How far is Cerritos, CA from Los Angeles, CA?

The driving distance from Cerritos, CA to Los Angeles, CA is about 19.7 miles (31.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 31m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 16.8 miles (27.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 02m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
19.67 mi
00h 31m
Flight
16.87 mi
27.15 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cerritos.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
16.87 mi
Kilometers
27.15 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
19.67 mi
Kilometers
31.66 km
Drive Time
00h 31m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 31m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Los Angeles
Wed, May 13, 11:47 AM PDT
Return by in Cerritos
Wed, May 13, 12:18 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cerritos
2026-05-13T11:16
Arrive Los Angeles
Wed, May 13, 11:47 AM PDT
Route Timing
00h 31m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:31 AM to 7:31 PM PDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:28 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Cerritos
10:00 PM PDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Bell Gardens
CA

A city in Los Angeles County, California.

From Cerritos
9.7 mi
00h 15m
To Los Angeles
10 mi
00h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSW
Destination
69°F
Wednesday

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cerritos and Los Angeles.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cerritos and Los Angeles.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    18 m · 6 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Street

    96 m · 9 sec · South Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Bloomfield Avenue

    3 mi · 7 min · Bloomfield Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Rosecrans Avenue

    906 ft · 31 sec · Rosecrans Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto I 5 North: Los Angeles

    1854 ft · 47 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    12.1 mi · 14 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Alameda Street, Union Station

    798 ft · 19 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on East Arcadia Street

    988 ft · 32 sec · East Arcadia Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street

    1696 ft · 45 sec · North Los Angeles Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto East 1st Street

    141 m · 18 sec · East 1st Street

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cerritos and Los Angeles.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
12 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
60.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Santa Ana Freeway
15 mi · 76%
Bloomfield Avenue
3.02 mi · 15%
I 5 North
0.35 mi · 2%
North Los Angeles Street
0.32 mi · 2%
East Arcadia Street
0.19 mi · 1%
Rosecrans Avenue
0.17 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Santa Ana Freeway

Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

12.1 mi · 00h 14m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 31m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.9 mi
16.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bell Gardens
00h 15m from Cerritos
Leave By
7:28 PM PDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Cerritos and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Los Angeles.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cerritos to Los Angeles?

The road trip is about 19.7 miles (31.7 km) and usually takes 00h 31m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Bell Gardens is a useful midpoint, sitting about 9.7 miles from Cerritos and 10 miles from Los Angeles.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 16.8 miles (27.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:28 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.98 one way or $7.96 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Cerritos and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Los Angeles.

Stop Ideas Near Bell Gardens

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Bell Gardens and the surrounding midpoint area.
Bell Gardens Inn Los Angeles
Stay option 2.2 mi away

Bell Gardens Inn Los Angeles

Bell Gardens , CA
6328 S Eastern Ave, Bell Gardens, CA 90201, United States
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Motel
City of South El Monte City Hall
Scenic stop 6.6 mi away

City of South El Monte City Hall

South El Monte , CA
1415 Santa Anita Ave, South El Monte, CA 91733, United States
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Park,City or town hall
Stop photo coming soon
Practical stop 8.9 mi away

City of Los Angeles

Los Angeles , CA
1149 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews E-commerce service
Stop photo coming soon
Meeting point 8.5 mi away

City Of El Monte Public Works Department

El Monte , CA
3990 Arden Dr, El Monte, CA 91731, United States
Rating 5.0/5 3 reviews City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Bell Gardens.

RAIL

Los Angeles Union Station

13 mi away
800 North Alameda Street
BUS

Torrance, CA

18 mi away
20575 Hamilton Avenue
RAIL

Glendale Transportation Center

20 mi away
400 West Cerritos Avenue
BUS

Pasadena, California

20 mi away
150 South Los Robles Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cerritos and Los Angeles. Straight-line distance: 16.87 mi (27.15 km).

Cerritos

#1 Cerritos

A city in Los Angeles County, California.

Population48,624
Coordinates33.8583500, -118.0647900
Altitude14
CountryUnited States
Los Angeles

#2 Los Angeles

The second most populous city in the United States and the center of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Population3,970,219
Coordinates34.0522300, -118.2436800
Altitude89
CountryUnited States
Start: (-118.064743, 33.858331)
End: West 1st Street (-118.243569, 34.052341)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 32 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.69 gal
2.63 L · about $3.98
Round trip
$7.96
1.38 gal · 5.26 L
Estimated CO2
6.1 kg one way
Round trip: 12.3 kg / 27 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $3.98 $7.96
Mid-grade $6.07 $4.19 $8.37
Premium $6.24 $4.31 $8.62
Diesel $7.57 $5.22 $10.44

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in California · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Cerritos and Los Angeles. The current time is 11:16:24.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.