Origin
Highland, CA
Late night in Highland on Tuesday
Local time
5:03 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Highland, 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
1h 18m
Distance
65.3 mi
105 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highland, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Traveling from Highland to Los Angeles covers 65.3 miles across the Pacific Coast region, typically taking about 1 hour and 18 minutes. This route is designed as a direct, highway-focused drive that is easily manageable as a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $9, it is an efficient way to connect the two locations. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major arterial roads, making this a straightforward commute rather than a leisurely sightseeing tour. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, the trip offers a predictable pace for your travel plans.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino Freeway | 45.3 mi | 52m |
| I-10 Metro ExpressLanes | 9.3 mi | 9m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 5 mi | 5m |
| Alabama Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Palm Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Los Angeles Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Arcadia Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
San Bernardino Freeway
— 45.3 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on Palm Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Palm Avenue
2
Continue on Alabama Street
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Alabama Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
4
Merge onto I 10
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 10
14 mi
·
15 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR
9.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 10
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
12 mi
·
14 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto US 101
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 2B
Toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Use the slight right lane.
22
Continue on I 10 EXPR
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Arcadia Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Los Angeles Street
24
Turn right onto East 1st Street
461 ft
·
17 sec
·
East 1st Street
25
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.7 miles from Highland, 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 215 decision points cluster between mile 23.4 and 64.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
23.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
36.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
38 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
39.9 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
64.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m 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
$15.01 one way
$30.02 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $15.47 | $30.93 |
| premium | $6.18 | $15.88 | $31.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.42 | $28.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.86 | $3.13 |
| Efficient EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.14 | $4.18 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
5:03 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
19 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
1h 18m 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, highway-centric experience where 84% of your journey takes place on major thoroughfares. You will spend a significant portion of the drive on the San Bernardino Freeway, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 45.3 miles. The route also incorporates the I-10 Metro ExpressLanes and the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway to maintain momentum as you transition between regions. Because this is a highway-focused drive, you should prepare for a consistent, functional pace rather than a scenic, winding backroad experience. The character of the road remains largely uniform as you move through the urban landscape.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.3 mi on San Bernardino Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Bernardino Freeway and I-10 Metro ExpressLanes. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.4 miles in near I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes.
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 65.3 miles you will encounter 21 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 23.4 miles (I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 38 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Highland, CA
Full guide →Founded 1891
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 18m. Total distance: 65.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.3 miles on San Bernardino 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 23.4 miles (I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 38 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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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