How far is Los Angeles, CA from Ridgecrest, CA?
The driving distance from Los Angeles, CA to Ridgecrest, CA is about 152.4 miles (245.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 05m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 113.3 miles (182.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 11m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
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 03h 05m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Census-designated place in Kern County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Los Angeles and Ridgecrest.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles and Ridgecrest.
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1
Start on West 1st Street
761 ft · 32 sec · West 1st Street
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2
Turn right onto North Broadway
1959 ft · 49 sec · North Broadway
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3
Take the ramp right toward US 101 North, CA 110
1234 ft · 30 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.1 km · 55 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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5
Continue on Hollywood Freeway
15.5 mi · 20 min · Hollywood Freeway
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6
Keep slight left
1.4 km · 59 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
4.5 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
1.5 mi · 2 min
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10
Keep slight right to continue on CA 14 North: Palmdale, Lancaster
45.7 mi · 53 min
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Aerospace Highway
19.1 mi · 20 min · Aerospace Highway
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12
Continue on Sierra Highway
4.7 mi · 6 min · Sierra Highway
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13
Turn right onto Aerospace Highway
20 mi · 23 min · Aerospace Highway
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14
Continue on Midland Trail
1729 ft · 23 sec · Midland Trail
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15
Turn right onto Redrock Randsburg Road
12.1 mi · 17 min · Redrock Randsburg Road
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16
Continue on Garlock Road
8.4 mi · 12 min · Garlock Road
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17
At the end of the road, turn left onto Blue Star Memorial Highway
9.8 mi · 11 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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18
Turn slight right onto South China Lake Boulevard
6.1 mi · 9 min · South China Lake Boulevard
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19
Turn left onto West Ridgecrest Boulevard
127 m · 26 sec · West Ridgecrest Boulevard
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20
Continue on West Ridgecrest Boulevard
23 m · 3 sec · West Ridgecrest Boulevard
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21
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West Ridgecrest Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Angeles and Ridgecrest.
Straightforward drive
The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.
CA 14 North
Keep slight right to continue on CA 14 North: Palmdale, Lancaster
45.7 mi · 00h 53m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Mostly Sunny leaving Los Angeles and Sunny near Ridgecrest.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to Ridgecrest?
The road trip is about 152.4 miles (245.2 km) and usually takes 03h 05m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Rosamond is a useful midpoint, sitting about 76.2 miles from Los Angeles and 76.2 miles from Ridgecrest.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 113.3 miles (182.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.1 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:48 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.04 one way or $62.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 47.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Los Angeles and Sunny near Ridgecrest.
Stop Ideas Near Rosamond
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Rosamond.
Lancaster, California
Mojave, California
Palmdale (Amtrak Thruway), California
Tehachapi, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Los Angeles and Ridgecrest. Straight-line distance: 113.25 mi (182.26 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 Ridgecrest
City in California
| Population | 29,135 |
| Coordinates | 35.6224600, -117.6709000 |
| Altitude | 698 |
| Country | United States |
End: Ridgecrest (-117.6709, 35.62246)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 245 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 04m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 48m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 02m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 32m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 10m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 54m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $31.04 | $62.07 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $32.64 | $65.27 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $33.59 | $67.17 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $40.71 | $81.42 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.