Traveling from Ridgecrest to Los Angeles covers 152.2 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 3 minutes. Since this trip stays entirely within the Pacific Coast region, it serves as a straightforward transition from the high desert into the heart of Southern California. You can easily complete this journey in a single day, making it an ideal excursion for those looking to reach the city without an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $21 for fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because the route is relatively short, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, though planning for one strategic stop will keep your drive comfortable.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.1 miles from Ridgecrest, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Antelope Valley Freeway
49.1 mi
54m
Aerospace Highway
35.7 mi
39m
Hollywood Freeway
16.2 mi
20m
Redrock Randsburg Road
12.1 mi
16m
Blue Star Memorial Highway
9.9 mi
11m
Garlock Road
8.4 mi
12m
South China Lake Boulevard
6 mi
9m
I 5 Truck
5.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Antelope Valley Freeway
— 49.1 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgecrest, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on West Ridgecrest Boulevard
268 ft·13 sec·West Ridgecrest Boulevard
2
Turn right onto US 395 BUS
6.0 mi·9 min·South China Lake Boulevard
3
Turn left onto US 395
9.9 mi·11 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
4
Turn right onto Garlock Road
8.4 mi·12 min·Garlock Road
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on 797
12 mi·16 min·Redrock Randsburg Road
6
Continue on CA 14; US 6 Hist
0.3 mi·23 sec·Midland Trail
7
Continue on CA 14; US 6 Hist
20 mi·23 min·Aerospace Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
At end of road, turn left onto CA 14; CA 58 BUS; US 6 Hist
4.7 mi·6 min·Sierra Highway
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on CA 14
16 mi·16 min·Aerospace Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on CA 14; CA 138
48 mi·53 min·Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·36 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 5
2.6 mi·3 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 5 Truck
Exit 158Toward I 405 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
5.3 mi·6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·32 sec
Exit 153BToward CA 170 South: HollywoodUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on CA 170
16 mi·20 min·Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 2CToward BroadwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on West Aliso Street
409 ft·18 sec·West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.3 mi·35 sec·North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto West 1st Street
354 ft·12 sec·West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour drive, try to time your departure to avoid peak commuter hours on the Hollywood Freeway, which can significantly impact your travel time. Since the trip is only 152.2 miles, a single well-timed stop is usually enough to stay refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Ridgecrest, as filling up early helps you stick to your $21 estimated budget. If you are sensitive to heavy traffic, plan your arrival to bypass the busiest segments of the highway system. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so adjust your pace based on the flow of traffic once you hit the major freeway sections.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.1 miles from Ridgecrest, CA, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.1 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 33 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.1 miles or 1h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 28m
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 Ridgecrest, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ridgecrest, CA
This is one driving day of about 152.2 miles and 3h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Ridgecrest, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Antelope Valley Freeway for about 49.1 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 129.5 and 152.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
129.5 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
7
135 mi into trip|~2h 40m 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
151.7 mi into trip|~3h 2m 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
151.9 mi into trip|~3h 2m in|North Spring Street
Turn right onto North Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
152.2 mi into trip|~3h 3m in|West 1st Street
Turn left onto West 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.98 one way
$69.96 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$36.05
$72.10
premium
$6.18
$37.01
$74.03
diesel
$5.61
$33.60
$67.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.7
0
$15.98
$7.31
Efficient EV
38.1
0
$13.32
$6.09
EV Truck/SUV
60.9
0
$21.31
$9.74
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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
Ridgecrest, CA
Morning
in Ridgecrest on Tuesday
Local time
6:05 AM
PDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Los Angeles, CA
Morning
in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
6:05 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
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
22 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
3h 3m 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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 131.2
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 57.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This mixed drive transitions you through various road types, with highways accounting for 48% of the total journey. You will spend a significant portion of your time navigating the Antelope Valley Freeway, which features the route's longest uninterrupted stretch of 49.1 miles. The trek also utilizes the Aerospace Highway and the Hollywood Freeway to guide you into the urban landscape. While you will experience fast, open stretches early on, the road character shifts as you approach the denser traffic patterns near Los Angeles. Expect a functional rather than scenic experience, where the road conditions change from wide-open desert thoroughfares to busy metropolitan arteries.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.1 mi on Antelope Valley 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 129.5 miles in near I 5 Truck.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 152.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 129.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 135 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 151.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 3h 3m. Total distance: 152.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.1 miles on Antelope Valley Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 129.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 135 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 151.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Los Angeles, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
