Origin
Desert Hot Springs, CA
Late night in Desert Hot Springs on Wednesday
Local time
3:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Desert Hot Springs, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
108.8 mi
175 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 58m
★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Desert Hot Springs, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Desert Hot Springs, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 108.8 miles and takes about 2h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on San Bernardino Freeway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, I-10 Metro ExpressLanes for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 45.3 miles on San Bernardino Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.01 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
54.4 miles from Desert Hot Springs, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Desert Hot Springs, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 108.8 miles and takes about 2h 6m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
San Bernardino Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 45.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 66.9 miles in near I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 108.8 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 66.9 miles (I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.6 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.4 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
66.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
79.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
|
I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
81.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
|
I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
83.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
|
I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
108 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino Freeway | 45.3 mi | 52m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 39.9 mi | 43m |
| I-10 Metro ExpressLanes | 9.3 mi | 9m |
| Pierson Boulevard | 5 mi | 9m |
| Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway | 4.4 mi | 4m |
| 29 Palms Highway | 3 mi | 3m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Los Angeles Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
San Bernardino Freeway
— 45.3 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Desert Hot Springs, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on this road
203 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Pierson Boulevard
5.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Pierson Boulevard
3
Turn left onto CA 62
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
29 Palms Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
36 sec
Toward CA 62
5
Merge onto I 10
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 10
40 mi
·
43 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 10
14 mi
·
15 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR
9.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 10
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
12 mi
·
14 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto US 101
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 2B
Toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Use the slight right lane.
24
Continue on I 10 EXPR
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Arcadia Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
25
Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Los Angeles Street
26
Turn right onto East 1st Street
461 ft
·
17 sec
·
East 1st Street
27
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
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 54.4 miles from Desert Hot Springs, CA, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.3 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.4 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 43m
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 Desert Hot Springs, 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 Desert Hot Springs, CA
This is one driving day of about 108.8 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Desert Hot Springs, 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.
The longest stretch is on San Bernardino Freeway for about 45.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.4 mi from Desert Hot Springs, CA · 1h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 54.4 miles from Desert Hot Springs, 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
$25.01 one way
$50.01 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $25.77 | $51.54 |
| premium | $6.18 | $26.46 | $52.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.02 | $48.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.6 | 0 | $11.42 | $5.22 |
| Efficient EV | 27.2 | 0 | $9.52 | $4.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.5 | 0 | $15.23 | $6.96 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Los Angeles, CA
Late night in Los Angeles on Wednesday
Local time
3:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
26 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
2h 6m 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 Desert Hot Springs, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 108.8 miles and takes about 2h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are San Bernardino Freeway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, I-10 Metro ExpressLanes. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.4 miles from Desert Hot Springs, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.01 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 108.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 66.9 miles (I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.6 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.4 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Desert Hot Springs, CA to Los Angeles, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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