# A twenty-two dollar train ride to Ventura

> A Los Angeles local shares her favorite day trip by Amtrak to a beach town with shopping, food, and no driving required.
- Title: A twenty-two dollar train ride to Ventura · Business Insider
- Summary: A Los Angeles local shares her favorite day trip by Amtrak to a beach town with shopping, food, and no driving required.
- Keywords: ventura california, amtrak pacific surfliner, day trip, los angeles, train travel, beaches, thrift shopping, restaurants, Business Insider
- Source: Business Insider — https://businessinsider.com/favorite-day-trip-southern-california-what-to-do-ventura-amtrak-2026-11
- Author: Liana Minassian
- Published: 2026-11-07T16:55:01.232+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: ventura california, amtrak pacific surfliner, day trip, los angeles, train travel, beaches, thrift shopping, restaurants, business, technology
## A twenty-two dollar escape
A one-way ticket from the Hollywood Burbank Airport station to Ventura costs just twenty-two dollars and takes an hour and a half. The beach is just a block from the train station.
## The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner runs all the way from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. The writer lives in Southern California and explores neighborhoods up and down the coast via this beautiful coastal train.
## Breakfast and coffee on board
One perk of traveling by Amtrak instead of by car or bus is the café car experience. The writer grabs a coffee and a vegetarian breakfast burrito with cheese, eggs, and potatoes.
## Ventura's beaches and pier
The beach is typically the first place the writer goes upon arriving. She walks south toward the pier down the paved promenade that runs along Surfers Point, sometimes getting fish tacos or elote from Beach…
## Downtown thrift shops
Downtown Ventura, especially Main Street, has a plethora of vintage and thrift shops.Coalition Thrift Store has an incredible, reasonably priced selection of both modern and vintage pieces.
## Fish tacos and tiki drinks
Ventura has a great food and drink scene.Spencer Makenzie's has a fish taco that locals voted best in Ventura.
## A day without driving
Ventura is easy to explore on foot.The writer can get her steps in, then relax with her feet up on the train ride home.
## A complete day trip
By the time she gets back to Los Angeles, the writer has squeezed a beach day, some shopping, and plenty of good seafood into a twelve-hour day trip, all without ever having to set foot…
## Key takeaway

A Los Angeles writer takes the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner to Ventura for a twenty-two dollar day trip combining beaches, thrift shopping, and restaurants without needing a car.