Origin
Tustin, CA
Late night in Tustin on Tuesday
Local time
3:19 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tustin, CA to Los Angeles, 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
41m
Distance
34 mi
55 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tustin, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Tustin to Los Angeles is 34 miles and takes about 41 minutes via Santa Ana Freeway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Pacific Coast region, connecting two points in California. Given its brief duration and predominantly highway profile, this route is ideal for a quick transfer or a day trip extension. You'll mainly be on the Santa Ana Freeway, so expect typical freeway conditions for Southern California. It's a straightforward drive with minimal time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 31.9 mi | 37m |
| East 4th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Los Angeles Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Arcadia Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Yorba Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Irvine Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 31.9 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tustin, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on West 1st Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West 1st Street
2
Turn right onto Yorba Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Yorba Street
3
Turn left onto Irvine Boulevard
470 ft
·
17 sec
·
Irvine Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Continue on East 4th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 4th Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 5 North
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 5
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 2B
Toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 10 EXPR
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Arcadia Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Los Angeles Street
13
Turn right onto East 1st Street
461 ft
·
17 sec
·
East 1st Street
14
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 33.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 5 North
6
2.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
12.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
30.3 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
US 101 / Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101 / Santa Ana Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
33.2 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2B
Toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.81 one way
$15.63 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $8.05 | $16.11 |
| premium | $6.18 | $8.27 | $16.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.51 | $15.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 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 | 10.2 | 0 | $3.57 | $1.63 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.76 | $2.18 |
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.
Destination
Los Angeles, CA
Late night in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
3:19 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
17 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
41m 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?
This route is 94% highway, so you'll spend most of your time on the Santa Ana Freeway. The longest continuous stretch on this freeway is 31.9 miles. You'll transition to surface streets like East 4th Street and North Los Angeles Street towards the end of your drive. Expect urban merging and frequent exits as you approach the Los Angeles area.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.9 mi on Santa Ana Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and East 4th Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 11 decision points packed into just 34 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 41m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Tustin, CA
Full guide →Tustin is a suburban city in Orange County, California. It is located on I-5 3 miles southeast of Santa Ana, 9 miles southeast of Disneyland, 6 miles north of John Wayne Airport.
Top landmarks
- • Artz Building — historic building in Tustin, California
Arriving 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
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 41m. Total distance: 34 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.9 miles on Santa Ana 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 Los Angeles, 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 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana 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 Los Angeles, 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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