Ojai makes for the perfect day trip, being just 1.5 hours from Los Angeles and less than an hour from Santa Barbara. It’s an eclectic, creative community surrounded by the gorgeous Topa Topa Mountains.

There’s a large focus on wellness, with a weekly farmers market and plenty of organic, vegan-friendly eateries. The slow-paced lifestyle offers a relaxing vibe for a leisurely day trip exploring the town.

Being in Ojai makes me feel at ease, with friendly locals who treat you like a friend, tasty and nourishing meals, and local shops in place of big box stores. It has small-town charm while still being home to gorgeous art galleries, boutique shops, and trendy restaurants.

The name Ojai (pronounced OH-hi) comes from the Chumash word ‘Awha’y’ (pronounced aw-ha-ee), the name of their village in Upper Ojai. When the Spanish arrived, they wrote it as “Ojay,” and later it became “Ojai” as written by the Americans.

You could easily fill a whole weekend with just meandering through the shops and enjoying farm-to-table meals, but a day trip to Ojai is just enough to see the best of it.

Ojai Day Trip Itinerary: Best Things To Do in One Day

How to Get to Ojai

From Santa Barbara: Ojai is about 33 miles from Santa Barbara, and the drive takes just under an hour, depending on traffic. You’ll take Highway 101 S until you reach the exit for Highway 150, which leads directly to downtown Ojai.
From Los Angeles: Ojai is about 80 miles from Los Angeles, and the drive takes about 1.5–2 hours, depending on traffic and where in Los Angeles you depart from. You’ll take Highway 101 N until you reach the exit for Highway 33, which feeds into Highway 150.

How to Spend One Day in Ojai

The perfect way to spend an Ojai day trip is to explore the shops, get out into nature, and eat satisfying meals.

Visit Summer Camp Shop

The first spot you’ll reach as you arrive in town is the Summer Camp Shop. It’s an old gas station-turned-store with handmade goods, along with plants, vintage items, and even custom framing.

It’s a well-curated shop with a beautiful selection of items. The back wall has a gorgeous mural on it — perfect for a photo op!

Summer Camp Shop is located at the very start of town, which is why I recommend stopping here first before continuing with your Ojai day trip. You could also stop here on your way out of town, depending on what time you leave.

Check their opening/closing hours to ensure they’ll be open when you arrive! If you’re arriving in town before they open, head straight to the next itinerary item and come back here later.

Enjoy Spicy Chai at Three Birds

Start your day with a coffee or tea at Three Birds. They have a lovely outdoor patio, as well as indoor seating with a wall full of books.

Their spicy chai is delicious, though I wouldn’t consider it spicy (I’ve had some spicy chai lattes in my life!). If you want a bite to eat, they also serve all kinds of breakfast dishes, soups, and some sweet treats.

Three Birds is the perfect place to start your Ojai day trip with some fuel and good vibes before a day of exploring.

Shop at Bart’s Books

One of the most famous spots in Ojai is Bart’s Books, an outdoor bookstore just one block over from the main street downtown.

It’s said to be the world’s largest outdoor bookstore, with more than 100,000 used books for sale. The shelves are all outdoors, filled from top to bottom with books. They’re all well organized into sections, as you would see in any regular bookstore.

The open-air aisles let you explore the vast selection of books while enjoying the practically year-round sunshine in Ojai. There are also plenty of shaded areas for a reprieve from the sun on hot days.

It reminded me a lot of the famous bookstore in Venice, Libreria Acqua Alta, which has piles and piles of books outside.

I had no plans to get anything, but ended up coming home with a few vintage California travel books for $8–10 each!

Get Lunch at Hip Vegan

The food at Hip Vegan is incredible — they make tofu taste DELICIOUS! Even if you’re not vegan, the dishes here will satisfy everyone.

There’s a gorgeous outdoor seating area, as well as indoor seating. I loved eating on the outdoor patio with fresh air, sunshine, and shady trees. The crispy tofu sando (pictured below) is flavorful, the perfect amount of spicy, and filling.

You can also get wraps, bowls, salads, and sides, which makes it so hard to decide what to order! They even have a drink menu with cocktails, wine, beer, coffee, and tea.

Other highly-rated restaurants:

Farmer and the Cook
The Blend Superfood Bar
Ojai Rotie
Topa Topa Brewing Co. (serving Sama Sama)
Ojai Tortilla House
The Duchess

Explore Downtown Ojai

Downtown Ojai is just a few blocks long on either side of the main street, which is actually Highway 150 (also called Ojai Avenue).

There are local shops with home goods, vintage clothing, and other products that are fun to explore, even if you aren’t buying anything.

Ojai Post Office Bell Tower & Portico

The Post Office is the most prominent piece of architecture in downtown Ojai, with a 65-foot bell tower modeled after the Christopher Columbus Cathedral in Havana, Cuba.

You cannot go inside the tower — you can only admire it from the ground.

The tower and portico, built in 1917, are now a City of Ojai Historical Landmark. It’s unmissable as you get closer to downtown!

Home Goods & Clothing Shops

Fig Curated Living: This indoor-outdoor shop has a wide variety of artisan-made items, including textiles, jewelry, and home decor.
Sunday’s: This is the perfect shop to get yourself (or loved ones) some Ojai-themed gifts. They have a lovely selection of candles, home decor, skin care, and other local items.
Ali Golden: Women-owned clothing shop that carries items from 20+ designers focused on sustainability and affordability.

Antique Shops

Findings Flea: Brand new shop that opened in November 2025 with goods from 14 vintage dealers, including clothing, art, home goods, and more. I loved the selection they had when I visited! There were some really cool vintage clothing items and drawings.
Treasures of Ojai: Here you’ll find antique furniture, as well as a large collection of other antique bits and bobs. The name fits it perfectly — this shop truly feels like someone’s treasure trove of antiques!
The Lennon Closet: Fine consignment clothing store with vintage and modern clothing, located in the charming Arcade Plaza.

Heavenly Honey

Pop into Heavenly Honey to shop their selection of infused local honey and do a honey tasting for under $10 per person. It’s a small shop, but their range of flavors is impressive.

They were doing a tasting with a family when I visited (solo), and they seemed preoccupied, so I didn’t do a tasting. Next time!

Pixie’s General Store

This shop is off the main street, next to Three Birds. It’s less of a general store and more of a gift shop. They mostly carry children’s clothing and toys, though they also have non-kid items and a cute table of Pixie-themed items.

Pixies are the type of tangerine that grows in Ojai on small family farms. You’ll see references to them throughout the town! Pixie season starts in March and typically lasts until June.

If you’re not visiting during Pixie season, you can still shop Pixie items, like candles, sprays, and art, in Pixie’s General Store (and other shops downtown).

Walk to the Old Ojai Jail

From downtown, walk the trail through Libbey Park to reach the old jail. It’s not much to look at, especially compared to the adorable Half Moon Bay jail, but it is a unique landmark in Ojai.

Two trails lead to the jail: one from downtown that goes through Libbey Park, and the Ojai Valley Trail that runs parallel to Highway 150 for the length of downtown Ojai.

Though the jail isn’t the most exciting thing, the trails there are lovely and perfect for a post-lunch walk.

Take in the Views at the Highway 150 Scenic Overlook

Get a bird's-eye view of Ojai Valley up in the hills of Highway 150. It’s an easy 10-minute drive from downtown Ojai to the Highway 150 Scenic Overlook, and well worth the trip.

Look for the giant “The Ojai Valley” sign and pull over. Get out of your car and walk towards the fence to take in the sweeping views. If you visit after the area has had some rain, the valley will look lush and green.

A large red-shouldered hawk was hanging out on the power line while I was there. A few people stopped to take in the views, so don’t expect this to be a hidden gem or private spot. It’s well known!

Tip: Make a stop in town for some snacks and drinks first, then enjoy a mini picnic once you reach the overlook!

Experience the “Pink Moment” at Ojai Meadows Preserve

The “Pink Moment” is a well-known phenomenon among Ojai locals and visitors. It’s when the surrounding Topa Topa Mountains glow pink as the sun sets, before fading to purple, and then a deep blue.

When I first heard about this and saw photos, I thought, “Surely those are edited to look more pink and vibrant.” Experiencing them in person, I realized quickly that the mountains really do glow pink!

I find that winter is the best time for sunsets in this area of California. It’s one of the reasons winter in Santa Barbara is one of my favorite times to visit.

The Ojai Meadows Preserve is an ideal spot to watch the Pink Moment, since there are wide views of the mountains and nice trails to stroll. While dogs are allowed, they must be leashed — this is a nature preserve, not a dog park (as their signage clearly states).

Arrive 30 minutes before sunset to ensure you don’t miss the Pink Moment. I recommend arriving an hour before sunset to enjoy the trails, the bench near the pond, wildlife, and plants.

Logistics:

You can park on the street near the Lomita Ave Entrance.
There are no bathrooms here.
The trail is short, flat, and out-and-back. It’s super easy!

More Things To Do in Ojai

Ojai Olive Oil: Go for an olive oil tasting on a gorgeous olive orchard.
Pottery Workshop: Enjoy a two-hour private pottery studio tour, demo, and workshop where you’ll create 3–5 of your own pottery pieces on the wheel.
Farmers’ Market: Shop for fresh, local food every Sunday at 300 E Matilija St. from 9am–1pm.
Ojai Pixie Month: April in Ojai is in full celebration mode of Pixie season! Local hotels offer special packages, restaurants add Pixie-focused dishes and drinks to their menus, and spas use Pixie-infused products in their treatments.
Topa Topa Brewing Co.: Enjoy local beer from Topa Topa Brewing Co. and food from Sama Sama (one of the BEST restaurants in Santa Barbara).
Ojai Valley Museum: Learn about the history of Ojai with interesting exhibits in a former Catholic church. If you need a break from the heat on a hot day, this museum has AC!

Where To Stay in Ojai

One day not enough? Make it an overnight trip! Ojai is the perfect spot for a weekend getaway from Los Angeles.

Su Nido Inn: Rustic suites at a four-star hotel just two blocks from the main street in downtown Ojai. These suites have kitchenettes, living rooms, and terraces for a home-away-from-home feel.
Caravan Outpost: Stay in your very own airstream in a hidden retreat surrounded by palm trees. There’s a lovely outdoor area, and each airstream has a bed, kitchenette, bathroom, and seating area.
The Emerald Iguana Inn: This charming inn is styled with wood accents and warm tones for a comfortable weekend getaway. It’s set back from downtown for a quiet stay, yet is still easily walkable from the shops and restaurants.