We've mapped 9 drives from Los Angeles, from 1 hr 45 min to 7 hr 30 min. Shortest: Palm Springs, Joshua Tree.
Drives from LA, shortest first
| Destination | Miles | Drive time | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Springs | 107 | 1 hr 45 min | 1 |
| Joshua Tree | 128 | 2 hr 15 min | 1 |
| Las Vegas | 270 | 4 hr 15 min | 1 |
| Yosemite | 310 | 5 hr 30 min | 1 |
| Phoenix | 373 | 5 hr 45 min | 1 |
| San Francisco | 382 | 6 hrs | 1 |
| Zion | 428 | 6 hr 45 min | 2 |
| Sedona | 478 | 7 hr 30 min | 2 |
| The Grand Canyon | 491 | 7 hr 30 min | 2 |
LA to Palm Springs
107 mi · 1 hr 45 min
Under two hours without traffic, swapping the city for mid-century pools and the Aerial Tramway.
LA to Joshua Tree
128 mi · 2 hr 15 min
A quick desert getaway past the Cabazon Dinosaurs. Stay in Joshua Tree or Twentynine Palms for the stars.
LA to Las Vegas
270 mi · 4 hr 15 min
America's most-driven road trip. The trick is when you leave: Friday afternoons and Sunday returns can double the drive time.
LA to Yosemite
310 mi · 5 hr 30 min
Up I-5 or CA-99 through the Central Valley, then CA-41 via Fresno to the south entrance. Mariposa Grove is your first stop.
LA to Phoenix
373 mi · 5 hr 45 min
Five-plus hours of I-10 through the Coachella Valley and the open Sonoran Desert. Fuel up at Blythe before Arizona's emptiest stretch.
LA to San Francisco
382 mi · 6 hrs
I-5 is the fastest way north, about six hours with stops. This page covers that inland route.
LA to Zion
428 mi · 6 hr 45 min · 2 days
Fly-free access to Utah: through Vegas on I-15, with an overnight in St. George or Springdale.
LA to Sedona
478 mi · 7 hr 30 min · 2 days
A long desert day on I-10 or I-40. Break it up in Palm Springs or at the Route 66 towns.
LA to the Grand Canyon
491 mi · 7 hr 30 min · 2 days
I-40 across the Mojave, then Route 66 towns like Seligman and Williams before the South Rim. Most people split this into two days.
Where to stay in Los Angeles
Spending a night before you set off? Here are hotels and rentals around Los Angeles:
Map not loading? See places to stay near Los Angeles →