A Day Trip to Oak Glen (from Los Angeles) | A Detailed Itinerary

Looking for a fun day trip to take this late fall/early winter season? Well look no further than the quaint town of Oak Glen! Just about 1.5 hours away from Los Angeles, located in San Bernardino County, this rural town is filled with an abundance of apple orchards and charming family-owned shops and restaurants.

Growing up in the midwest, my autumn memories were full of cider mill trips, pumpkin patches, and beautiful fall foliage. But here in Los Angeles, the best we can get is a parking lot pumpkin patch and a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte to celebrate the season. So I set out to find some of that midwest autumn charm out here in Southern California, and Oak Glen did NOT disappoint.

It has now become an annual tradition for us to make the trek out to their neck of the woods to get a taste of our favorite mini apple cider donuts from Snow-Line Orchard. The past few years, the fall season has gotten away from us and we have pushed our trip later into the season and let me tell you, I think visiting Oak Glen is even better post-Halloween! The crowds are much more manageable, the temperatures are crisp (adding to the whole mountain town aesthetic), and you get the benefit of visiting 123 Farm’s “Christmas Nights” event (which only runs November 4-January 8).

If crunchy fall leaves, warm apple cider, and the sweet smell of Apple Annie’s world famous Mile High Apple Pie have peaked your interest, follow our detailed itinerary below for a fun-filled day trip to apple country!

A DAY TRIP ITINERARY: FROM LOS ANGELES TO OAK GLEN, CA

Before we begin with the itinerary, a few notes to keep in mind in advance:

You will want to book tickets in advance for 123 Farm’s Christmas Nights because the walk-in tickets at the door are slightly more expensive. Visit their website to purchase tickets for the date of your trip, and I would recommend booking the 5:30pm time slot so that you can spend as much time as possible on the farm without getting back to Los Angeles too late.
Make sure you check the weather for Oak Glen in advance and keep in mind it will definitely be cooler than the current Los Angeles weather. Bring layers, especially if you will be staying into the evening!

~ 9:00 AM | DEPART FROM LOS ANGELES

You will want to leave around 9am from the Los Angeles area to head out to Oak Glen to take advantage of a full day of apple activities! Depending on where you are coming from, you will probably end up driving on the I-10 East towards the city of Yucaipa. The drive is roughly 1.5 hours without traffic, but I promise it will be worth the trek!

~ 10:30 AM | ARRIVE IN OAK GLEN & APPLE PICKING @ LOS RIOS RANCHO

**UPDATE: U-Pick concludes for the season at the end of November!

Start your day at the lovely Los Rios Rancho. This apple orchard offers U-pick apples so grab a picking bag and head out into the fields to pick some of your favorite types of apples. Take home a bag of apples, perfect for baking your very own apple pie.

Los Rios Rancho
39611 Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen, CA 92399
Open Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat, & Sun 10am-5pm

~ 12:30 PM | LUNCH AT APPLE ANNIE’S & EXPLORE OAK TREE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE

Next, head over to the popular Oak Tree Mountain. This newly renovated family fun park has so much to offer! You will definitely want to grab some lunch from Apple Annies Bakery & Restaurant for some small town favorites like their famous chicken pot pie or chicken fried steak. There will probably be a long wait for a table so be sure to get in line ASAP!

Take some time to walk around the park and check out the shops and attractions. There is a petting zoo, playground, and even a giant mountain tubing slide. There is often live music playing around the park so grab a drink from the Common Ground Public House and walk around, or even try your hand at some Axe throwing therapy!

Apple Annie’s Restaurant
38480 Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen, CA 92399
Open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat & Sun 8am-6pm

Oak Tree Mountain
38480 Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen, CA 92399
Open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat & Sun 8am-6pm

~ 3:00 PM | VISIT SNOW-LINE ORCHARD

The next stop is one of my favorites. Make your way around the Oak Glen loop over to Snow-Line Orchard. This family owned apple farm is one of the only places in the area that makes the iconic apple cider donuts, so those are a MUST!

Walk through their shop and grab yourself some apple cider & donuts and take it out to their beautifully autumnal picnic grounds to enjoy! They also offer other activities like wine tasting and raspberry picking if you have some extra time.

Snow-Line Orchard
39400 Oak Glen Rd, Oak Glen, CA 92399
Open daily 9am-5pm

~ 4:00 PM | COFFEE BREAK @ WILSHIRE’S APPLE SHED

The day’s not over yet, so give yourself a little caffeine boost at Wilshire’s Apple Shed. This charming shop offers coffee, wood fired pizza, a gift shop, a hard cider tasting room, and a tobacconist all in one!

Wilshire’s Apple Shed
11925 Oak Glen Rd, Oak Glen, CA 92399
Open Wed-Sun 10am-5pm

~ 5:00 PM | HEAD TO 123 FARM’S “CHRISTMAS NIGHTS”

And now for the main attraction, head on over to 123 farm (about a 10-15 minute drive from Wilshire’s Apple Shed) to check in for their Christmas Nights experience!

Wander around the grounds of this beautiful lavender farm to take in the dazzling light display and Christmas village. Begin by stopping by the front desk of the hotel to get a map and a copy of the scavenger hunt that you can search for around the farm.

There are tons of shopping opportunities, so be sure to check out the shops for any holiday shopping you might need — you can buy organic items from the farm and also goods from local small businesses.

There is so much to do and see for people of all ages! If you are traveling with kids, there is a holiday maze and a search for elf on the shelf in Elvesville. And if you’re visiting with friends, I would recommend renting a private s’mores pit or checking out Santa’s Tiki Bar for some festive drinks. There is even a horse-drawn carriage tour around the property!

123 Farm’s “Christmas Nights”
10600 Highland Springs Ave. Cherry Valley, CA 92223
Open Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, & Sun 5-10pm

~ 8:00 PM | DRIVE BACK TO LOS ANGELES

Once you are fully stuffed to the max with pizza, brisket, hot chocolate, and funnel cake, it is time to head home! Head west on I-10 and back to Los Angeles. I hope you had a fun day in Oak Glen and got all the cozy autumnal and winter magic from everything apple country has to offer!

The options are endless when it comes to seasonal activities out in the lovely town of Oak Glen. This trip was just a short list of some of my personal favorites. Have you visited this area of Southern California before?? And if so, are there any other places I should check out next year?

xo Rachael