Best Places to Elope in Southern California
There’s a plethora of songs praising California. And it’s easy to see why. The Golden State has sun, surf, deserts, mountains, and so much more. All of this makes Southern California a fantastic place to elope. But too many options can be daunting for soon-to-be-wed couples trying to find the perfect spot for their wedding day.
Lucky for you, I’ve compiled a handful of recommendations for the best places to elope in Southern California—including lots of tips to help you have a wonderful wedding day.
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is one for desert lovers. It’s ideal for couples who want to get out there, get creative, and don’t mind getting a little dirty along the way. Giant boulders, strange-looking trees, endless desert landscapes—what’s not to love? Joshua Tree is perfect for just couples, small weddings, and elopements.
Why Joshua Tree? Aside from its obvious desert beauty, it's actually relatively easy to elope in Joshua Tree National Park. We’ll get into specifics below, but there’s a few things that make this a breezy process: Permit requests are straight forward, it’s easily accessibility for guests, and there are tons of opportunities in-park activities like hiking, climbing or sightseeing. Not to mention, that if you time it right, you can get away from crowds and just enjoy your big day.
Important Info: Joshua Tree is incredible, but it’s also a desert. So, you’ll need to equip yourself with sturdy shoes—especially if you are climbing, hiking, or scrambling. Since this park is a bit remote, you won’t have cell service in the national park. This usually isn’t much of an issue for wedding days, but it is wise to coordinate with guests before they come into the park. The weather in Joshua Tree is hot in the summer—as you might imagine—cold in the winter, and typically windy year-round. This national park is popular, so expect crowds unless you get there early in the morning or late in the evening.
When: If you’re searching for the best time to get married in Joshua Tree, it's springtime on a weekday. The weather is nice and warm most of the day, but it can get a little hot in the afternoons. Keeping in mind that nice weather attracts more crowds, it’s best to elope on a weekday. You can certainly elope in Joshua Tree during any time of year, so if you are willing to brave the heat, you’ll likely see fewer folks in the park.
Permits: Joshua Tree requires an inexpensive $30 entry fee; unless you have a national parks pass. If you have the ceremony in the park, you’ll need a $120 special use permit. Note that your outdoor wedding and elopement photographer will also need the same permit. Lucky for you, Love & Latitudes covers photography permits up to $300.
How to Get There: Depending on your location, you can drive to the park. The park is predominantly paved roads with a few 4x4 roads. If you need to take a plane, consider one of these airports and drive the rest of the way: Palm Springs International - 1 hour, Ontario International - 1.5 hours, or Los Angeles International Airport - 2.5 hours.
Where to Stay: Tons of amazing Airbnbs, vrbos, and b&bs. Some venues around the park have rooms for guests.
Death Valley National Park
Want to get married in the largest national park in the lower 48? Death Valley is perfect for people who love weird and wild deserts. This park is ideal for couples who want something remote, yet stunning. Explore all sorts of goodies including: salt flats, dunes, colorful hills, and some of the tallest peaks. Death Valley is really one of the most diverse parks. Better yet, it’s good for all types of weddings and sizes.
Why Death Valley? Death Valley is one of the most unique parks out there. And luckily, it’s very easy to navigate the rules and regulations. Weddings can only be held in one location, which means you get privacy. Elopements—on the other hands—are determined on a case-by-case basis, which means you have a lot of options! Either way, you can photograph anywhere in the park, which gives you an unlimited amount of unique views. There’s also a hotel inside the park, making for an easy reception spot. Activities include hiking, off-roading, and sightseeing.
When: Autumn is the best time to visit Death Valley Just know that better weather means more crowds. It’s not too bad though considering that this spot is simply not an option in the summer due to unsafe temps. But remember: Fall will still be warm. Winter is another good option if you’re feeling adventurous. As a bonus, you’ll see fewer people in the park—which makes for amazing salt flats photos. Note that it can snow as low as 3,000 feet in altitude. Rain, if you’re lucky enough to see it, makes for a more private experience.
Important Info: Good shoes are essential. If you’re looking for an action-packed adventure wedding, Death Valley boasts wonderful climbing and hiking spots. It is a fair distance away from towns or cities, so know there is no cell service inside the park.
Permits: You can only have a ceremony in Breakfast Canyon or the hotels. If it’s the latter, no permit is needed. If you decided to go with the former, all it takes is a $300 special use permit. The location requires one to two national park monitors—at $50 each—to ensure the park is protected. The nice part is you can have couples' photos ANYWHERE in the park. Alert friends and family they will have to pay $30 for entry at the gates.
How to Get There: You can drive to the park—or fly, then drive. The closest airports are Harry Reid International Airport (2 hours), St. George Regional Airport (3.5 hours), and Fresno Yosemite International Airport (5 hours). Luckily, the most popular attractions are on paved roads. But if you want to break out the 4x4, there’s plenty of offroading and 4x4 roads for the dirtbag experience.
Where to Stay: There are only a couple of hotels in the park. We recommend The Oasis or The Inn at Death Valley. These spots can also be a ceremony or reception location. There are very few Airbnbs—just note that most will require a longer drive into the park. Adventurous couples can also camp in the area.
Malibu, California
Let’s move on from the desert to the coastline. The California coastline is iconic—and Malibu is one of those spots that immediately comes to mind. Believe it or not, Malibu is another great area to elope. From Leo Carrillo State Beach to El Matador State Beach, there’s so many beautiful spots to say “I do.”
Why Malibu? Malibu wasn’t on my radar until Chloe and Matt eloped there in April and it blew me away. There’s some difficulties getting around here due to the traffic, but if you’re willing to look past that, the remote locations here make it feel like the perfect intimate setting, even in the popular springtime.
Important Info: Malibu can be busy, both on the sidewalks and the streets. Plan accordingly by getting married on a week day and even hiring a driver. Many beaches in Southern California have sandy or steep walkways—or both. So keep that in mind for those in your party who might have accessibility issues.
When: April to May is definitely the best time, especially since the flowers will be blooming that time of year. Just make sure to avoid June—it’s actually cold that time of year.
Permits: Permitting in Malibu depends on which specific location in Malibu you choose. Luckily, the permits are under $100 and you and the photographer will need one each. Straight forward is what we like to see!
How to Get There: Your best bet is to fly into LAX and rent a car to get around. Expect lots of traffic—there’s only one road into Malibu and it tends to get crowded. Luckily the views are beautiful!
Where to Stay: Malibu is one of the more pricey options on this list. After all—celebrities live here! Book your stays well in advance, or stay nearby in Los Angeles to save some money.
Red Rock Canyon State Park
Do you like red rocks and awesome desert landscapes? Then this desert state park is perfect for you! Red Rock Canyon State Park is located in Cantil, California on Highway 14 between Los Angeles and the Eastern Sierra—so it would make for a great spot on a road trip. It’s also a great area to get married in a wild place without the crowds of somewhere like Moab, Utah, or Sedona, Arizona. There’s not a lot of infrastructure, so this is better for a shorter “just couple” adventure elopement or a road trip elopement.
Why Red Rock Canyon State Park? If you’re looking for a spot where people rarely get married this is it. Crowds can be much smaller than average due to the remote nature of the park. And it’s a great place to off-road, see Joshua trees, and scramble red rocks—all in the same place! This has the added benefit of being the only red rock park in the state.
Important Info: Red Rock Canyon State Park is split across the highway. There might be cars driving by. The reddest part of the park is the most popular, so it won’t be private—unless you hit it on the weekdays.
When: Springtime when the temps are fair.
Permits: Permits are required for all photoshoots, and require at least 10 days to process. You simply call the phone number listed on their site and request the time and date: (661) 248-7013 or (661) 753-6356
How to Get There: Red Rock Canyon State Park is a 2-hour drive from LAX. This is a popular offroading spot—so keep that in mind! If you’re down to bring or rent a 4-wheel drive vehicle, you can explore more of the park.
Where to Stay: First come, first serve camping is available in the park for a $25 fee. Or stay in nearby towns and cities. The park is 2 hours from Los Angeles, 1.5 hours from Bakersfield, and 1.5 hours from Lone Pine.
North Algodones Dunes Wilderness
Want to gaze at miles of epic sand dunes? North Algodones Dunes Wilderness lets you get away from it all—especially if you visit the north side. Great for people who like offroading or dispersed camping. The area is very remote, so this is better for camping trips or day trips. Better for couples looking to elope just them or with adventurous friends. Great for people who don’t like shoes and want to get their toes in the sand.
Why North Algodones Dunes Wilderness? Sand dunes are absolutely amazing. The photos from your wedding will look unreal—perfect for fans of Star Wars, Dune, or those who love the ethereal simplicity of a landscape such as this.
Important Info: North Algodones Dunes Wilderness is split into two sides. The southern side is larger and popular for offroading. The ideal side for photography is the north side—also known as the Hugh T. Osborne Lookout Park.
When: Sunrise and sunset are stunning times for photography on the dunes. Summer will be hot, but as we said, this one is for the adventurous! You’ll beat the crowds in early summer and late spring.
Permits: No permits for this one, but work with your outdoor wedding and elopement photographer to make sure that’s still true. Rules change all the time!
How to Get There: 4 hours from the greater LA area—but LAX is about 3 hours. 2 hours from Palm Springs International Airport. You’ll need a car either way. A streetcar is fine. Unless you want to rent an ATV or bring your own.
Where to Stay: It’s a remote, so camping is available—or you can stay in Palm Springs. It can even be a day trip for tireless people. There's also hotels in Brawley but it’s a bit of a haul.
Newport Beach, California
California beaches are the best beaches in the US—in my humble opinion. I grew up in southern California for 18 years, so I should know. And while not all beaches are created equal, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach really take the cake. There’s no shortage of epic coastline here. From small to large beaches, you can curate your own experience, if only you are willing to share with the other people here to enjoy the amazing locations.
Why Newport Beach? Newport Beach truly has some beautiful spots for your wedding day. After all, nothing hits that beachy vibe like sand on your toes and wind in your hair. Yes, it can be a bit busy. But since the beaches of Newport are not at all remote, you can stay in amazing hotels and eat at next-level restaurants.
Important Info: These are popular areas, you absolutely won’t get them to yourself. Plan on sunrise shoots and weekday weddings.
When: Not June! It’s almost guaranteed to be cloudy during June gloom. We love early spring and late fall, since the crowds are greater in the summer. Jokes on them, the beaches are still amazing in March and October.
Permits: No permit for the couple, but the photographer needs one. No reservations can be made for spots on the beach—it’s first come first serve. There’s a few restrictions to note: no tables, chairs, arches, amplified sound, or alcohol. Only 50 people can be in attendance. Keep it minimal and small!
How to Get There: LAX and John Wayne are both nearby and super easy to navigate. While LAX is cheaper, it is crazy there. So fly to John Wayne if you’re down to pay a bit more.
Where to Stay: There’s no shortage of amazing places to stay. I can’t even link to everything because of how many there are. But they do run out, so book early! Here are some favorites: Newport Beach VRBO, Newport Beach VRBO, Newport Beach Airbnb, Newport Beach Airbnb, and Newport Beach Hotel.
Anza Borrego Desert State Park, the Salton Sea, and Salvation Mountain
We group these together because it would make the perfect wedding experience for the super adventurous couple or one who likes weird desert goodness and wants a fun photoshoot. Just think about all the amazing shots of you two as you drive around the desert! Any of these places alone make for a great experience, but together it can be a super unique and fun time.
Why This Area? This is the spot if you’re looking for unique, edgy, or alternative photos. The area has a ton of weird desert art—from the giant iron sculptures of Anza Borrego, to the crazy layers of paint at Salvation Mountain. These will be the funnest photos! Bonus—this area is remote and wild, perfect for people who really love to get out there.
Important Info: You’ll need a car for this one, everything is very spread out across a few hours. The Salton Sea stinks sometimes when it’s warm. There are no official wedding venues in the area, but that just means you have all the more freedom. Salvation Mountain is run on donations, so please come ready to support a small community with some dollars. And if you visit East Jesus to see the artwork, be respectful. People live here and won’t tolerate rowdy behavior. Salvation Mountain won’t be closed for private events, so this isn’t the best spot if you want privacy. Pets are allowed at Salvation Mountain—so bring the pups!
When: Spring or winter when the weather is fair. The warmer it is, the more you can sniff the salty Salton Sea—which isn’t exactly pleasant But crowds are slower in the summer. This area is subject to high winds, so be prepared to embrace mother nature!
Permits: For Salvation Mountain, you’ll need to contact them to make sure your date is available, since they don’t schedule multiple events in a day. And the photographer will need a commercial permit.
How to Get There: 1 hour from Palm Springs Airport. 3 hours from LAX. Rent a car, bonus points for a fun classic car, or geet an offroading vehicle for Anza Borrego.
Where to Stay: There are definitely some Airbnbs in the area. But also check out the scene in Palm Springs. Tons of boutique hotels and unique stays.
Ready to Elope in Southern California?
And there you have it! A ton of awesome recommendations for the best places to elope in Southern California.
If you want to get married in any of these spots—or just want to chat through questions and recommendations—contact me today. Love & Latitudes would love to be YOUR wedding photographer.
