Origin
Fullerton, CA
Late night in Fullerton on Tuesday
Local time
1:48 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fullerton, 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
34m
Distance
26.1 mi
42 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 36m
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.
Fullerton, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Traveling from Fullerton to Los Angeles is a quick, straightforward journey spanning 26.1 miles within the Pacific Coast region. With a travel time of approximately 34 minutes, this trip is easily manageable as a one-day excursion that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting around $4 for fuel will cover your transit, making this an economical connection between these two Southern California cities. Since the route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, you can expect a functional, highway-focused experience. Whether you are commuting or heading into the city for a brief visit, the lack of necessary stops keeps the trip efficient and simple.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 20.8 mi | 24m |
| Riverside Freeway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| South Harbor Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Los Angeles Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Arcadia Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Commonwealth Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 20.8 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fullerton, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on West Commonwealth Avenue
312 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Commonwealth Avenue
2
Turn right onto South Harbor Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Harbor Boulevard
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward CA 91 West
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Merge onto CA 91
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 24
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 2B
Toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on I 10 EXPR
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Arcadia Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Los Angeles Street
11
Turn right onto East 1st Street
461 ft
·
17 sec
·
East 1st Street
12
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 25.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Harbor Boulevard
Turn right onto South Harbor Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward CA 91 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward CA 91 West
7
3.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 24
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
6
22.4 mi into trip
|
~28m 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
25.4 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
$6.00 one way
$12.00 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $6.18 | $12.36 |
| premium | $6.18 | $6.35 | $12.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.76 | $11.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.1 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 | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
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
Late night in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
1:48 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
29 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
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 high-speed experience, as 88% of this drive takes place on the highway. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Santa Ana Freeway, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 20.8 miles. The transition from the local streets of Fullerton onto the Riverside Freeway and the Santa Ana Freeway defines the character of this drive, shifting quickly from urban surface roads to a fast-paced interstate environment. Because the route is almost entirely highway-focused, it lacks the technical curves of mountain passes or the casual pace of rural backroads. Staying alert is key as you navigate these high-traffic arteries toward your destination.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.8 mi on Santa Ana Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and Riverside Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Harbor Boulevard.
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 10 decision points packed into just 26.1 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: at 0.1 miles (South Harbor Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
285 ft
58 ft
Total Climb
243 ft
Total Descent
123 ft
Highest Point
285 ft
~26.1 mi in
Elevation Range
227 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Fullerton, CA
Full guide →Founded 1887
Fullerton is an inland city in north Orange County in Southern California. Situated just north of Anaheim and its far better-known tourist attractions, Fullerton has a few surprises up her sleeve.
Top landmarks
- • Fox Fullerton Theatre — theater and movie theater in Fullerton, California, United States
- • Fullerton Post Office
- • Hillcrest Park — historic park in Fullerton, 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 34m. Total distance: 26.1 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 (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.8 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 (South Harbor Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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