This 72.6-mile drive from Hermosa Beach, CA to Palmdale, CA will take approximately 1 hour and 27 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's perfect for a single day. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, it's an economical option for getting from the Pacific Coast region inland. You'll spend most of your time on major freeways, making for an efficient journey. This route is ideal for a quick excursion or as part of a larger California adventure.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
San Diego Freeway
29.8 mi
34m
CA 14 Truck
29.5 mi
33m
Sierra Highway
5.4 mi
6m
I 5 Truck
3.1 mi
3m
Aviation Boulevard
2 mi
3m
West Artesia Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
Pacific Coast Highway
0.5 mi
<1m
West Rosecrans Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 29.8 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hermosa Beach, CA and Palmdale, CA.
1
Start on Palm Drive
45 ft·3 sec·Palm Drive
2
Turn right onto Pier Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Pier Avenue
3
Turn left onto CA 1
0.5 mi·40 sec·Pacific Coast Highway
4
Take the exit
159 ft·4 sec
5
Turn right onto West Artesia Boulevard
0.8 mi·1 min·West Artesia Boulevard
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto Aviation Boulevard
2.0 mi·3 min·Aviation Boulevard
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto West Rosecrans Avenue
0.5 mi·53 sec·West Rosecrans Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward I 405 North: Santa Monica, San Diego Freeway NorthUse the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 405
30 mi·34 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.6 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161AToward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 TruckUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 14 Truck
29 mi·33 min·CA 14 Truck
Toward CA 14 North: Palmdale, LancasterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward Angeles Forest Highway, Pearblossom HighwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
466 ft·11 sec
Toward Angeles Forest HighwayUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
155 ft·6 sec
16
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
1.2 mi·1 min·Sierra Highway
17
Continue on US 6 Hist
4.2 mi·4 min·Sierra Highway
18
Turn right onto CA 138
38 ft·0 sec·East Palmdale Boulevard
19
Arrive at destination
CA 138
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 36.3 miles from Hermosa Beach, 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.4 and 67.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.4 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 405 North: Santa Monica, San Diego Freeway North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 405 North: Santa Monica, San Diego Fre...
9
35.9 mi into trip|~44m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
8
37.4 mi into trip|~46m in|CA 14 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 14 Truck toward CA 14 North: Palmdale, Lancaster
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 14 North: Palmdale, Lancaster
7
66.9 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward Angeles Forest Highway, Pearblossom Highway
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 Angeles Forest Highway, Pearblossom High...
8
67.1 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Angeles Forest Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Angeles Forest Highway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.69 one way
$33.37 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$17.20
$34.39
premium
$6.18
$17.66
$35.31
diesel
$5.61
$16.03
$32.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$17
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.8
0
$7.62
$3.48
Efficient EV
18.2
0
$6.35
$2.90
EV Truck/SUV
29
0
$10.16
$4.65
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Hermosa Beach, CA
Late night
in Hermosa Beach on Tuesday
Local time
3:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
WSW 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 2:09PM PDT until April 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 2:09PM PDT until April 16 at 7:00AM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Destination
Palmdale, CA
Late night
in Palmdale on Tuesday
Local time
3:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
WSW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 2:09PM PDT until April 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 2:09PM PDT until April 16 at 7:00AM PDT by NWS Reno NV
53°F
Santa Maria, CA
36 mi in
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
1 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
1h 27m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-centric experience on this 72.6-mile route, with 86% of the drive occurring on major roadways. You'll encounter stretches like the 29.8-mile segment on the San Diego Freeway, offering a consistent pace. The primary roads include the San Diego Freeway, CA 14 Truck, and Sierra Highway, guiding you efficiently toward your destination. While largely a freeway drive, be aware of potential transitions as you approach Palmdale.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.8 mi on San Diego Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and CA 14 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.6 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 4.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.9 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.4 miles (CA 14 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Between Hermosa Beach, CA and Palmdale, CA, road signs point toward San Diego Freeway North, Lancaster, Angeles Forest Highway and Pearblossom Highway.
Hermosa Beach is a friendly town in the South Bay of Los Angeles. If you're looking for the "typical" Southern California beach town experience, you'll enjoy the laid back attitude, athleticism, and festive nightlife of the Beach Cities: Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Redondo Beach. Each provides a unique cultural experience, but they're connected by the strand paved path that runs along the beach.
By day, locals can be found playing volleyball on the beach, running/cycling/rollerblading along the Strand, or congregating around the Pier Avenue shopping area. By night, the bars and restaurants along Pier Avenue become crowded with young people, while the patios and decks of the tightly packed residences buzz with the chatter and bustle of private parties.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 72.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.8 miles on San Diego 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 Palmdale, 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 4.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.9 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.4 miles (CA 14 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Palmdale, CA before heading back.
