Dallas to Los Angeles Road Trip: An Unforgettable Adventure
For my fortieth birthday this year, I decided to take a Dallas to Los Angeles road trip with one goal: surfing the iconic California waves. We decided to make an adventure of it and drive.
With the open road ahead, we took the time to stop at interesting places along the way. There’s something magical about hitting the road and soaking up all the sights, sounds, and tastes a journey like this offers.
If you’re looking for adventure on your trip from Texas to California, here are some tips and must-see stops to make your journey memorable.
If you want more of a Route 66 trip, check my Los Angeles to Dallas post (coming soon!). I mean, you didn’t think we’d return the same way we went there, did you?
Dallas to Los Angeles Road Trip Day 1: Dallas to El Paso
The Longest Drive Ever
Breanna was born two days shy of my twenty-third birthday, so we often share birthday celebrations. This year, we hosted her birthday party and then left shortly afterward.
Once you leave Fort Worth, you’ll be surrounded by nothingness for nine hours, so make sure you have a good buddy to talk to or some good music/podcasts/audibles to listen to.
We left around 3:30 PM and took an extra hour-long detour closer to El Paso, so we didn’t get in until 2 a.m. (1 a.m. our time).
Having driven through nothingness for what seemed like an eternity, the sight of El Paso lit up in the dark was breathtaking, marking a memorable moment in our Dallas to Los Angeles road trip. Honestly, it was just as pretty in the morning sun as well.
We stopped for dinner at a gas station with an Arby’s. It was not super fancy for a birthday dinner, but it was Bre’s request since she knew we needed something fast. While there, I booked our room at the Marriott in El Paso.
The Marriott in El Paso
As I mentioned, it was super early (or super late, depending on how you look at it) when we got there. Our room was already open when we got to it, which I thought was odd, but then we went to shut the door, and it wouldn’t shut!
So we went down and asked the desk clerk for a new room. It took a bit of digging because they were booked for the night, but we got there in the end. The room was spacious, and the city lights gave a pretty glow. The beds were comfortable. We fell asleep quickly, knowing it would only be for a few hours.
We woke to a beautiful sunrise overlooking the city and the Marriott’s pool. It looked like a nice enough hotel, but this was a one-purpose deal: sleep and move on.
Dallas to Los Angeles Road Trip Day 2: El Paso to Joshua Tree
Day two of our Dallas to Los Angeles road trip took us from El Paso through New Mexico and into Arizona, with each state offering its own unique landscapes and adventures
Stop One: Coffee Box
One of our first stops for breakfast was at the Coffee Box in North Zaragoza, El Paso.
This area is full of colorful murals and has such a cute vibe that we almost didn’t want to leave. The Coffee Box building sticks with the nearby theme of being unique- it’s built from two metal freight containers. The upstairs seating area was my favorite, offering indoor and outdoor options.
We ordered charcoal-based coffee drinks—Breanna got a frappe while mine was hot. Skeptical at first, I finally took a sip, and we agreed it had notes of white chocolate. To eat, we had their bagel sandwich to split, which kept us full for the next stretch of our drive.
Stop Two: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
We entered New Mexico within an hour of leaving the coffee shop, and the entire drive through the state was short. That being said, we had a “first” while there- we went through border patrol! It was nerve-wracking when I saw it coming, but it was not a big deal. The officer said, “Okay, ladies, have a great day,” and we were on our way.
From there, we headed to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to pick up Mimi! We stopped in their free pick-up parking lot until she said she was ready, and then we drove down to get her. It was a relatively simple setup, though it felt more complicated than going through Love Field.
Knowing it was only three hours from Phoenix to Joshua Tree, I decided we needed to get groceries for dinner that night while we were in town. So we hopped over to Whole Foods Market, where I saw some goodies I had never seen before.
Lunch at Taco Boys
Originally, I had a friend, the fabulous Amber, who was supposed to meet us for lunch, but she was out of town, so she recommended a few places, telling us tacos were always a good idea; therefore, we ended up at Taco Boys.
We wound up at their downtown location, and I knew it was good from the beginning because it was noisy and jam-packed with people. While we waited to order, they gave Mom and me their drink special of the day; it was very refreshing.
I ordered the cabeza vampiros taco, a unique take on the classic street taco. It’s made with a soft corn tortilla grilled until crispy and crackly, then topped with cheese and whatever topping you desire.
My meat was cabeza (I’ll let you google that in case you’ve got a weak stomach), but the toppings beyond that were my choice. They had a little buffet of condiments to choose from.
Tip! The food was delicious and messy- so be sure to have extra napkins and even a wet wipe for when you go.
Final Stop for the Night: Joshua Tree to Enjoy the Dark Sky
After a long day of driving, we arrived in Joshua Tree City (not the National Park), which became one of the highlights of our Dallas to Los Angeles road trip. The clear, starry night skies made it the perfect peaceful retreat.
Joshua Tree has plenty of cute Airbnbs that are decently priced. We made a spaghetti squash chicken alfredo dinner and hung out in the hot tub overlooking the starry night sky.
At first, Mom couldn’t see what we were talking about when it came to the mass of stars, but then I went in and turned all the lights off, even the outside ones, and then she understood. It was such a peaceful way to end the second day of driving.
Check out my full review post for more details about the area and our funky little Airbnb.
Dallas to Los Angeles Road Trip Day 3: Joshua Tree to Los Angeles
Joshua Tree Coffee
On our way in the night before, Joshua Tree Coffee Company stood out. Therefore, it was on my mind when I woke up on my birthday. I got dressed and headed over there. It was really neat to see their coffee roaster working in the back of the shop, and I appreciate the thoughtfulness of their coffee roasting process and the simple design of the space.
Maybe she was having a bad day, but my only complaint was that the barista was a bit snobby. Overall though, stopping at Joshua Tree Coffee Company was a perfect way to start the morning and fuel up for the final stretch of our Dallas to Los Angeles road trip.
From there, we returned to the Airbnb and packed up for the last bit of the journey.
Stopping to take pictures
After eating and having our coffee, we headed out to the interstate. Along the way, we stopped at the “Welcome to Joshua Tree” sign with the trees in the background. Our other stop was at Walmart.
Santa Monica: Lemonade LA
It doesn’t take long before you are in the traffic of Los Angeles suburbs. I have to say, driving in LA is not as bad as everyone made it out to be. The interstate is not a big deal; the city driving is slower.
As we neared the end of our Dallas to Los Angeles road trip, arriving at Santa Monica to finally surf the California waves was the ultimate reward. Mom and Bre hung out on the pier and headed to the Lemonade LA restaurant. If you’re looking for the most authentic taste of Southern California, this is it. Their food is locally grown, and it screams healthy. They are vegetable-focused but not vegetarian.
Perfect way to end the the road trip.
Final Thoughts on the Dallas to Los Angeles Road Trip
Our road trip from Dallas to Los Angeles was more than just a journey to surf the California waves—an adventure filled with unique stops, unforgettable meals, and stunning landscapes. Every moment was worth the miles, from quiet sunrises in El Paso to dark skies in Joshua Tree and fresh, local flavors at Lemonade LA.
Despite the fact that this was a quick Dallas to Los Angeles road trip, we were able to make the most of the time that we did get out of the vehicle. We did our best to savor the drive, explore new places, and embrace the unexpected.
Afterall, the open road offers freedom like no other, and with the right stops and a bit of spontaneity, your trip will be filled with memories that last long after the drive is over.
