Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Evening in Los Angeles on Thursday
Local time
6:30 PM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
2h 11m
Distance
105.3 mi
169 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Fairbanks Ranch, CA
Robert So
The drive from Los Angeles, CA to Fairbanks Ranch, CA covers 105.3 miles and takes about 2h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on San Diego Freeway, Santa Ana Freeway, Walnut Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.7 miles on San Diego Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.20 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.
Midpoint
52.6 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 11m. Total distance: 105.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 2h 11m highway drive covering 105.3 miles, with most of the trip on San Diego Freeway and Santa Ana Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 55.7 miles on San Diego Freeway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and Santa Ana 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.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 105.3 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 29.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto East Aliso Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Newport Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Jamboree Road toward CA 261 Toll North: Jamboree Road, Riverside
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Los Angeles, CA and Fairbanks Ranch, CA, road signs point toward Broadway, Santa Ana and Riverside.
Broadway
Santa Ana
Riverside
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Freeway | 55.7 mi | 1h 5m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 38.1 mi | 44m |
| Walnut Avenue | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Lomas Santa Fe Drive | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Calzada del Bosque | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Linea del Cielo | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| El Apajo | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Jamboree Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Fairbanks Ranch, CA.
Start on West 1st Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Turn right onto East Aliso Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 101
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Take the exit
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
Take the exit
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Turn left onto S8
Continue on S8
Turn right onto Calzada del Bosque
Turn right onto Via de Santa Fe
Continue on El Apajo
At end of road, turn left onto San Dieguito Road
Turn right onto Circa del Sur
Arrive at destination
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.
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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.6 miles or 1h 5m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairbanks Ranch, CA than in the middle of the route.
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 105.3 miles and 2h 11m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.6 mi from Los Angeles, CA · 1h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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.
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 52.6 miles from Los Angeles, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Fairbanks Ranch, 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 Fairbanks Ranch, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$24.20 one way
$48.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $24.94 | $49.88 |
| premium | $6.18 | $25.61 | $51.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.25 | $46.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.6 | 0 | $11.06 | $5.05 |
| Efficient EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.21 | $4.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.1 | 0 | $14.74 | $6.74 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Los Angeles on Thursday
Local time
6:30 PM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Fairbanks Ranch on Thursday
Local time
6:30 PM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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