Origin
Hawaiian Gardens, CA
Late night in Hawaiian Gardens on Tuesday
Local time
3:24 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hawaiian Gardens, 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
28m
Distance
21.3 mi
34 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hawaiian Gardens, CA
Jess Loiterton
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
This straightforward 21.3-mile drive from Hawaiian Gardens to Los Angeles, California, is easily manageable in about 28 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate the Santa Ana Freeway and the San Gabriel River Freeway, with a portion on Carson Street. With an estimated fuel cost of just $5, this route is budget-friendly. The highway-focused profile means you'll spend most of your time on faster roads, offering a quick connection within the Pacific Coast region. There are no specific stops recommended, suggesting it's best approached as a direct transit rather than a journey to linger on.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 11.8 mi | 14m |
| San Gabriel River Freeway | 6.9 mi | 7m |
| Carson Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Los Angeles Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Arcadia Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 11.8 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hawaiian Gardens, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on Carson Street
248 ft
·
12 sec
·
Carson Street
2
Continue on Carson Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Carson Street
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 605 North
4
Merge onto I 605
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
San Gabriel River Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa Ana
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 5 North: Santa Ana Freeway, Los Angeles
8
Merge onto I 5
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 2B
Toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 10 EXPR
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Arcadia Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Los Angeles Street
13
Turn right onto East 1st Street
461 ft
·
17 sec
·
East 1st Street
14
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 7.8 and 20.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
7.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa Ana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa...
8
8.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa Ana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa...
6
8.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Santa Ana Freeway, Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 5 North: Santa Ana Freeway, Los Angele...
6
17.7 mi into trip
|
~22m 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
20.6 mi into trip
|
~26m 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
$4.90 one way
$9.79 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $5.04 | $10.09 |
| premium | $6.18 | $5.18 | $10.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.70 | $9.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.24 | $1.02 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.86 | $0.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.98 | $1.36 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
3:24 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
NE 5 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
2 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
28m 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 for 87% of this journey. You'll spend the bulk of your time on the Santa Ana Freeway, experiencing an uninterrupted stretch of 11.8 miles. The San Gabriel River Freeway also contributes significantly to the high-speed nature of this route. While Carson Street offers a brief change of pace, the overall character is one of efficient, freeway travel. This isn't a route for leisurely sightseeing; it's designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
87% 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: 11.8 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 San Gabriel River Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 12 decision points packed into just 21.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Hawaiian Gardens, CA to Los Angeles, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Ana along the way.
Santa Ana
7.8 mi in
|
~10m
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 28m. Total distance: 21.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.8 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 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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