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

The driving distance from Fullerton, CA to Los Angeles, CA is about 26.4 miles (42.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 22.2 miles (35.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 08m 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
26.41 mi
00h 34m
Flight
22.15 mi
35.65 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fullerton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
22.15 mi
Kilometers
35.65 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
26.41 mi
Kilometers
42.51 km
Drive Time
00h 34m

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 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Los Angeles
Wed, Apr 22, 5:04 PM PDT
Return by in Fullerton
Wed, Apr 22, 5:38 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fullerton
2026-04-22T16:30
Arrive Los Angeles
Wed, Apr 22, 5:04 PM PDT
Route Timing
00h 34m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:34 AM to 7:34 PM PDT

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

Leave by
7:22 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Fullerton
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
Santa Fe Springs
CA

City in Los Angeles County, California, United States

From Fullerton
13.2 mi
00h 17m
To Los Angeles
13.2 mi
00h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W
Destination
70°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 15 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Commonwealth Avenue

    95 m · 13 sec · West Commonwealth Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Harbor Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South Harbor Boulevard

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right toward CA 91 West

    1520 ft · 39 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Riverside Freeway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 5 North: Los Angeles

    1.3 km · 2 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    17.8 mi · 21 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    3.4 mi · 5 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Spring Street

    549 ft · 14 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto North Spring Street

    1889 ft · 47 sec · North Spring Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto West 1st Street

    108 m · 14 sec · West 1st Street

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fullerton 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
11 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
41.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Santa Ana Freeway
21.3 mi · 80%
Riverside Freeway
2.34 mi · 9%
South Harbor Boulevard
1.11 mi · 4%
I 5 North
0.8 mi · 3%
North Spring Street
0.36 mi · 1%
CA 91 West
0.29 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Santa Ana Freeway

Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

17.8 mi · 00h 21m

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 34m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.2 mi
22.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Santa Fe Springs
00h 17m from Fullerton
Leave By
7:22 PM PDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Fullerton and 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 Fullerton to Los Angeles?

The road trip is about 26.4 miles (42.5 km) and usually takes 00h 34m 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?

Santa Fe Springs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.2 miles from Fullerton and 13.2 miles from Los Angeles.

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

The direct path is about 22.2 miles (35.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.2 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 7:22 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.37 one way or $10.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Fullerton and Mostly Sunny near Los Angeles.

Stop Ideas Near Santa Fe Springs

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 Santa Fe Springs and the surrounding midpoint area.
Bell Gardens Inn Los Angeles
Stay option 4.8 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 7.9 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
Meeting point 10.2 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
Los ANgeles city Hall
Nearby stop 10.6 mi away

Los ANgeles city Hall

Los Angeles , CA
Los Angeles, CA 90003, United States
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews City or town hall

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Santa Fe Springs.

RAIL

Fullerton Transportation Center

17 mi away
120 East Santa Fe Avenue
RAIL

Los Angeles Union Station

18 mi away
800 North Alameda Street
BUS

Long Beach, California

21 mi away
601 North Long Beach Blvd.
BUS

Pasadena, California

22 mi away
150 South Los Robles Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fullerton and Los Angeles. Straight-line distance: 22.15 mi (35.65 km).

Fullerton

#1 Fullerton

The eighth most populous city in Orange County, California.

Population139,921
Coordinates33.8702900, -117.9253400
Altitude50
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: West Commonwealth Avenue (-117.92534, 33.87034)
End: West 1st Street (-118.243569, 34.052341)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 43 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.93 gal
3.53 L · about $5.37
Round trip
$10.73
1.86 gal · 7.06 L
Estimated CO2
8.3 kg one way
Round trip: 16.5 kg / 36 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $5.37 $10.73
Mid-grade $6.07 $5.64 $11.28
Premium $6.24 $5.81 $11.61
Diesel $7.57 $7.04 $14.07

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 · Apr 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Fullerton and Los Angeles. The current time is 16:30:23.

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.