Origin
Calabasas, CA
Morning in Calabasas on Sunday
Local time
10:29 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Calabasas, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
26.8 mi
43 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Calabasas, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Traveling from Calabasas to Los Angeles covers a quick 26.8-mile stretch that typically takes about 34 minutes. Because both locations are situated within the Pacific Coast region of California, this is a straightforward, short-distance trip that works perfectly as a one-day outing. You will primarily utilize the Ventura Freeway, the Hollywood Freeway, and Route 101 to reach your destination. With an estimated fuel cost of only $4, it remains a budget-friendly commute or weekend excursion. Given the short duration, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay, allowing you the flexibility to complete the entire journey in a single run without any required stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ventura Freeway | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 10.3 mi | 14m |
| Route 101 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| North Spring Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Aliso Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Calabasas Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ventura Freeway
— 15.1 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Calabasas, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on Calabasas Road
248 ft
·
11 sec
·
Calabasas Road
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
Use the left lane.
3
Merge onto US 101
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 101
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
Route 101
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles, Tujunga Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto US 101
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on West Aliso Street
409 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto West 1st Street
354 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
10
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 26.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
8
15.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
US 101 / Route 101
Keep slight right at fork onto US 101 / Route 101 toward US 101 South: Los Angeles, Tujunga Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles, Tujunga Avenu...
7
26.3 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
26.5 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
North Spring Street
Turn right onto North Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
26.8 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
West 1st Street
Turn left onto West 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.16 one way
$12.32 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $6.35 | $12.70 |
| premium | $6.18 | $6.52 | $13.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.92 | $11.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8 | 0 | $2.81 | $1.29 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.34 | $1.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.72 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Morning in Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
10:29 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
N 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 7:10PM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
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
18 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
34m 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 highly efficient, highway-focused experience, as 97% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating the Ventura Freeway, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of 15.1 miles. The drive is designed for speed and direct access rather than winding, scenic backroads. While you transition between these major freeways, the character of the road remains consistent, favoring a fast-paced environment. It is a practical, utilitarian drive that prioritizes getting you from the suburbs of Calabasas into the heart of Los Angeles with minimal complexity.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.1 mi on Ventura Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Ventura Freeway and Hollywood Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 26.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles (US 101 / Route 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Calabasas, CA
Full guide →Founded 1991
Top landmarks
- • Leonis Adobe — private residence in Los Angeles County, USA
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 34m. Total distance: 26.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.1 miles on Ventura 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: near the start: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles (US 101 / Route 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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