Origin
Signal Hill, CA
Morning in Signal Hill on Wednesday
Local time
10:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Signal Hill, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Data updated 3 hours ago
Drive Time
32m
Distance
22.9 mi
37 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Signal Hill, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Signal Hill to Los Angeles, you are looking at a quick 22.9-mile transit along the Pacific Coast. You can expect to spend about 32 minutes behind the wheel, making this a very manageable trip for a single day. Since the drive is short, there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations or multiple days of travel. With a fuel cost of only $5, it is an economical route that relies heavily on major infrastructure. You will remain within the Pacific Coast region for the duration of your journey, ensuring a consistent climate and environment as you transition between these two Southern California locations.
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
11.5 miles from Signal Hill, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 83% of your travel taking place on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of the Long Beach Freeway, Santa Ana Freeway, and San Diego Freeway to reach your destination. Expect a straightforward experience, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 13.2 miles on the Long Beach Freeway. Because the route is dominated by interstates, you should anticipate a fast-paced environment rather than a scenic, winding backroad experience. The transition between these freeways defines the personality of the drive, requiring you to stay alert for merging traffic as you move toward Los Angeles.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Long Beach Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.2 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
292 ft
52 ft
Total Climb
322 ft
Total Descent
185 ft
Highest Point
292 ft
~20.1 mi in
Elevation Range
240 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 around 0.5 miles in near Orange Avenue.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 22.9 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: at 0.5 miles (Orange Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Orange Avenue
Turn right onto Orange Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
8
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 405 North: San Diego Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 405 North: San Diego Freeway
7
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward I 710 North: Pasadena
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 32A
Toward I 710 North: Pasadena
8
22.2 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2B
Toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach Freeway | 13.2 mi | 15m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| San Diego Freeway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Orange Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Willow Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Los Angeles Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Arcadia Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Long Beach Freeway
— 13.2 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Signal Hill, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on East Willow Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Willow Street
2
Turn right onto Orange Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Orange Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto East 32nd Street
444 ft
·
12 sec
·
East 32nd Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
5
Keep slight left at fork
283 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 405 North: San Diego Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 405
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 32A
Toward I 710 North: Pasadena
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 710
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 5
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 2B
Toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on I 10 EXPR
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Arcadia Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Los Angeles Street
15
Turn right onto East 1st Street
461 ft
·
17 sec
·
East 1st Street
16
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 32-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility when planning your departure time. You will not need to factor in any planned stops, as the direct route is efficient enough to complete in one go. Keep in mind that your fuel budget is quite low at $5, but it is always wise to ensure your tank is topped off before merging onto the busy freeway system. Because you will be navigating high-traffic corridors like the Santa Ana and San Diego Freeways, try to avoid peak rush hours if you prefer a smoother, less congested experience. Use this agility to your advantage, as the lack of required stops means you can easily adjust your schedule based on real-time traffic conditions.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 11.5 miles from Signal Hill, CA, or about 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.2 miles.
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 22.9 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11.5 miles or 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Los Angeles, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Signal Hill, 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 Signal Hill, CA
This is one driving day of about 22.9 miles and 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Signal Hill, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Long Beach Freeway for about 13.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.5 mi from Signal Hill, CA · 16m 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 22.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 11.5 miles from Signal Hill, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Los Angeles, CA
The final approach into Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.26 one way
$10.53 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $5.42 | $10.85 |
| premium | $6.18 | $5.57 | $11.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.06 | $10.11 |
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 | 6.9 | 0 | $2.40 | $1.10 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $2.00 | $0.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Los Angeles, CA
Morning in Los Angeles on Wednesday
Local time
10:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 mph
13% chance
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
13 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
32m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Signal Hill, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 22.9 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Beach Freeway, Santa Ana Freeway, San Diego Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.5 miles from Signal Hill, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.26 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 22.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Orange Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Signal Hill, CA to Los Angeles, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 52 ft to 292 ft elevation with about 322 ft of total climbing.
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