Origin
Foothill Ranch, CA
Morning in Foothill Ranch on Sunday
Local time
9:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Foothill Ranch, 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
1h
Distance
46.2 mi
74 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Foothill Ranch, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Foothill Ranch to Los Angeles, you are facing a straightforward 46.2-mile journey along the Pacific Coast. Typically, you can expect this drive to take about one hour, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budget approximately $6 for fuel to cover the distance, which is quite economical for a trip within the region. You will navigate via a combination of Irvine Boulevard, the Foothill Transportation Corridor, and the Santa Ana Freeway. Since the route is entirely contained within the Pacific Coast region, you will remain in a familiar coastal environment throughout the entire drive. It is a practical, efficient connection between these two Southern California points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 31.9 mi | 37m |
| Irvine Boulevard | 6.8 mi | 11m |
| Foothill Transportation Corridor | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| Alton Parkway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East 4th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Eastern Transportation Corridor | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| North Los Angeles Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Arcadia Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 31.9 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Foothill Ranch, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on Flores
372 ft
·
21 sec
·
Flores
2
Turn left onto Santa Maria
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Santa Maria
3
At end of road, turn left onto Alton Parkway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Alton Parkway
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward CA 241 Toll North
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto CA 241 Toll
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Transportation Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Exit 27
Toward CA 133 South: Laguna Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on CA 133 Toll
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
·
Eastern Transportation Corridor
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 12
Toward Irvine Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto Irvine Boulevard
6.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Irvine Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on East 4th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 4th Street
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 5 North
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto I 5
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 2B
Toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Use the slight right lane.
17
Continue on I 10 EXPR
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Arcadia Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Los Angeles Street
19
Turn right onto East 1st Street
461 ft
·
17 sec
·
East 1st Street
20
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.1 miles from Foothill Ranch, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 165 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 45.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward CA 133 South: Laguna Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward CA 133 South: Laguna Beach
7
5.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward Irvine Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12
Toward Irvine Boulevard
6
13.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 5 North
6
15.1 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
45.4 mi into trip
|
~59m 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
$10.62 one way
$21.24 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $10.94 | $21.88 |
| premium | $6.18 | $11.24 | $22.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.20 | $20.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.85 | $2.22 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.04 | $1.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.47 | $2.96 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
9:12 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 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 highway-focused drive, as 71% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on major thoroughfares. The journey features a significant 31.9-mile stretch on the Santa Ana Freeway, which serves as the backbone of the route. While you start by navigating local infrastructure like Irvine Boulevard and the Foothill Transportation Corridor, the character of the drive quickly shifts to a high-speed interstate pace. It is a functional, no-nonsense commute that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours. You should be prepared for the steady, rhythmic flow of freeway traffic as you transition from the outskirts into the heart of Los Angeles.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.9 mi on Santa Ana Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and Irvine Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.2 miles you will encounter 16 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 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Foothill Ranch, CA
Full guide →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 1h. Total distance: 46.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.9 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 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles: 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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