Drive Time
27m
Distance
20.3 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
Photo: Selvin Esteban
Traveling from Los Angeles to Cerritos is a straightforward 20.3-mile journey that typically takes about 27 minutes. Because this is a short, highway-focused drive, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $3 on fuel for the trip, making it a very economical commute within the Pacific Coast region. You will primarily utilize the Santa Ana Freeway and the San Gabriel River Freeway to navigate between these two points. Since both cities are located in the same region, you won't experience significant geographic shifts, but the direct routing ensures you spend most of your time on major arterial roads.
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
10.2 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .
Expect a high-speed experience, as 84% of this 20.3-mile trip is comprised of highway driving. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 11.8 miles along the Santa Ana Freeway. The route transitions from the dense urban corridors of Los Angeles onto the San Gabriel River Freeway before concluding with a short connection via South Street. It is a utilitarian, interstate-heavy drive that prioritizes efficiency over scenic winding roads. Keep your focus sharp, as the transition between these major freeways requires steady maneuvering through typical regional traffic patterns.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and San Gabriel River 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 11 significant decision points across 20.3 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 12.3 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 I 605 North, I 605 South: San Gabriel River Freeway
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 I 605 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 605 South: San Gabriel River Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 11.8 mi | 14m |
| San Gabriel River Freeway | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| South Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Aliso Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Cerritos, 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
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 605
Take the exit
Turn left onto South Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Given the 27-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though you should always check for typical traffic congestion on the Santa Ana Freeway before heading out. Since there are no mandatory stops required for this 20.3-mile route, you can easily drive it straight through without planning for rest breaks. Keep your $3 fuel budget in mind, and ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Los Angeles to avoid searching for stations during the quick transit. My best tip for this specific drive is to familiarize yourself with the transition from the Santa Ana Freeway to the San Gabriel River Freeway ahead of time, as this interchange is the most critical navigation point 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 20.3 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.2 miles or 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cerritos, 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 20.3 miles and 27m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.2 mi from Los Angeles, CA · 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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 20.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 10.2 miles from Los Angeles, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Cerritos, 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 Cerritos, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$4.70 one way
$9.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $4.85 | $9.70 |
| premium | $6.24 | $4.99 | $9.98 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.51 | $9.02 |
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: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.13 | $0.97 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.84 | $1.30 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Evening in Los Angeles on Saturday
Local time
5:11 PM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Cerritos on Saturday
Local time
5:11 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
55°F
Downey, CA
10 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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