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Drive Time
31m
Distance
22.8 mi
37 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Signal Hill, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Los Angeles to Signal Hill is a straightforward 22.8-mile journey that typically takes about 31 minutes. Since you are staying entirely within the Pacific Coast region of California, this trip is best suited as a quick day outing rather than an overnight excursion. You can expect to spend approximately $5 on fuel for the round trip. Because the route is highly efficient, you won't need to plan for any major stops along the way. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from the city center to the coast quickly, making it ideal for those who prioritize speed over sightseeing.
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
11.4 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
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Expect a highway-focused experience, as 86% of your commute is spent on major transit arteries. You will navigate a combination of the Long Beach Freeway, Santa Ana Freeway, and San Diego Freeway to reach your destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Long Beach Freeway, covering 13.2 miles of your drive. This is essentially an interstate grind, so anticipate a fast-paced environment rather than a winding, scenic backroad. The transition between these major freeways requires staying alert, as you will be moving through a high-traffic urban corridor for the duration of the trip.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
188 ft
Total Descent
325 ft
Highest Point
285 ft
Elevation Range
247 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Beach 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
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 22.8 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: near the start (North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
Take the exit toward I 405 South, I 405 North: San Diego, Santa Monica
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 405: San Diego Freeway, San Diego
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Signal Hill, Cherry Avenue South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Signal Hill
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Los Angeles, CA and Signal Hill, CA, road signs point toward Santa Monica and San Diego.
Santa Monica
San Diego
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach Freeway | 13.2 mi | 16m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 5 mi | 6m |
| San Diego Freeway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Cherry Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Aliso Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Willow Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Signal Hill, 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
Take the exit
Merge onto I 710
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 405
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto Cherry Avenue
Turn right onto East Willow Street
Arrive at destination
Since the entire drive is only 22.8 miles, you have significant flexibility with your departure time. However, to avoid the heaviest congestion on these major freeways, try to avoid traditional rush-hour windows. You won't need to schedule formal rest stops given the short 31-minute duration, allowing you to head straight to your destination. Keep your fuel tank topped off before leaving Los Angeles, as the $5 fuel estimate assumes a direct, efficient path. A helpful tip for this route is to monitor real-time traffic reports for the Long Beach Freeway specifically, as that 13.2-mile stretch is the most critical segment 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.
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 22.8 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11.4 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Signal Hill, 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 22.8 miles and 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.4 mi from Los Angeles, CA · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 22.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 11.4 miles from Los Angeles, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Signal Hill, 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 Signal Hill, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$5.24 one way
$10.48 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $5.40 | $10.80 |
| premium | $6.18 | $5.54 | $11.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.03 | $10.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.19 | $1.46 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Morning in Los Angeles on Wednesday
Local time
10:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Signal Hill on Wednesday
Local time
10:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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