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Trip from Los Angeles, CA to Malibu, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

51m

Distance

33.4 mi

54 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 47m ★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 49m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown los-angeles-ca

Los Angeles, CA

Stephen Leonardi

city in Los Angeles County, California, United States

Malibu, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Driving from Los Angeles to Malibu covers a quick 33.4 miles, typically taking about 51 minutes depending on traffic. Because it is such a short trip, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate a combination of the Harbor Freeway, the Santa Monica Freeway, and the iconic Pacific Coast Highway to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $5, this excursion is an efficient way to transition from the urban density of Los Angeles to the coastal atmosphere of Malibu. Whether you are heading out for a quick getaway or a change of scenery, the straightforward nature of this route makes it a very manageable drive for any experience level.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pacific Coast Highway 17.5 mi 30m
Santa Monica Freeway 13 mi 15m
Harbor Freeway 1 mi 1m
West 3rd Street 0.6 mi <1m
South Spring Street 0.2 mi <1m
West 1st Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Pacific Coast Highway — 17.5 mi, about 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Malibu, CA.

1

Start on West 1st Street

354 ft · 19 sec · West 1st Street
2

Turn left onto South Spring Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · South Spring Street
Use the left lane.
3

Turn right onto West 3rd Street

0.6 mi · 59 sec · West 3rd Street
4

Take the ramp

104 ft · 2 sec
Toward CA 110 South, CA 110 North: Harbor Freeway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward CA 110 South: Harbor Freeway
6

Merge onto CA 110

1.0 mi · 1 min · Harbor Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward I 10: Santa Monica Freeway Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 10 West: Washington Boulevard
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Toward I 10 West: Santa Monica Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Merge onto I 10

13 mi · 15 min · Santa Monica Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on CA 1

17 mi · 30 min · Pacific Coast Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Arrive at destination

CA 1

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Santa Monica, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Santa Monica, CA

17 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

Agoura Hills, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Santa Monica, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 16.7 miles from Los Angeles, 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 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 2.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Spring Street

Turn left onto South Spring Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward CA 110 South, CA 110 North: Harbor Freeway

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward CA 110 South, CA 110 North: Harbor Freew...
6
0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in

Keep slight left at fork toward CA 110 South: Harbor Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward CA 110 South: Harbor Freeway
6
2.2 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward I 10: Santa Monica Freeway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 10: Santa Monica Freeway
8
2.7 mi into trip | ~4m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: Santa Monica

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 10 West: Santa Monica

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.68 one way

$15.35 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $7.91 $15.82
premium $6.18 $8.12 $16.25
diesel $5.61 $7.37 $14.75

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10 0 $3.51 $1.60
Efficient EV 8.4 0 $2.92 $1.34
EV Truck/SUV 13.4 0 $4.68 $2.14

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 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.

Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026

Origin

Los Angeles, CA

Late night in Los Angeles on Tuesday

Local time

1:53 AM

PDT

Current temp

55°F

Partly Cloudy

SSW 0 to 10 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 20 at 9:39PM PDT until April 22 at 7:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 20 at 9:39PM PDT until April 22 at 7:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

Destination

Malibu, CA

Late night in Malibu on Tuesday

Local time

1:53 AM

PDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

51m 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?

This 33.4-mile journey features a mixed drive profile, with about 42% of the route spent on highways. You will start by navigating city freeways before transitioning onto the Pacific Coast Highway, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 17.5 miles. Expect the character of the road to shift significantly as you move away from the heavy freeway infrastructure and onto the coastal route. While the initial segments are defined by typical interstate travel, the latter portion offers a distinct change in pace. Navigating these varied road types keeps the drive engaging, as you transition from the fast-paced city arteries to the specific flow of the Pacific Coast Highway.

42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.5 mi on Pacific Coast Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 0.1 miles in near South Spring Street.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 9 decision points packed into just 33.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

About the Cities

Starting 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

Arriving in Malibu, CA

Full guide →

Top landmarks

  • • Adamson House — single-family detached home in Malibu, California
  • • Point Dume — promontory on the coast of Malibu, California, United States
  • • Malibu Pier — pier in Malibu, 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 51m. Total distance: 33.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 17.5 miles on Pacific Coast Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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 Malibu, 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 0.1 miles (South Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

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 Malibu, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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