR flights by day need enough fuel to reach the first point of intended landing and then fly at least 30 more minutes at normal cruise speed, or 45 minutes at night.
Bringing friends? Under 14 CFR 61.113(c), a private pilot may not pay less than the pro rata share of the operating expenses of a flight with passengers, which means you can split fuel, rental and fees evenly but cannot be paid to fly them.
Camarillo Airport (KCMA) is an easy first trip out of the Valley. It is a towered airport with a single 6,013-foot runway, and it is home to the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing. The Wing's museum is free to visit and, according to its website, is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM and Sunday from noon to 4 PM. The Wing's aircraft include a Mitsubishi Zero, a Grumman F6F Hellcat and a Supermarine Spitfire, although not every airplane is on display every day. The Waypoint Cafe is right on the field for lunch. Camarillo is an extreme noise-sensitive area, so review its departure guidance before you go.
Santa Paula Airport (KSZP) is one of the most charming small airports in Southern California, but it is not a beginner's field. The single runway is 2,665 feet long and 60 feet wide, there is a 2,200-foot mountain about a mile to the south, wires cross the riverbed near both approach ends and the airport has no night operations. The pattern entry rules are unusual: no overhead, 45-degree or midfield crosswind entries over the runway, so study the Chart Supplement carefully. The reward is the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula, a "chain of hangars" holding private collections of antique and experimental aircraft, cars and memorabilia, open to the public on the first Sunday of each month from 9 AM to 2 PM, weather permitting.
Santa Ynez Airport (KIZA) sits about a mile southeast of the town of Santa Ynez, in the heart of Santa Barbara County wine country. From the airport, the Danish-style village of Solvang and dozens of tasting rooms are a short ride away by bike or ride-share. The runway is 2,803 feet by 75 feet with no control tower. Gliders operate from the area near the Runway 26 approach and fly right traffic, and the airport recommends a noise-abatement turn on departure from Runway 26. And of course, the pilot stays on water: wine is for the passengers.
Oceano County Airport (L52) is a rare treat: an airport where the beach is about a two-block walk from the tie-downs. There is a pilot campground beside the ramp on a first-come, first-served basis, and the clam chowder spots of the Pismo Beach area are within reach. The runway is 2,325 feet long and only 50 feet wide, so short-field technique and careful performance planning are essential, especially with passengers. Oceano is non-towered and noise-sensitive; departing Runway 29, you hold runway heading until you cross the shoreline. Coastal fog can cover the field quickly and there are no instrument approaches, so know your diversion options. San Luis Obispo (KSBP) is a short hop north.
Big Bear City Airport (L35) sits at 6,752 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains, with mountains in every quadrant. The 5,850-foot runway is generous, but performance is the issue. AOPA has noted that on hot days density altitude at Big Bear can exceed 9,000 feet, which means a longer takeoff roll and a much weaker climb. Fly early in the day, keep the airplane light, lean the mixture for best power per your POH and calculate performance before you commit. The airport is noise-sensitive, with a published 10-degree left turn after takeoff and a high school to avoid. Big Bear Village and the lake are a short drive away. A flight here is best done first with an instructor as part of mountain flying training.
Chino Airport (KCNO) is home to the Planes of Fame Air Museum, one of the great warbird collections in the country. The museum's roughly 150 aircraft include about 30 that fly, among them what it describes as the only authentic airworthy Mitsubishi A6M Zero. The museum holds monthly "Hangar Talk" events that pair presentations with flight demonstrations, plus an annual airshow. Chino is a towered airport with three runways, the longest 7,000 feet, and it lies in busy airspace east of Los Angeles, so plan your route and frequencies carefully.
For many Los Angeles pilots, the first flight to Catalina Airport (KAVX) is a milestone. The airport sits on a mountaintop at 1,602 feet, built by leveling two hilltops and filling the canyon between them, and its 3,000-foot runway has a noticeable hump that hides one end from the other. It operates from 8 AM to 5 PM with no night operations, charges a landing fee and allows full-stop landings only. The DC3 Gifts and Grill is right on the field, and Avalon is about 6.4 miles away.
The flight involves open water, mountain-top winds and a demanding runway, so it deserves its own guide. Read our Catalina Island flight guide for the full briefing before you go.
The best day-trip airplane depends on the mission. A two-seat trainer is perfect for a short hop to Camarillo. A four-seat Piper Warrior suits a coastal lunch with friends. For longer trips up the coast or into the mountains, the Cirrus SR22 Turbo brings speed, a glass cockpit and the CAPS parachute system. Because its engine produces more than 200 horsepower, you need a high-performance endorsement under 14 CFR 61.31(f) before you can act as pilot in command. You can see every aircraft we fly on our fleet page and learn about renting from Van Nuys on our aircraft rental page.
If you do not have your certificate yet, everything on this list starts with a private pilot license. Cross-country training, including solo cross-country flights, is part of that course under 14 CFR 61.109. Want more capability for coastal weather? An instrument rating makes marine layer days far more usable. Already licensed but rusty? A flight review with one of our instructors is the right way to get back in the air. To compare program costs, visit our pricing page.
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