Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve

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Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve

Photo: Thomas · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

🎃 Seasonal · Lancaster

3 hours · Free · No reservation needed

age fit
0–1 yr
★ 3.0
1–3 yrs
★ 4.0
3–5 yrs
★ 4.0
5–10 yrs
★ 3.0
  • 🚗
    About 80 min drive
    From Arcadia · Parking: Reserve lot about $10 per car, lines to get in on bloom-season weekends, arrive before the 8:30am opening
  • 🎒
    Carrier recommended
    Terrain isn't stroller-friendly; a carrier is easier
  • 🌳
    Little shade
    Great on sunny days · Good on cool days · Wind-OK
  • ⏱️
    Typical visit: 3 hours
    Best seasons: Spring

From mid-March to April, 1,800 acres of hillside turn orange with the state flower, and several gentle trails run through the fields; a photo of the kids running through the poppies is a yearly ritual for LA families, and the visitor center has a small exhibit and restrooms.

💡 Tips
The bloom varies a lot year to year, so check the state park website's Poppy Report or the bloom cameras before you go. It is often very windy, and the flowers close on cloudy days, so pick a sunny day around midday. Stay out of the fields and no dogs.

What this place offers

✓wildflowers
✓orange fields
✓trails
✓windy
✓photo ops
✓visitor center
✓restrooms

Featured in these guides

This weekend's weather in Lancaster

Forecast at the destination itself (coast and hills often differ from home)

🌤️
Sat 10/17
Partly cloudy · 55–79°F · 1% rain
☀️
Sun 10/18
Sunny · 53–80°F · 0% rain

Location

Lancaster, California

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