How far is Los Angeles, CA from Palm Desert, CA?
The driving distance from Los Angeles, CA to Palm Desert, CA is about 122.1 miles (196.5 km), with a travel time of about 02h 20m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 109.5 miles (176.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 02h 20m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
A city in San Bernardino County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Los Angeles and Palm Desert.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles and Palm Desert.
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1
Start on West 1st Street
21 m · 10 sec · West 1st Street
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2
Turn left onto North Main Street
1465 ft · 35 sec · North Main Street
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3
Turn right onto East Aliso Street
103 m · 13 sec · East Aliso Street
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4
Take the ramp straight toward US 101 South, I 10 East, I 5 South
776 ft · 19 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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6
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 East: San Bernardino
1343 ft · 33 sec
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7
Continue on San Bernardino Freeway
9.3 mi · 11 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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8
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
2.2 mi · 3 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
2 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.5 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.4 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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15
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
2 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
2.1 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
4 mi · 5 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
9 mi · 10 min · I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
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19
Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway
14.3 mi · 16 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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20
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
40.3 mi · 44 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
19.2 mi · 21 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
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22
Take the exit slight right toward I 10 West: Monterey Avenue
1354 ft · 19 sec
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23
Turn right onto Monterey Avenue
5.9 mi · 9 min · Monterey Avenue
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24
Turn left onto East Palm Canyon Drive
1.3 km · 2 min · East Palm Canyon Drive
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25
Turn left onto San Luis Rey Avenue
150 m · 24 sec · San Luis Rey Avenue
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · San Luis Rey Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Angeles and Palm Desert.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
40.3 mi · 00h 44m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A comfortable day-trip route
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
Mostly Sunny leaving Los Angeles and Mostly Sunny near Palm Desert.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to Palm Desert?
The road trip is about 122.1 miles (196.5 km) and usually takes 02h 20m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Redlands is a useful midpoint, sitting about 61 miles from Los Angeles and 61.1 miles from Palm Desert.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 109.5 miles (176.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:48 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.86 one way or $49.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 38.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Los Angeles and Mostly Sunny near Palm Desert.
Stop Ideas Near Redlands
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Bear Springs Hotel
City Hall
San Bernardino County Land Use
City of Fontana Civic Center
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Redlands.
San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot
Moreno Valley, California
Riverside–Downtown
Perris, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Los Angeles and Palm Desert. Straight-line distance: 109.46 mi (176.16 km).
#1 Los Angeles
The second most populous city in the United States and the center of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
| Population | 3,970,219 |
| Coordinates | 34.0522300, -118.2436800 |
| Altitude | 89 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Palm Desert
A city in Riverside County, California.
| Population | 53,524 |
| Coordinates | 33.7225500, -116.3769700 |
| Altitude | 67 |
| Country | United States |
End: Palm Desert (-116.37697, 33.72255)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 196 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 04h 04m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 03m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 02h 26m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 02m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 01h 44m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 31m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $24.86 | $49.73 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $26.14 | $52.29 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $26.91 | $53.81 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $32.61 | $65.23 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.