Origin
Bellflower, CA
Late night in Bellflower on Tuesday
Local time
5:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bellflower, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
18 mi
29 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bellflower, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Traveling the 18 miles from Bellflower to Los Angeles is a quick, straightforward journey that typically takes about 24 minutes. Because the distance is so short, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize the Santa Ana Freeway and the San Gabriel River Freeway to navigate between these Pacific Coast locations. With a fuel cost of just $2, it is a highly budget-friendly commute. Whether you are heading into the city for work or leisure, this drive offers a simple, direct connection between the two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 11.8 mi | 14m |
| San Gabriel River Freeway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Alondra Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Woodruff Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Los Angeles Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Arcadia Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Flora Vista Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 11.8 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellflower, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on Flora Vista Street
134 ft
·
8 sec
·
Flora Vista Street
2
Turn right onto Woodruff Avenue
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Woodruff Avenue
3
Turn right onto Alondra Boulevard
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Alondra Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 605 North
5
Merge onto I 605
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
San Gabriel River Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa Ana
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 5 North: Santa Ana Freeway, Los Angeles
9
Merge onto I 5
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 2B
Toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on I 10 EXPR
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Arcadia Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Los Angeles Street
14
Turn right onto East 1st Street
461 ft
·
17 sec
·
East 1st Street
15
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 17.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa Ana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa...
8
4.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa Ana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa...
6
5.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Santa Ana Freeway, Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 5 North: Santa Ana Freeway, Los Angele...
6
14.4 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
US 101 / Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101 / Santa Ana Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
17.3 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2B
Toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.14 one way
$8.27 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $4.26 | $8.53 |
| premium | $6.18 | $4.38 | $8.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.97 | $7.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.58 | $0.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.52 | $1.15 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Los Angeles, CA
Late night in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
5:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
28 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
24m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a classic highway-focused experience, as 81% of your route is spent on major roads. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves an 11.8-mile stretch on the Santa Ana Freeway. You will transition from local streets like Alondra Boulevard directly into the faster flow of the freeway system. While the drive is efficient, you should be prepared for the steady pace typical of major Southern California arteries. It is a functional, no-nonsense route that prioritizes speed and direct access over scenic detours.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.8 mi on Santa Ana Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and San Gabriel River Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 18 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bellflower, CA to Los Angeles, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Ana along the way.
Santa Ana
4.5 mi in
|
~6m
About the Cities
Starting in Bellflower, CA
Full guide →Founded 1957
Bellflower is a city in the Gateway Cities region of Los Angeles County in Southern California.
Arriving in Los Angeles, CA
Full guide →“Tinseltown” · Founded 1781
Frank Lloyd Wright is said to have quipped, "Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles," a quote that has since been repeated both by those who love and hate L.A. The "City of Angels" is home to people who hail from all parts of the globe and an important center of culture, business, media, and international trade. However, it's most famous for being a major center of the world's television, motion picture, and music industry, which forms the base of the city's status and lures visitors for its show business history and celebrity culture. Visitors are also drawn to Los Angeles for its Mediterranean climate and numerous beaches, which gave birth to California's famed surf culture.
Top landmarks
- • Hollywood Walk of Fame — more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks...
- • Hollywood Sign — sign reading "HOLLYWOOD" located in Los Angeles, California, United States
- • Getty Center — campus of the Getty Museum and other programs of the Getty Trust in Los Angeles
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 18 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.8 miles on Santa Ana Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Los Angeles, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Los Angeles, CA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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