Origin
Downey, CA
Morning in Downey on Sunday
Local time
10:26 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Downey, 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
19m
Distance
12.9 mi
21 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Downey, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Downey to Los Angeles, you are looking at a brief 12.9-mile journey that typically takes about 19 minutes. This straightforward trip is perfectly suited for a single day, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. With an estimated fuel cost of just $2, it is an incredibly economical way to navigate between these two Pacific Coast locations. Because the distance is so short, you have the flexibility to make this trip on a whim without extensive preparation. It serves as a practical, no-fuss connection within Southern California that gets you to your destination efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 9.8 mi | 12m |
| Downey Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North Los Angeles Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Gallatin Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Paramount Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Arcadia Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 9.8 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Downey, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi
·
49 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 2nd Street
429 ft
·
22 sec
·
2nd Street
3
Turn right onto Downey Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Downey Avenue
4
Turn left onto Gallatin Road
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Gallatin Road
5
Turn right onto Paramount Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Paramount Boulevard
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
7
Merge onto I 5
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 2B
Toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 10 EXPR
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Arcadia Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Los Angeles Street
12
Turn right onto East 1st Street
461 ft
·
17 sec
·
East 1st Street
13
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 12.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
2nd Street
Turn left onto 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Paramount Boulevard
Turn right onto Paramount Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Merge onto I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
9.2 mi into trip
|
~13m 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
12.2 mi into trip
|
~17m 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
$2.96 one way
$5.93 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $3.06 | $6.11 |
| premium | $6.18 | $3.14 | $6.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.85 | $5.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.35 | $0.62 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.13 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
10:26 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
12 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
19m 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?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 76% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your journey on the Santa Ana Freeway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 9.8 miles. The experience transitions from local navigation on Downey Avenue to the faster pace of the interstate system before finishing on North Los Angeles Street. Expect a functional, high-speed drive that prioritizes directness over leisure. While the route is short, the reliance on the freeway means you should be prepared for the typical rhythm of Southern California highway traffic.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.8 mi on Santa Ana Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and Downey Avenue. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 2nd Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 12.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 miles (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (Paramount Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Downey, CA to Los Angeles, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Union Station along the way.
Union Station
12.2 mi in
|
~17m
About the Cities
Starting in Downey, CA
Full guide →Founded 1873
Top landmarks
- • Columbia Memorial Space Center — science Museum in Downey, 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 19m. Total distance: 12.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.8 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 0.1 miles (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (Paramount Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
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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