Origin
Carson, CA
Late night in Carson on Tuesday
Local time
3:39 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carson, 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
23m
Distance
17.4 mi
28 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carson, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
This quick 17.4-mile drive from Carson to Los Angeles, California, will only take about 23 minutes, making it a very manageable day trip. You'll spend most of your time on the Harbor Freeway, which accounts for 80% of the highway portion of this journey. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $4, this route is an economical option for getting between these two Pacific Coast locations. Since it's a short drive with no designated stops, you can easily complete it in one go, offering a straightforward transit experience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Harbor Freeway | 13.9 mi | 16m |
| South Main Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Figueroa Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West 9th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Carson Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| James M Wood Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Harbor Freeway
— 13.9 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carson, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on West Carson Street
94 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Carson Street
2
Continue on West Carson Street
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
West Carson Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Figueroa Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 110 North: Los Angeles
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 110
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Harbor Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 110
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Harbor Freeway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 110
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Harbor Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward 3rd Street, 4th Street, 9th Street, 6th Street, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 22
Toward James M Wood Boulevard, 9th Street
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto James M Wood Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
James M Wood Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Continue on West 9th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 9th Street
12
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto West 1st Street
69 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 1st Street
14
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 15.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 6 Hist / South Figueroa Street
Turn right onto US 6 Hist / South Figueroa Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left toward I 110 North: Los Angeles
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 110 North: Los Angeles
6
6.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 110 / Harbor Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 110 / Harbor Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
15.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward 3rd Street, 4th Street, 9th Street, 6th Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 3rd Street, 4th Street, 9th Street, 6th...
10
15.5 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight right at fork toward James M Wood Boulevard, 9th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22
Toward James M Wood Boulevard, 9th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.00 one way
$8.00 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $4.12 | $8.24 |
| premium | $6.18 | $4.23 | $8.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.84 | $7.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 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 | 5.2 | 0 | $1.83 | $0.84 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.52 | $0.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.11 |
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
3:39 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
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
15 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
23m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with a significant 80% share of the route being on freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 13.9 miles on the Harbor Freeway, offering a consistent pace. Main roads like South Main Street and South Figueroa Street will also play a role, potentially introducing some local traffic as you approach your destination. This route provides a direct, largely uninterrupted experience, ideal for efficient travel.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.9 mi on Harbor Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Harbor Freeway and South Main Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 6 Hist / South Figueroa Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 11 decision points packed into just 17.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 23m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 6 Hist / South Figueroa Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles (I 110 / Harbor Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Carson, CA to Los Angeles, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
15.2 mi in
|
~18m
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 23m. Total distance: 17.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.9 miles on Harbor 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 0.3 miles (US 6 Hist / South Figueroa Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles (I 110 / Harbor Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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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