Trip.ovh

Trip from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA

Drive Time

46h 53m

Distance

2672.7 mi

Route Type

Long-distance drive

Multi-day drive

Trip Overview

The drive from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA covers 2672.7 miles and takes about 46h 53m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 4-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Constitution Avenue Northwest, 17th Street Northwest, New York Avenue Northwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $429.95 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 4 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

13 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

1336.4 miles from Washington, DC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

At 2672.7 miles and 46h 53m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Constitution Avenue Northwest and 17th Street Northwest.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 67 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Constitution Avenue Northwest is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Constitution Avenue Northwest 0 mi 0m
17th Street Northwest 0 mi 0m
New York Avenue Northwest 0 mi 0m
E Street Northwest 0 mi 0m
E Street Expressway 0 mi 0m
I 66 West 0 mi 0m
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge 0 mi 0m
Custis Memorial Parkway 0 mi 0m
Longest stretch: Constitution Avenue Northwest — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on 15th Street Northwest

2

Turn right onto Constitution Avenue Northwest

3

Turn right onto 17th Street Northwest

4

Turn left onto New York Avenue Northwest

5

Continue on E Street Northwest

6

Continue on E Street Expressway

7

Keep slight left to continue on I 66 West: Virginia

8

Keep slight right to continue on I 66 West

9

Keep slight left to continue on Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge

10

Continue on Custis Memorial Parkway

11

Keep slight left to continue on Custis Memorial Parkway

12

Keep slight left to continue on I 81 South: Roanoke

13

Merge slight right onto I 81 South: Roanoke

14

Keep slight left

15

Continue straight

16

Keep slight left

17

Continue on I 40 West: Knoxville

18

Merge slight left

19

Keep slight right to continue on Nashville

20

Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville

21

Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis

22

Merge slight right onto Downtown Loop

23

Continue on Downtown Loop

24

Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Memphis

25

Take the exit slight right toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock

26

Keep slight right to continue on I 40 West: Little Rock

27

Keep slight left

28

Keep slight left to continue on Tinker Diagonal

29

Continue on Crosstown Expressway

30

Keep slight right to continue on Crosstown Expressway

31

Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

32

Continue on Senator Ed Berrong Memorial Highway

33

Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

34

Continue on Great Western Cattle Trail

35

Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway

36

Take the exit slight right toward Golden Shores, Oatman

37

Continue straight

38

Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

39

Continue on Needles Freeway

40

Take the exit slight right toward J Street

41

Merge slight left onto Needles Freeway

42

Merge slight left onto Barstow and Mojave Freeway

43

Continue on CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway

44

Continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway

45

Take the exit slight left

46

Take the exit slight right toward I 10 West: Los Angeles

47

Merge slight left onto San Bernardino Freeway

48

Take the exit slight left

49

Merge slight left onto I-10 Metro ExpressLanes

50

Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway

51

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

52

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

53

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

54

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

55

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

56

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

57

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

58

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

59

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

60

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

61

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

62

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

63

Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

64

Take the exit slight right toward Spring Street

65

Turn right onto North Spring Street

66

Turn left onto West 1st Street

67

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 4-day trip.
Plan roughly 13 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 1336.4 miles from Washington, DC.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 220 miles

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 1336.4 miles

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 668 miles

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Last hour of driving

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 Washington, DC 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

+

Treat this as a 4-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Washington, DC

Aim for roughly 668 miles and 11.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Keep the middle miles efficient

Aim for roughly 668 miles and 11.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 3

Keep the middle miles efficient

Aim for roughly 668 miles and 11.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 4

Finish the approach into Los Angeles, CA

Aim for roughly 668 miles and 11.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Washington, DC.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 13 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Coffee and fuel

Johnson City, TN

668 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Late stop town

Overnight candidate

Texarkana, TX

1336 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Late stop town

Final reset

Rio Rancho, NM

2005 mi into the route

Best for: Food, fuel, and one last short break

This is a smart final reset before the arrival run into Los Angeles, CA.

Suggested Overnight Stops

Night 1

Johnson City, TN

668 mi · about 11.7h in

A practical overnight split lands near Johnson City, TN after about 668 miles or 11.7 hours of driving.

Night 2

Texarkana, TX

1336 mi · about 23.4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Texarkana, TX after about 1336 miles or 23.4 hours of driving.

Night 3

Rio Rancho, NM

2005 mi · about 35.2h in

A practical overnight split lands near Rio Rancho, NM after about 2005 miles or 35.2 hours of driving.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Los Angeles, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.

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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 1336.4 mi from Washington, DC

Johnson City, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Texarkana, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 1336.4 miles from Washington, DC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 668 miles or 11.7 hours on the road.

Final-third reset

Rest stop

Plan one more short stretch-and-water break in the final third of the drive so the last arrival window feels easier.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
regular $4.09 $429.95 $859.89
midgrade $4.60 $483.93 $967.85
premium $4.95 $521.28 $1,042.56
diesel $5.98 $629.24 $1,258.48

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 935.1 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA covers 2672.7 miles and takes about 46h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Constitution Avenue Northwest, 17th Street Northwest, New York Avenue Northwest. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 4-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 668 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 1336.4 miles from Washington, DC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $429.95 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 13 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

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Next Route Ideas

Reverse Route

Los Angeles, CA to Washington, DC

Useful if you are planning the return drive and want the same trip in reverse.

2670.7 mi 39h 7m

Continue From Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, CA to Houston, TX 1549.1 mi · 22h 39m Los Angeles, CA to San Antonio, TX 1353.8 mi · 19h 46m Los Angeles, CA to McKinleyville, CA 683.6 mi · 12h 45m Los Angeles, CA to Red Bluff, CA 513.7 mi · 9h 24m

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