Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
54.2 mi
87 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trabuco Canyon, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Spanning 54.2 miles, this drive from Los Angeles to Trabuco Canyon typically takes around 1 hour and 11 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, it is an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will navigate a mix of major arteries, including the Santa Ana Freeway, the Foothill Transportation Corridor, and Irvine Boulevard. Budgeting approximately $7 for fuel makes this a budget-friendly excursion within the Pacific Coast region. Whether you are looking for a quick getaway or a change of scenery, the route offers a straightforward path between these two Southern California locations.
Frank Lloyd Wright is said to have quipped, "Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles," a quote that has since been repeated both by those who love and hate L.A. The "City of Angels" is home to people who hail from all parts of the globe and an important center of culture, business, media, and international trade. However, it's most famous for being a major center of the world's television, motion picture, and music industry, which forms the base of the city's status and lures visitors for its show business history and celebrity culture. Visitors are also drawn to Los Angeles for its Mediterranean climate and numerous beaches, which gave birth to California's famed surf culture.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 54.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This drive features a mixed profile, balancing high-speed transit with local segments. Highways account for 60% of the journey, providing a consistent pace for the majority of your time behind the wheel. You can expect your longest uninterrupted stretch to be 30.8 miles while traveling along the Santa Ana Freeway. As you transition from the dense urban network of Los Angeles onto the Foothill Transportation Corridor and Irvine Boulevard, the character of the road shifts from heavy interstate traffic to more localized driving. Expect a functional, efficient experience that gets you to your destination with minimal fuss.
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 early in the drive near North Main Street.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.2 miles you will encounter 21 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 32.5 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 Fourth Street, First Street
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 CA 241 South: Santa Margarita
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Auto Center Drive, Santa Margarita Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Trabuco Canyon, CA, road signs point toward Broadway and Santa Ana.
Broadway
Santa Ana
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 30.8 mi | 36m |
| Foothill Transportation Corridor | 8.1 mi | 9m |
| Irvine Boulevard | 6.9 mi | 11m |
| Santa Margarita Parkway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Trabuco Canyon Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Eastern Transportation Corridor | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| East 4th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Plano Trabuco Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Trabuco Canyon, 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 left onto East 4th Street
Continue on Irvine Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto CA 133 Toll
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto CA 241 Toll
Take the exit
Turn right onto Santa Margarita Parkway
Turn left onto Plano Trabuco Drive
Continue on Trabuco Canyon Road
Turn right onto Trabuco Oaks Drive
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.1 mi from Los Angeles, CA · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.1 miles from Los Angeles, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Trabuco Canyon, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$12.46 one way
$24.91 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $12.84 | $25.67 |
| premium | $6.18 | $13.18 | $26.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.97 | $23.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.69 | $2.60 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.59 | $3.47 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Night in Los Angeles on Friday
Local time
10:28 PM
PDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Night in Trabuco Canyon on Friday
Local time
10:28 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
72°F
Santa Ana, CA
27 mi in
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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