If you are planning a trip from La Quinta to Los Angeles, you are looking at a straightforward 40.7-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $6 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for those traveling within the Pacific Coast region. The path relies heavily on major thoroughfares, including the Hollywood Freeway and the Ronald Reagan Freeway. Given the short duration, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to head into the city and return at your own pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
20.4 miles from La Quinta, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Hollywood Freeway
16.2 mi
20m
Ronald Reagan Freeway
14.1 mi
16m
Las Llajas Canyon Trail
4.3 mi
41m
Golden State Freeway
2.3 mi
2m
Yosemite Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Evening Sky Drive
0.5 mi
2m
North Spring Street
0.3 mi
<1m
West Aliso Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Hollywood Freeway
— 16.2 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Quinta, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on Las Llajas Canyon Trail
4.2 mi·40 min·Las Llajas Canyon Trail
2
Continue on Las Llajas Canyon Trail
420 ft·32 sec·Las Llajas Canyon Trail
3
Turn right onto Evening Sky Drive
0.5 mi·2 min·Evening Sky Drive
4
Turn left onto Yosemite Avenue
1.3 mi·2 min·Yosemite Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward CA 118 East
6
Merge onto CA 118
6.4 mi·7 min·Ronald Reagan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 118
2.5 mi·2 min·Ronald Reagan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 118
1.9 mi·2 min·Ronald Reagan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 118
2.4 mi·2 min·Ronald Reagan Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 118
0.9 mi·1 min·Ronald Reagan Freeway
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 5 South: Los AngelesUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 5
2.3 mi·2 min·Golden State Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·32 sec
Exit 153BToward CA 170 South: HollywoodUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on CA 170
16 mi·20 min·Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 2CToward BroadwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on West Aliso Street
409 ft·18 sec·West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.3 mi·35 sec·North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto West 1st Street
354 ft·12 sec·West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1-hour and 30-minute trip, you have the advantage of being able to leave whenever it best suits your itinerary. With no mandatory stops required to reach your destination, you can easily power through the entire route in one go. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will hover around $6, so it is a good idea to check your levels before hitting the main freeways. Given that the route is dominated by the Hollywood and Ronald Reagan Freeways, try to avoid peak commuting hours to ensure your drive time stays closer to that 1-hour and 30-minute estimate. Prioritizing a departure during off-peak traffic will make your transition from La Quinta to Los Angeles much smoother.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 20.4 miles from La Quinta, CA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 40.7 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 20.4 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Los Angeles, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving La Quinta, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from La Quinta, CA
This is one driving day of about 40.7 miles and 1h 30m.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Hollywood Freeway for about 16.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.7 and 40.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
12.7 mi into trip|~54m in|CA 118 / Ronald Reagan Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 118 / Ronald Reagan Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
23.5 mi into trip|~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 153B
Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
7
40.2 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward Broadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
7
40.4 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|North Spring Street
Turn right onto North Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
40.7 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|West 1st Street
Turn left onto West 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.35 one way
$18.71 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg14 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$9.64
$19.28
premium
$6.18
$9.90
$19.80
diesel
$5.61
$8.99
$17.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
12.2
0
$4.27
$1.95
Efficient EV
10.2
0
$3.56
$1.63
EV Truck/SUV
16.3
0
$5.70
$2.60
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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 18, 2026
Origin
La Quinta, CA
Late night
in La Quinta on Tuesday
Local time
1:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Los Angeles, CA
Late night
in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
1:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
N 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 7:10PM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
52°F
San Fernando, CA
20 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
15 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 30m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 8.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 40.7-mile trek is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 80% of your time spent navigating high-speed corridors. You will find yourself cruising along the Hollywood Freeway for your longest uninterrupted stretch, covering 16.2 miles of the total distance. The experience transitions between the fast-paced flow of the Ronald Reagan Freeway and more localized segments like the Las Llajas Canyon Trail. Because the vast majority of the drive is highway-based, the character of the road is functional and designed for efficiency rather than leisurely cruising. Expect a consistent, steady pace that keeps you moving toward your destination with minimal interruptions.
80% 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: 16.2 mi on Hollywood Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Hollywood Freeway and Ronald Reagan Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.7 miles in near CA 118 / Ronald Reagan Freeway.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 12.7 miles (CA 118 / Ronald Reagan Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
La Quinta is a city in Riverside County in Southern California. It is a desert resort city about 30 minutes southeast of Palm Springs. La Quinta is one of the nation's leading golf destinations, having 28 golf courses within the city limits. Tourism is centered primarily on golf, hiking in the surrounding mountains, relaxing at the historic La Quinta Resort, and shopping and dining in the Village.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 40.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.2 miles on Hollywood 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 12.7 miles (CA 118 / Ronald Reagan Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Los Angeles, CA before heading back.
