Trip from Los Angeles, CA to Burbank, CA

Drive Time

16m

Distance

11.2 mi

18 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 15m ★
6 AM
0h 16m
8 AM
0h 19m
10 AM
0h 17m
12 PM
0h 17m
3 PM
0h 17m
5 PM
0h 19m
8 PM
0h 15m ★

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown los-angeles-ca

Los Angeles, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Downtown Burbank, CA, CA

Burbank, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

Traveling between Los Angeles and Burbank is a brief 11.2-mile journey that typically takes about 16 minutes. Since both cities are located within the Pacific Coast region of California, you will remain in the same coastal environment throughout the trip. This highway-focused drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. With an estimated fuel cost of just $2, it is an incredibly budget-friendly option for commuters or visitors. You can easily navigate this route using a combination of the Golden State Freeway, North Broadway, and the Arroyo Seco Parkway.

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

5.6 miles from Los Angeles, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is defined by its high highway utilization, with 80 percent of the travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Golden State Freeway, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of 7.8 miles. Expect a fast-paced experience that prioritizes efficiency over local road exploration. As you transition from the city streets onto the freeway, the driving rhythm shifts from urban stop-and-go patterns to a more consistent, high-speed flow. It is a straightforward, functional drive that gets you from point A to point B with minimal complexity.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Golden State Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 7.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Golden State Freeway and North Broadway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near North Hill Street.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 11.2 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 1.1 miles (North Hill Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | North Hill Street

Turn right onto North Hill Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
10.8 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the exit toward Olive Avenue, Downtown

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 146A Toward Olive Avenue, Downtown
8
11 mi into trip | ~15m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward Downtown
7
11 mi into trip | ~15m in | South First Street

Turn left onto South First Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
11.1 mi into trip | ~15m in | East Olive Avenue

Turn right onto East Olive Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Golden State Freeway 7.8 mi 9m
North Broadway 0.9 mi 1m
Arroyo Seco Parkway 0.8 mi 1m
North Hill Street 0.3 mi <1m
US 6 Hist 0.3 mi <1m
West 1st Street 0.1 mi <1m
East Olive Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
South First Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Golden State Freeway — 7.8 mi, about 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Burbank, CA.

1

Start on West 1st Street

0.1 mi · 32 sec · West 1st Street
Use the none lane.
2

Turn right onto North Broadway

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Broadway
Use the none lane.
3

Turn left onto West College Street

404 ft · 15 sec · West College Street
Use the left lane.
4

Turn right onto North Hill Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · North Hill Street
Use the straight lane.
5

Take the ramp

431 ft · 6 sec
Toward CA 110 North
6

Merge onto CA 110; US 6 Hist; US 66 Hist

0.8 mi · 1 min · Arroyo Seco Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit onto US 6 Hist

0.3 mi · 38 sec · US 6 Hist
Toward I 5 North Use the left / straight lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 57 sec
Toward I 5 North
9

Merge onto I 5

7.8 mi · 9 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Exit 146A Toward Olive Avenue, Downtown Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight right at fork

220 ft · 5 sec
Toward Downtown Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Turn straight onto Angeleno Avenue

162 ft · 10 sec · Angeleno Avenue
13

Turn left onto South First Street

432 ft · 12 sec · South First Street
Use the left lane.
14

Turn right onto East Olive Avenue

517 ft · 10 sec · East Olive Avenue
Use the none lane.
15

Arrive at destination

East Olive Avenue

Trip Plan

Because this is a short 16-minute trip, you have significant flexibility regarding your departure time. You will not need to plan for any scheduled stops, as the duration is manageable without a break. Keep in mind that heavy traffic can impact your travel time on these major freeways, so checking real-time conditions before you head out is a smart move. Since fuel consumption is minimal, you can comfortably make the drive on a low tank, though keeping a $2 buffer for gas is a good rule of thumb. Use the Arroyo Seco Parkway carefully to ensure you stay on your intended path during the transition between major roads.

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 5.6 miles from Los Angeles, CA, or about 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.8 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 11.2 miles or 16m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 5.6 miles or 9m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 13m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burbank, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles, CA

This is one driving day of about 11.2 miles and 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Los Angeles, 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 Golden State Freeway for about 7.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 5.6 mi from Los Angeles, CA · 9m into the drive

Downtown Hollywood, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hollywood, CA

6 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

Hollywood, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hollywood, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 5.6 miles from Los Angeles, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Burbank, CA

The final approach into Burbank, 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 Burbank, 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

$2.59 one way

$5.19 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $2.67 $5.35
premium $6.24 $2.75 $5.51
diesel $5.64 $2.49 $4.98

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$28–$53

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 3.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.4 0 $1.18 $0.54
Efficient EV 2.8 0 $0.98 $0.45
EV Truck/SUV 4.5 0 $1.57 $0.72

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Los Angeles, CA

Evening in Los Angeles on Sunday

Local time

5:31 PM

PDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Burbank, CA

Evening in Burbank on Sunday

Local time

5:31 PM

PDT

Current temp

53°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

24 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

16m 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 Los Angeles, CA to Burbank, CA covers 11.2 miles and takes about 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Golden State Freeway, North Broadway, Arroyo Seco Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.6 miles from Los Angeles, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.59 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 13 significant decision points across 11.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (North Hill Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Los Angeles, CA to Burbank, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Burbank, CA to Los Angeles, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

11.5 mi 16m

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