Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
27m
Distance
20.3 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Cerritos, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Los Angeles to Cerritos is a straightforward 20.3-mile journey that typically takes about 27 minutes. Because this is a short, highway-focused drive, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $3 on fuel for the trip, making it a very economical commute within the Pacific Coast region. You will primarily utilize the Santa Ana Freeway and the San Gabriel River Freeway to navigate between these two points. Since both cities are located in the same region, you won't experience significant geographic shifts, but the direct routing ensures you spend most of your time on major arterial roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 11.8 mi | 14m |
| San Gabriel River Freeway | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| South Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Aliso Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Cerritos, CA.
Start on West 1st Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Turn right onto East Aliso Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 101
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 605
Take the exit
Turn left onto South Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 12.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto East Aliso Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 605 North, I 605 South: San Gabriel River Freeway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 605 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 605 South: San Gabriel River Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$4.67 one way
$9.33 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $4.81 | $9.62 |
| premium | $6.18 | $4.94 | $9.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.48 | $8.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 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 | 6.1 | 0 | $2.13 | $0.97 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.84 | $1.30 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
7:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 7:10PM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
Morning in Cerritos on Sunday
Local time
7:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a high-speed experience, as 84% of this 20.3-mile trip is comprised of highway driving. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 11.8 miles along the Santa Ana Freeway. The route transitions from the dense urban corridors of Los Angeles onto the San Gabriel River Freeway before concluding with a short connection via South Street. It is a utilitarian, interstate-heavy drive that prioritizes efficiency over scenic winding roads. Keep your focus sharp, as the transition between these major freeways requires steady maneuvering through typical regional traffic patterns.
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 early in the drive near North Main Street.
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 11 decision points packed into just 20.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 27m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (East Aliso Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
52 ft
Total Descent
289 ft
Highest Point
308 ft
~1.5 mi in
Elevation Range
261 ft
“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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 27m. Total distance: 20.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m 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.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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