Origin
Dana Point, CA
Afternoon in Dana Point on Sunday
Local time
4:01 PM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Dana Point, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
59.6 mi
96 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dana Point, CA
Lindsey Willard
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Dana Point, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 59.6 miles and takes about 1h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Del Prado Avenue, Pacific Coast Highway, Del Obispo Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.80 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
29.8 miles from Dana Point, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 4m drive with frequent turns across 59.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Del Prado Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Dana Point, CA to Los Angeles, CA is easy. At 1h 4m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dana Point, CA to Los Angeles, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Del Prado Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pacific Coast Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Del Obispo Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Stonehill Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| San Diego Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bake Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Jamboree Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Del Prado Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dana Point, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on Golden Lantern Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Golden Lantern Street
2
Turn left onto Del Prado Avenue
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Del Prado Avenue
3
Turn right onto Pacific Coast Highway
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
Pacific Coast Highway
4
Turn left onto Del Obispo Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Del Obispo Street
5
Turn right onto Stonehill Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Stonehill Drive
6
Take the ramp slight left toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 5 North: Los Angeles
7
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
San Diego Freeway
8
Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
San Diego Freeway
9
Keep slight right to continue on Bake Parkway
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bake Parkway
10
Keep slight right
6.0 mi
·
6 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward Jamboree Road
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Jamboree Road
12
Continue straight
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
13
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Jamboree Road
14
Turn left onto El Camino Real
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
El Camino Real
15
Turn left onto Newport Avenue
358 ft
·
14 sec
·
Newport Avenue
16
Take the ramp right toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 5 North: Los Angeles
17
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
18
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
19
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
20
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
21
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
22
Take the exit slight right toward Alameda Street, Union Station
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Alameda Street, Union Station
23
Continue on East Arcadia Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Arcadia Street
24
Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
North Los Angeles Street
25
Turn right onto East 1st Street
463 ft
·
18 sec
·
East 1st Street
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 29.8 miles from Dana Point, CA, or about 32m into the drive.
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 59.6 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.8 miles or 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 54m
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 Dana Point, 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 Dana Point, CA
This is one driving day of about 59.6 miles and 1h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Dana Point, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.8 mi from Dana Point, CA · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 59.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.8 miles from Dana Point, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Los Angeles, CA
The final approach into Los Angeles, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Los Angeles, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.80 one way
$27.60 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $14.23 | $28.47 |
| premium | $6.24 | $14.65 | $29.30 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $13.24 | $26.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.26 | $2.86 |
| Efficient EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.34 | $3.81 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Afternoon in Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
4:01 PM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
75°F
Santa Ana, CA
30 mi in
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.
Road read
1h 4m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Dana Point, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 59.6 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Del Prado Avenue, Pacific Coast Highway, Del Obispo Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.8 miles from Dana Point, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.80 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Dana Point, CA to Los Angeles, CA is easy. At 1h 4m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dana Point, CA to Los Angeles, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Dana Point, CA to Los Angeles, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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