Staying in Hollywood or LA and wondering if a day trip to Disneyland is worth fitting into your trip? This guide is for you. We cover the distance and drive time, the best ways to get there, what a realistic day actually looks like once you’re inside the park, and a few practical tips for planning around traffic and parking. By the end, you’ll know whether a Disneyland day trip from Hollywood makes sense for your trip and how to make the most of it.
Once you’ve got the Disneyland side of your trip figured out, check out our award-winning Hollywood tours to see the Walk of Fame, the Hollywood Sign, Beverly Hills, and more.
Table of Contents:
How Far Is Disneyland From Hollywood
Disneyland is located in Anaheim, in Orange County, about 30 miles southeast of Hollywood. The road distance runs closer to 32 to 33 miles depending on your exact starting point and route.
On a clear stretch of freeway, the drive takes around 35 to 40 minutes. The most direct route runs along the 101 South to the 5 South, dropping you near Disneyland Drive in Anaheim. Traffic during weekday rush hours, roughly 7 to 9 AM and 4 to 7 PM, can stretch that drive significantly, so the time of day you leave matters more than the distance itself.
Getting From Hollywood to Disneyland
Driving, the train, and rideshare all work well from Hollywood, and each one suits a different kind of trip.
Driving
Driving gives you the most control over your schedule. The most direct route runs the 101 South to the 5 South, dropping you near Disneyland Drive in Anaheim. Outside of rush hour, the drive takes around 35 to 40 minutes. Standard theme park parking runs $40 for a car or motorcycle at the Mickey and Friends, Pixar Pals, or Toy Story lots, with Preferred Parking available for $60 if you want to park closer to the entrance.
Rates are set directly by Disneyland and are subject to change, so it’s worth confirming current pricing before your visit.
Train
Metrolink and Amtrak both run from Union Station in downtown LA to the Anaheim ARTIC station, a short ride from the Disneyland Resort. From Hollywood, that means getting to Union Station first, typically by Metro rail or rideshare, before boarding the train south. Once you’re at ARTIC, a free shuttle bus connects you to the resort in about 30 minutes.
The train avoids freeway traffic and parking entirely, but it comes with more transfers and more total travel time than driving, often adding an hour or more each way once you account for getting to Union Station and the final shuttle connection. For a single day trip, that is time worth weighing against the convenience, especially if getting full hours at the park matters to you.
Rideshare
Rideshare from Hollywood to Disneyland is harder to pin to one number since fares shift with traffic, time of day, and demand, but expect somewhere in the $60 to $100 range each way as a rough estimate. It’s a straightforward door-to-door option with no parking to worry about, though costs add up quickly for a group compared to driving.
How Much Time You Need at Disneyland
One day is enough to get a real visit in, but it is not enough to see everything. Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure are two separate parks connected by the Downtown Disney District, and covering both thoroughly in a single day means picking priorities rather than wandering freely.
Park hours vary by date, but gates typically open around 8 AM and the parks stay open into the evening. Arriving close to opening gives you the best shot at shorter lines on the most popular attractions before crowds build through the afternoon. If you are coming from Hollywood, that means leaving early enough to account for your transportation choice and still be parked or dropped off close to opening.
Choosing One Park vs. Both
A single-park day, choosing either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure rather than both, is the more realistic plan if you want to see the major attractions without rushing between the two. Splitting time across both parks in one day works better in a few situations:
- You have visited before and already know which attractions matter most to you.
- You are comfortable skipping the slower-paced or less essential areas of each park.
- Your group is small and can move quickly between the two parks.
If you want to experience both parks without compromise, staying overnight near Anaheim and giving yourself two days is the more comfortable option. A day trip from Hollywood works well for a focused, single-park visit or for visitors who have already seen Disneyland and want a shorter return trip.
What to Know Before You Go
A few practical details make the difference between a smooth day and a frustrating one, especially when you are working around a single day and a drive back to Hollywood.
Comfortable shoes matter more than anything else you pack. Between the parking structure, the walk to the entrance, and a full day moving between attractions, you will likely cover several miles on foot before the day is over.
Bring your own water. Both parks allow guests to bring in sealed water bottles, and refill stations are available throughout, which helps keep costs down over a long day.
Build in extra time at the start and end of your day. Parking, security, and the walk in from the lot all take longer than they look on paper, especially during busier periods. The same applies on the way out, when everyone tends to leave around the same time.
If you are driving back to Hollywood the same night, plan your departure with traffic in mind rather than assuming the return trip will mirror the morning drive.
Should You Do Disneyland as a Day Trip
Disneyland works well as a day trip from Hollywood for some travelers and less well for others, depending on what you actually want out of your LA day and the rest of your itinerary.
When a Day Trip Makes Sense For Your LA Itinerary
- You have already been to Disneyland before and want a shorter, lower-pressure return visit.
- Your trip to LA is short and Disneyland is one stop among several rather than the main event.
- Your group is comfortable focusing on a single park rather than splitting time across both.
When Staying Overnight Near Anaheim Makes More Sense
- This is your first visit and you want to experience both parks without rushing.
- You are traveling with young children who benefit from a slower pace and a midday break.
- Seeing the parks at night, including fireworks and evening shows, matters to your trip.
Neither choice is the wrong one. A day trip from Hollywood gets you a real Disneyland visit without giving up a night of your LA stay, and an overnight stay near Anaheim gets you a fuller two-park experience without driving back the same day. The right answer depends on how much of your trip you want Disneyland to take up.
If Disneyland turns out not to be the right fit for this trip, our guide to the best day trips from Los Angeles covers other options worth considering.
Make the Most of Your Time in Hollywood and LA
Once you’ve got your Disneyland day figured out, it’s worth spending a little time on the rest of your trip to Hollywood and LA too. Most first-time visitors are working with limited time, and knowing what to prioritize makes a real difference in how much of the city you actually see.
Planning your itinerary. If you haven’t mapped out your full trip yet, our guide to visiting Los Angeles for the first time covers the essentials, and our breakdown of Hollywood in 2 days vs. 5 days can help you figure out how much time to budget for the rest of your trip.
The landmarks most visitors want to see first are the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Dolby Theatre, and the Hollywood Sign. Our Hollywood walking tour guide is a useful starting point if you want to explore on foot.
The easiest way to see it all without planning the route yourself is one of our guided tours:
- The Half Day Best of LA Tour covers Beverly Hills, the Farmers Market and The Grove, and Griffith Observatory in one efficient outing.
- The Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Celebrity Homes Open Air Tour passes by some of the most famous homes in the area, along with the Hollywood Sign and the Sunset Strip.
- The Perfect Day in LA combines both tours for visitors who want to see as much as possible in a single day.
Browse our full lineup of Hollywood and LA tours to find the right fit for your trip.
Disneyland Day Trip FAQ
How do you get from Disneyland to Hollywood?
Driving back is the most direct option, taking around 35 to 40 minutes outside of rush hour on the 5 North to the 101 North. The train is also an option, with a free shuttle from the Disneyland Resort to the Anaheim ARTIC station connecting to Metrolink or Amtrak service into Union Station. Rideshare works well too, though fares vary depending on traffic and demand.
Is Disneyland a good full-day tour from Hollywood?
Yes, for travelers who are comfortable focusing on a single park, either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure, rather than trying to cover both in one day. A full-day trip works best when you leave early enough to make the most of park hours and plan your return trip with traffic in mind.
Is a Disneyland day trip family-friendly?
Yes, a Disneyland day trip from Hollywood works well for families. The main consideration is pacing, since young children may need a midday break that a single, packed day does not allow for. Families who want a slower pace often find an overnight stay near Anaheim more comfortable than a one-day round trip. For more on planning a trip that works for the whole family, see our guide to LA with kids.
How far is Disneyland from Hollywood Blvd?
Disneyland sits about 30 miles southeast of Hollywood Blvd, with a road distance closer to 32 to 33 miles depending on your exact route. The drive runs around 35 to 40 minutes outside of heavy traffic.
Plan Your Hollywood and LA Tour
A Disneyland day trip from Hollywood is realistic, whether you drive, take the train, or book a rideshare, and the right choice comes down to your budget, your group, and how much of the day you want to spend on the road versus inside the park.
Once that part of your trip is settled, give the same attention to your time in Hollywood and LA. Browse our full lineup of Hollywood and LA tours to see the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills, the Hollywood Sign, and more, all built to cover the most ground in the most comfortable, efficient way.
