Origin
Big Pine, CA
Late night in Big Pine on Tuesday
Local time
4:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Big Pine, 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
4h 54m
Distance
251 mi
404 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$58
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 41m
★
6 AM
4h 54m
8 AM
5h 21m
10 AM
5h 4m
12 PM
5h 1m
3 PM
5h 5m
5 PM
5h 20m
8 PM
4h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Big Pine, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Big Pine to Los Angeles is 251 miles and takes about 4h 54m via Grand Army of the Republic Highway, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive connects the Pacific Coast region to itself, offering a straightforward path south. While it's a relatively short distance, plan for a steady pace as much of the route is on surface roads. The approximate fuel cost suggests a budget-friendly trip, and with a 1-day recommendation, it's easily manageable for most drivers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
125.5 miles from Big Pine, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Army of the Republic Highway | 97.2 mi | 1h 53m |
| Antelope Valley Freeway | 49.1 mi | 54m |
| Aerospace Highway | 42.1 mi | 47m |
| Midland Trail | 22 mi | 25m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 16.2 mi | 20m |
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 7 mi | 8m |
| I 5 Truck | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Sierra Highway | 4.7 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
— 97.2 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Pine, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on US 395; US 6 Hist
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Edwards Street
3
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Main Street
5
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
56 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 14; US 6 Hist
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Aerospace Highway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on CA 14; CA 178; US 6 Hist
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Midland Trail
9
Continue on CA 14; US 6 Hist
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Aerospace Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
At end of road, turn left onto CA 14; CA 58 BUS; US 6 Hist
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Sierra Highway
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on CA 14
16 mi
·
16 min
·
Aerospace Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on CA 14; CA 138
48 mi
·
53 min
·
Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 5
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 153B
Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on CA 170
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on West Aliso Street
409 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left onto West 1st Street
354 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1-day recommendation for this 251-mile drive, you have flexibility in your departure time. Leaving Big Pine in the morning should give you ample daylight to reach Los Angeles. With only one recommended stop and a 4h 54m estimated duration, you can easily break up the drive with a quick rest or meal. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 97.2-mile stretch on the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, as services might be less frequent there before you hit the more developed areas closer to Los Angeles.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 125.5 miles from Big Pine, CA, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 55 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.5 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Los Angeles, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Big Pine, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Big Pine, CA
This is one driving day of about 251 miles and 4h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Big Pine, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Grand Army of the Republic Highway for about 97.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
126 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 125.5 miles from Big Pine, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Grand Army of the Republic Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 228.2 and 250.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
228.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 25m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
7
233.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 31m in
Take the exit toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 153B
Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
7
250.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 53m in
Take the exit toward Broadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
7
250.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 53m in
|
North Spring Street
Turn right onto North Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
250.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 54m in
|
West 1st Street
Turn left onto West 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.69 one way
$115.38 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $59.45 | $118.90 |
| premium | $6.18 | $61.04 | $122.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.42 | $110.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.3 | 0 | $26.35 | $12.05 |
| Efficient EV | 62.8 | 0 | $21.96 | $10.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.4 | 1 | $35.14 | $16.06 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
4:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
12 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 54m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 29% of this trip on highways, with the longest uninterrupted stretch being 97.2 miles on the Grand Army of the Republic Highway. After this, you'll transition to mostly surface roads for the remainder of the 251-mile drive. Expect a mix of driving, from potentially open cruising on the main highway to navigating more local traffic as you approach your destination.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.2 mi on Grand Army of the Republic Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 228.2 miles in near I 5 Truck.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 251 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 228.2 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 233.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 250.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
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 4h 54m. Total distance: 251 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 97.2 miles on Grand Army of the Republic Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 228.2 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 233.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 250.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Los Angeles, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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