Driving from Cabazon to Los Angeles is a straightforward 90-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 43 minutes. This trip is best suited as a quick day excursion, as it fits easily into a single day of travel. You will primarily navigate via the San Bernardino Freeway, the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, and the I-10 Metro ExpressLanes. Budgeting approximately $12 for fuel should cover your transit between these two Pacific Coast locations. Because the route is entirely contained within the same region, you won't experience significant geographic shifts, making it a reliable and predictable commute.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45 miles from Cabazon, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
San Bernardino Freeway
45.3 mi
52m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
32.6 mi
36m
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
9.3 mi
9m
Main Street
1.2 mi
1m
Santa Ana Freeway
0.4 mi
<1m
North Los Angeles Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East Arcadia Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Pecan Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
San Bernardino Freeway
— 45.3 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cabazon, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on Ramona Street
56 ft·7 sec·Ramona Street
2
Turn left onto Pecan Street
463 ft·24 sec·Pecan Street
3
Turn right onto Main Street
1.2 mi·1 min·Main Street
4
Enter roundabout onto Apache Trail
74 ft·4 sec·Apache Trail
5
Continue on Apache Trail
359 ft·8 sec·Apache Trail
6
Enter roundabout
432 ft·8 sec
Toward I 10 West
7
Continue
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 10 WestUse the straight lane.
8
Merge onto I 10
33 mi·36 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 10
14 mi·15 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR
9.3 mi·9 min·I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 10
1.2 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.9 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.3 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.9 mi·2 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.9 mi·2 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.6 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.4 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.5 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.1 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi·2 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.6 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.6 mi·2 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
12 mi·14 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto US 101
0.4 mi·36 sec·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 2BToward Alameda Street, Union StationUse the slight right lane.
26
Continue on I 10 EXPR
0.2 mi·32 sec·East Arcadia Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
27
Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street
0.3 mi·44 sec·North Los Angeles Street
28
Turn right onto East 1st Street
461 ft·17 sec·East 1st Street
29
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 90-mile trip with zero mandatory stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. Aim to time your departure to avoid peak congestion, as the heavy reliance on the I-10 corridor means traffic flow can change rapidly. Keep your fuel gauge in mind before leaving Cabazon, even though the $12 estimated cost is modest. Because you are traveling on the I-10 Metro ExpressLanes, ensure you have your toll transponder ready if you plan to utilize those lanes for a smoother ride. Use the lack of scheduled stops to your advantage by adjusting your departure time to suit your personal preferences for traffic density.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45 miles from Cabazon, CA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.3 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 20 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45 miles or 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
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 Cabazon, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cabazon, CA
This is one driving day of about 90 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Cabazon, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on San Bernardino Freeway for about 45.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 89.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in
Enter roundabout toward I 10 West
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward I 10 West
6
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in
Right toward I 10 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 10 West
6
48.1 mi into trip|~55m in|I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
60.8 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
89.3 mi into trip|~1h 41m 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
$20.69 one way
$41.37 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$21.32
$42.63
premium
$6.18
$21.89
$43.77
diesel
$5.61
$19.87
$39.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27
0
$9.45
$4.32
Efficient EV
22.5
0
$7.87
$3.60
EV Truck/SUV
36
0
$12.60
$5.76
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (65% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Cabazon, CA
Morning
in Cabazon on Tuesday
Local time
8:30 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Los Angeles, CA
Morning
in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
8:30 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
N 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 7:10PM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
53°F
Ontario, CA
45 mi in
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
4 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
1h 43m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a classic highway-focused experience, with 61% of your travel occurring on major freeways. The road demands your full attention as you navigate high-speed corridors, including a significant 45.3-mile stretch on the San Bernardino Freeway. You will find that the drive maintains a consistent, fast-paced rhythm rather than shifting into technical or winding local roads. Being behind the wheel here feels like a standard interstate transit, where the priority is steady movement through the urban landscape. It is a functional, efficient path that prioritizes speed over leisure.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.3 mi on San Bernardino Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Bernardino Freeway and Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 90 miles you will encounter 25 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 48.1 miles (I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 90 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.3 miles on San Bernardino 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 1.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 48.1 miles (I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Los Angeles, CA before heading back.
