Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Afternoon in Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
3:01 PM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Los Angeles, CA to Cudahy, CA
Drive Time
17m
Distance
11.7 mi
19 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 16m
★
6 AM
0h 17m
8 AM
0h 20m
10 AM
0h 18m
12 PM
0h 18m
3 PM
0h 18m
5 PM
0h 20m
8 PM
0h 16m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Cudahy, CA
Efrem Efre
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Los Angeles to Cudahy, you are in for a quick 11.7-mile journey that typically takes about 17 minutes. This Pacific Coast trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. With a fuel cost estimate of just $2, it is a highly budget-friendly commute. You will primarily utilize the Santa Ana Freeway and the Long Beach Freeway before transitioning onto Firestone Boulevard to reach your destination. Because the entire route remains within the Pacific Coast region, you won't experience drastic shifts in geography, making this a straightforward and predictable drive.
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
5.9 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 8m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 79% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on major thoroughfares. You will face your longest uninterrupted stretch while navigating 5 miles along the Santa Ana Freeway, where traffic flow will dictate your pace. The remainder of the trip transitions from these fast-paced highway segments into the more localized environment of Firestone Boulevard. This balance creates a drive that prioritizes efficiency over scenery, moving you rapidly from the urban core of Los Angeles toward Cudahy. It is a functional, no-frills route designed for direct transit rather than leisurely cruising.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Santa Ana Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and Long Beach Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Main Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 11.7 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: near the start (North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (East Aliso Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Aliso Street
Turn right onto East Aliso Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward US 101 South, I 10 East, I 5 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 101 South, I 10 East, I 5 South
7
5.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 130B
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
7
10.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward Firestone Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13
Toward Firestone Boulevard
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 5 mi | 6m |
| Long Beach Freeway | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Firestone Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Atlantic Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Aliso Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 5 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Cudahy, CA.
1
Start on West 1st Street
69 ft
·
9 sec
·
West 1st Street
2
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto East Aliso Street
338 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Aliso Street
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward US 101 South, I 10 East, I 5 South
5
Merge onto US 101
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 130B
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 710
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 13
Toward Firestone Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto Firestone Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Firestone Boulevard
Use the right lane.
10
Turn right onto Atlantic Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Atlantic Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
Atlantic Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 17-minute trip, you have significant flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning around peak traffic on the Santa Ana Freeway is always a smart move. You will not need to schedule any formal stops for this 11.7-mile distance, allowing you to reach Cudahy without unnecessary delays. Given the $2 fuel cost, you can easily handle the drive on a single tank of gas without needing to worry about refueling along the way. My best advice is to keep a close eye on your GPS as you transition from the Long Beach Freeway onto Firestone Boulevard, as this turn marks the final, slower-paced leg of your journey.
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 5.9 miles from Los Angeles, CA, or about 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5 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 11.7 miles or 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 5.9 miles or 8m 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 Cudahy, 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 11.7 miles and 17m.
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 Santa Ana Freeway for about 5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 5.9 mi from Los Angeles, CA · 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 5.9 miles from Los Angeles, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cudahy, CA
The final approach into Cudahy, 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 Cudahy, 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
$2.71 one way
$5.42 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $2.79 | $5.59 |
| premium | $6.24 | $2.88 | $5.75 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.60 | $5.20 |
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: 4.1 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 | 3.5 | 0 | $1.23 | $0.56 |
| Efficient EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.02 | $0.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.64 | $0.75 |
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.
Destination
Cudahy, CA
Afternoon in Cudahy on Sunday
Local time
3:01 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°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
22 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
17m 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 Cudahy, CA covers 11.7 miles and takes about 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Santa Ana Freeway, Long Beach Freeway, Firestone Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.9 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 $2.71 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 9 significant decision points across 11.7 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: near the start (North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (East Aliso Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Los Angeles, CA to Cudahy, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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