Drive Time
1h 46m
Distance
88.6 mi
143 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
If you are planning to head from Los Angeles to Apple Valley, you are looking at a straightforward 88.6-mile trek. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 46 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. Your path primarily utilizes the San Bernardino Freeway, the Ontario Freeway, and the Barstow and Mojave Freeway. With a fuel budget of approximately $12, it is a budget-friendly way to transition from the Pacific Coast urban sprawl toward the high desert. Since the entire drive stays within California, you can easily complete the journey in one go without the need for an overnight stop. It is a practical, efficient route that serves as a reliable connection between these two regions.
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
44.3 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 80% of your time spent cruising on major arteries. You will experience a steady pace as you navigate the transition from dense metropolitan corridors to the more open stretches leading toward Apple Valley. The longest continuous segment involves 32.3 miles on the San Bernardino Freeway, which sets the tone for a consistent driving experience. While you will encounter a mix of heavy-traffic freeways early on, the road maintains a functional, high-speed personality throughout the duration. Expect a standard interstate experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, secondary roads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Bernardino Freeway and Barstow and Mojave 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.
Complex — stay alert throughout
This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 88.6 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 10.7 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Lane positioning matters here
Lane positioning matters here
Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Exit ramp — move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs — pick the right one
Exit ramp — move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs — pick the right one
Between Los Angeles, CA and Apple Valley, CA, road signs point toward Las Vegas, La Mesa Road and Nisqualli Road.
Las Vegas
La Mesa Road
Nisqualli Road
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino Freeway | 32.3 mi | 37m |
| Barstow and Mojave Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| Ontario Freeway | 14 mi | 15m |
| I-10 Metro ExpressLanes | 7.4 mi | 7m |
| CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway | 5.4 mi | 5m |
| Yucca Loma Road | 4 mi | 6m |
| Yates Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Green Tree Boulevard | 2 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Apple Valley, CA.
Because this route relies heavily on major freeways, timing is everything to avoid the worst of the regional traffic congestion. Plan your departure to miss peak commute hours, as the highway-heavy nature of the drive makes you susceptible to slowdowns. Since the 88.6-mile trip is relatively short, you have the flexibility to power through without needing formal rest stops, though it never hurts to check your fuel levels before leaving the city. Given the 1-hour and 46-minute duration, you can easily make this a spontaneous excursion if you play your cards right. Keep a close eye on the transition between the Ontario Freeway and the Barstow and Mojave Freeway to ensure you stay on the most efficient path.
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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.3 miles or 52m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apple Valley, 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 88.6 miles and 1h 46m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.3 mi from Los Angeles, CA · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 44.3 miles from Los Angeles, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Apple Valley, 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 Apple Valley, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$12.03 one way
$24.07 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $13.43 | $26.86 |
| premium | $4.15 | $14.48 | $28.95 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $13.08 | $26.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.30 | $4.25 |
| Efficient EV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.75 | $3.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.4 | 0 | $12.40 | $5.67 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Los Angeles on Saturday
Local time
10:37 AM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Apple Valley on Saturday
Local time
10:37 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
77°F
Ontario, CA
44 mi in
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.
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