Although the San Fernando Valley suburb of Van Nuys, California, is home to a series of tract homes and wide, grid-like boulevards dotted with strip malls, it’s also only a couple of hours from the glitz and glamor of numerous Native American-owned casinos scattered throughout Southern California. The valley is a frequent jumping-off point for tour buses that offer quick, one-day turnaround trips to area casinos.

• Harrah's San Diego Pool
• Harrah's San Diego
• Harrah's California Casino

San Diego County

A little over two hours from Van Nuys, Valley View Casino and Hotel in Valley Center is home to Luxury Line, a bus service that provides transportation to and from the casino from over 100 Southern California locations. The complimentary service is available to members of the Valley View Casino and Hotel Players Club, which you can sign up to for free. Three pickups are scheduled daily from the Panorama City Post Office, 10 minutes north of Van Nuys, with casino stays lasting approximately six hours. Valley Center-based Harrah’s Resort Southern California also provides shuttle service from 35 area spots, including one from the Panorama City Library. An early morning pickup with an afternoon return is scheduled Thursday through Saturday, as well as a late-night Saturday run.

Riverside County

Pechanga Resort and Casino is in the winery-rich city of Temecula, less than two hours southeast of Van Nuys. Sign up for Club at Pechanga and you’ll receive points redeemable for perks and prizes each time you gamble, plus you can purchase shuttle tickets for the daily round-trip excursion from the Panorama City Library to the casino. Restricted to those 21 and older, the bus leaves the valley early in the morning and returns from the casino in the evening. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, two hours east of Van Nuys, partners with Alvand Tours to provide transportation from the San Fernando Valley. Shuttle service is available on Saturday mornings from the intersection of Ventura Boulevard and Newcastle Avenue in Encino, with resort stays lasting about five hours. Transportation fees also include lunch coupons and casino credit.

Things to do near Harrah's Resort Southern California on Tripadvisor: See 13,666 reviews and 1,069 candid photos of things to do near Harrah's Resort Southern California in Funner, California.

Off the Beaten Path

Chumash Casino Resort is in Santa Ynez, 30 minutes northeast of Santa Barbara and two hours north of Van Nuys. Catch a ride from the casino’s shuttle bus in Woodland Hills at Warner Plaza on Ventura Boulevard, 20 minutes west of Van Nuys. The bus runs seven days a week with pickups throughout the day and, often, two evening return times. The per-passenger fee includes a free play voucher for the casino. San Bernardino County-based San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino is in Highland, nearly 90 minutes east of Van Nuys. The casino works with Valley Travel Club, a Van Nuys-based tour company, to host turnaround bus rides originating from Halbrent Avenue in Van Nuys. The company often has two trips each month, with each excursion departing the valley in the morning and staying six hours at San Manuel. Costs typically include travel and a voucher for a meal or casino play.

Harrah’s Resort Southern California. 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way, Valley Center. The deal: A full-service casino resort with a hotel, luxury pool complex, a. San Diego, the eighth largest city in the country, is often referred to as “America’s Finest City” and for good reason! Known for its great hotels and accommodations, beautiful weather, pristine beaches, friendly people and a plethora of entertainment, San Diego is a favorite travel destination for visitors across the globe.

Various Tour Companies

Harrah's San Diego Pool

Patty Wagon Charter and Tours is a company that offers shuttle rides to numerous area casinos. The company has excursions to San Manuel seven days a week, with afternoon pickups in such locations as Van Nuys Boulevard and Woodman Avenue in Arleta, just 10 minutes north of Van Nuys. Passengers get six hours free time in the casino and add-on packages include coupons for food or play. The bus also provides occasional service to Barona Resort and Casino in San Diego County, nearly three hours southeast of Van Nuys, from the same departure point. Schedules vary but each stay lasts approximately seven hours. Royal American Tours is based in Glendale, 20 minutes southeast of Van Nuys, and has buses available for charter. Groups, with minimums varying between 30 and 55 passengers, can reserve buses for trips from the San Fernando Valley to such casinos as San Manuel, Valley View and Fantasy Springs, as well as Buffalo Bill and Gold Strike at the Nevada-California state line. Passengers often receive food vouchers, money with which to gamble and five to eight hours of playtime in the casino.

About the Author

A travel writer since 2002, Leah Rendon has written countless articles for online pop-culture magazines and various travel-related websites, including Eurobooking and World66. Gosford also has experience in copywriting, having developed a series of articles related to network marketing. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in theater arts.

Harrah's San Diego

Harrah's California Casino