Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
17m
Distance
10.3 mi
17 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
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
Pasadena, CA
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning to head from Los Angeles to Pasadena, you are looking at a quick 10.3-mile trip that typically takes just 17 minutes. Because the entire journey is located within the Pacific Coast region, you won’t experience any major shifts in landscape, making this a straightforward day trip. You can easily complete the drive in one day without needing an overnight stay. With a fuel cost of just $1, it is a very budget-friendly transit between the two cities. Relying on North Broadway and South Arroyo Parkway, this route is ideal for those who prioritize efficiency over a long-distance road trip experience.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Arroyo Seco Parkway | 7.2 mi | 10m |
| South Arroyo Parkway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| North Broadway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Hill Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Colorado Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Garfield Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West College Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Pasadena, CA.
Start on West 1st Street
Turn right onto North Broadway
Turn left onto West College Street
Turn right onto North Hill Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto CA 110; US 6 Hist; US 66 Hist
Continue on US 66 Hist
Turn right onto US 66 Hist
Turn left onto North Garfield Avenue
Turn left onto East Holly Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 10.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto West College Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto North Hill Street
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto CA 110; US 6 Hist; US 66 Hist / Arroyo Seco Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto North Garfield Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto East Holly Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.37 one way
$4.73 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $2.44 | $4.88 |
| premium | $6.18 | $2.50 | $5.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.27 | $4.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.08 | $0.49 |
| Efficient EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.90 | $0.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.44 | $0.66 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Late night in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
2:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Pasadena on Tuesday
Local time
2:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°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.
This 10.3-mile route is heavily highway-focused, with 83% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will find yourself primarily navigating the Arroyo Seco Parkway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 7.2 miles. Expect a transition from the dense urban grid of Los Angeles onto this primary arterial road as you head toward Pasadena. While the drive is short, the reliance on major parkways gives it a fast-paced, functional personality. You won't find any stops along the way, so prepare for a continuous drive once you merge onto the main highway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Arroyo Seco Parkway and South Arroyo Parkway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near West College Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 10.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 1 miles (West College Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (North Hill Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (CA 110; US 6 Hist; US 66 Hist / Arroyo Seco Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
“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
Founded 1886
Pasadena is one of the oldest cities adjoining Los Angeles and is the main population center of the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California. Known as the City of Roses, Pasadena is most famous for its New Year's Day Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 17m. Total distance: 10.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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