Origin
La Verne, CA
Late night in La Verne on Tuesday
Local time
3:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Verne, CA to Palmdale, 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 36m
Distance
68.6 mi
110 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 29m
★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Verne, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Palmdale, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 68.6-mile drive from La Verne, CA to Palmdale, CA will take approximately 1 hour and 36 minutes. It's a perfect one-day trip, so no need to plan for an overnight stay. You'll navigate using the Foothill Freeway, Angeles Forest Highway, and Angeles Crest Highway, with 39% of the journey on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $16 for this excursion. The drive offers a mixed experience, taking you from the Pacific Coast region to another part of the same region, with no designated stops to worry about.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.3 miles from La Verne, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Foothill Freeway | 26.5 mi | 30m |
| Angeles Forest Highway | 24.6 mi | 36m |
| Angeles Crest Highway | 9.3 mi | 16m |
| Sierra Highway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Wheeler Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Bonita Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Foothill Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Palmdale Boulevard | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Foothill Freeway
— 26.5 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Verne, CA and Palmdale, CA.
1
Start on Bonita Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bonita Avenue
2
Turn right onto Wheeler Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Wheeler Avenue
3
Turn left onto CA 66; US 66 Hist
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward CA 210 West: Pasadena
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto CA 210
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Exit 26A
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 20
Toward CA 2: Angeles Crest Highway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto CA 2; NF 61
9.3 mi
·
16 min
·
Angeles Crest Highway
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto N3; FH 59
25 mi
·
36 min
·
Angeles Forest Highway
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto US 6 Hist
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Sierra Highway
12
Continue on US 6 Hist
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Sierra Highway
13
Turn right onto CA 138
38 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Palmdale Boulevard
14
Arrive at destination
CA 138
Trip Plan
Given this is a relatively short drive of just under 1.5 hours, you have a lot of flexibility in when you depart. Leaving La Verne in the morning will give you the full day in Palmdale. The longest continuous stretch is on the Foothill Freeway, so plan your first fuel stop before you get too far into the more remote sections of the Angeles Forest Highway and Angeles Crest Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as services can be spread out on these latter roads.
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 34.3 miles from La Verne, CA, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.5 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 15 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.3 miles or 45m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palmdale, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving La Verne, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from La Verne, CA
This is one driving day of about 68.6 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from La Verne, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Foothill Freeway for about 26.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.3 miles from La Verne, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 29.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward CA 210 West: Pasadena
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward CA 210 West: Pasadena
6
3.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CA 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210 / Foothill Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
23.7 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26A
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
7
29 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward CA 2: Angeles Crest Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20
Toward CA 2: Angeles Crest Highway
6
29.3 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
CA 2; NF 61 / Angeles Crest Highway
Turn right onto CA 2; NF 61 / Angeles Crest Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.77 one way
$31.53 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $16.25 | $32.50 |
| premium | $6.18 | $16.68 | $33.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.15 | $30.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.20 | $3.29 |
| Efficient EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.00 | $2.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.60 | $4.39 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Palmdale, CA
Late night in Palmdale on Tuesday
Local time
3:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Pasadena, CA
34 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
23 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 36m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is a blend of freeway cruising and more engaging highway travel. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 26.5 miles on the Foothill Freeway, offering a chance to settle in. As you transition to the Angeles Forest Highway and Angeles Crest Highway, the drive will likely become more winding and scenic. With 39% of the route on highways, you’ll get a taste of both open road and more technical driving.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.5 mi on Foothill Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (CA 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.7 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Palmdale, CA
Full guide →Founded 1886
Palmdale is a city in the far north of Los Angeles County in the Antelope Valley region of the Mojave Desert in Southern California.
Top landmarks
- • Joe Davies Heritage Airpark — aviation museum in Palmdale, California, United States
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 36m. Total distance: 68.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.5 miles on Foothill 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (CA 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.7 miles (I 210 / Foothill 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 Palmdale, 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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