Weekend Trips from LA Under $300: Flight + Hotel Included

Under $300 for a full weekend trip sounds too good to be true. It's not. If you're flexible on destination and book a couple weeks ahead, there are consistently three to five nonstop routes from LA where the flight and two nights of hotel come in under $300 per person. Here's where to look.

Las Vegas: the $200 weekend

This is the most reliable sub-$300 weekend from LA. Flights on Southwest, Frontier, and Spirit regularly dip below $80 round trip. The flight is one hour. Hotels on the strip run $40 to $100 per night on non-event weekends. That math works out to $160 to $280 for flights and hotel combined.

The trick with Vegas is timing. Avoid weekends with big fights, conventions, or holidays. A random weekend in February or October? You'll have the run of the city at bargain prices. The food scene alone justifies the trip. Many of the best restaurants in the country have Vegas outposts, and the competition keeps prices competitive.

Phoenix/Scottsdale: the $250 pool weekend

The flight from LAX is ninety minutes and regularly under $100 round trip on American or Southwest. Hotels in the Papago area or along the canal run $70 to $120 per night outside of peak season (October through March is peak, but even then deals exist). Total for the weekend: $210 to $340.

The play here is a resort pool that doesn't charge resort fees. Several mid-range hotels in Scottsdale have great pools without the $40 per night surcharge that the big-name resorts tack on. Ask before you book.

San Francisco: the $280 city weekend

Flights from LAX to SFO are cheap and constant. Southwest, Alaska, United, and Delta all compete, pushing round trips down to $80 to $150. Hotels in SF are expensive by default, but budget options in the Mission or near Union Square start around $90 per night. Total: $260 to $330.

The key to a cheap SF weekend is skipping the tourist traps. Fisherman's Wharf is overpriced. The Mission, Hayes Valley, and North Beach have better food at half the price. Walk everywhere (SF is small) and you'll spend almost nothing on transportation.

San Diego: the $250 beach weekend

If you're in the Valley or anywhere north of the 10, flying to San Diego is genuinely faster than driving. Flights run $70 to $140 round trip. Hotels near the Gaslamp Quarter or in Pacific Beach start around $80 per night. Total: $230 to $310.

San Diego is the cheapest beach weekend from LA that doesn't require a passport. Coronado Beach is free, the fish tacos cost $4, and the vibe is more relaxed than anything in LA.

Reno: the $220 mountain weekend

Reno doesn't get the attention it deserves as a weekend destination from LA. Flights are often under $100 round trip, and hotels run $60 to $100 per night. Total: $220 to $300. Lake Tahoe is 45 minutes away for a day trip, and the Riverwalk District downtown has surprisingly good restaurants and bars.

How to consistently find sub-$300 weekends

Book flights on Tuesday or Wednesday for the lowest fares. Two to three weeks out is the sweet spot for domestic weekend trips. Avoid holiday weekends. Check Southwest separately since they don't show up on Google Flights. And use our weekend trips page sorted by price to see what's available right now from every LA-area airport.

We update prices daily. The cheapest packages sell out fast, so if you see something under $300 with a decent Weekend Score, book it before the fares move.