How far is Los Angeles, CA from South Lake Tahoe, CA?
The driving distance from Los Angeles, CA to South Lake Tahoe, CA is about 441.9 miles (711.2 km), with a travel time of about 09h 11m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 350.8 miles (564.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 23m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 09h 11m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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 Inyo County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Snow Showers Likely
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Los Angeles and South Lake Tahoe.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles and South Lake Tahoe.
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1
Start on West 1st Street
761 ft · 34 sec · West 1st Street
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2
Turn right onto North Broadway
1959 ft · 55 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
22 mi · 25 min · Midland Trail
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15
Continue on Aerospace Highway
6.7 mi · 8 min · Aerospace Highway
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16
Merge slight right onto Blue Star Memorial Highway
6.8 mi · 8 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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17
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
56.1 mi · 1 hr 5 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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18
Continue on South Main Street
2.2 mi · 5 min · South Main Street
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19
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
15 mi · 18 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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20
Continue on South Edwards Street
1.1 km · 2 min · South Edwards Street
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21
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
26.1 mi · 31 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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22
Continue on North Main Street
1317 ft · 32 sec · North Main Street
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23
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
7.4 mi · 9 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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24
Continue on El Camino Sierra
5 mi · 6 min · El Camino Sierra
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25
Continue on South Main Street
2.4 mi · 4 min · South Main Street
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26
Turn left onto West Line Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · West Line Street
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27
Turn right onto North Barlow Lane
1 mi · 2 min · North Barlow Lane
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28
Turn left onto North Sierra Highway
26.1 mi · 31 min · North Sierra Highway
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29
Take the exit slight right
596 ft · 8 sec
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30
Take the ramp straight
87 m · 4 sec
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31
Merge slight left
13.5 mi · 16 min
-
32
Take the exit slight right
736 ft · 10 sec
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33
Take the ramp straight
111 m · 5 sec
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34
Merge slight left
3.7 mi · 4 min
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35
Continue straight
13.2 mi · 15 min
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36
Continue straight
30.6 mi · 38 min
-
37
Turn right onto Sinclair Street
549 ft · 13 sec · Sinclair Street
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38
Turn left onto Emigrant Street
2635 ft · 41 sec · Emigrant Street
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39
Continue on Route 395
43.3 mi · 56 min · Route 395
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40
Continue on Main Street
18.7 mi · 26 min · Main Street
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41
Turn left onto Riverview Drive
3027 ft · 2 min · Riverview Drive
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42
Continue on Dresslerville Road
1.4 mi · 3 min · Dresslerville Road
-
43
Continue on Centerville Lane
1.2 km · 1 min · Centerville Lane
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44
At the end of the road, turn right onto Centerville Lane
1.2 mi · 2 min · Centerville Lane
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45
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Centerville Lane
19 m · 1 sec · Centerville Lane
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46
Exit the roundabout onto Centerville Lane
2.8 mi · 5 min · Centerville Lane
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47
At the end of the road, turn right onto Foothill Road
1.3 mi · 2 min · Foothill Road
-
48
Turn left onto Kingsbury Grade
11.1 mi · 20 min · Kingsbury Grade
-
49
Take the ramp straight
31 m · 5 sec
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50
Merge slight right onto Lincoln Highway
1.1 km · 2 min · Lincoln Highway
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51
Continue on Lake Tahoe Boulevard
2.6 mi · 5 min · Lake Tahoe Boulevard
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52
Turn right onto Los Angeles Avenue
1185 ft · 38 sec · Los Angeles Avenue
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53
Turn left onto Oakland Avenue
1994 ft · 56 sec · Oakland Avenue
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54
Turn right onto El Dorado Avenue
688 ft · 19 sec · El Dorado Avenue
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55
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · El Dorado Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Angeles and South Lake Tahoe.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
56.1 mi · 01h 05m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Sunny leaving Los Angeles and Snow Showers Likely near South Lake Tahoe.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to South Lake Tahoe?
The road trip is about 441.9 miles (711.2 km) and usually takes 09h 11m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Lone Pine is a useful midpoint, sitting about 221.1 miles from Los Angeles and 220.8 miles from South Lake Tahoe.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 350.8 miles (564.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 91.1 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 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $89.94 one way or $179.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 138.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Los Angeles and Snow Showers Likely near South Lake Tahoe.
Stop Ideas Near Lone Pine
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 Lone Pine.
Visalia, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Los Angeles and South Lake Tahoe. Straight-line distance: 350.81 mi (564.57 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 South Lake Tahoe
City in California
| Population | 22,847 |
| Coordinates | 38.9332400, -119.9843500 |
| Altitude | 1901 |
| Country | United States |
End: South Lake Tahoe (-119.98435, 38.93324)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 711 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 43m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 02m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 50m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 21m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 18m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 30m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $89.94 | $179.88 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $94.57 | $189.14 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $97.33 | $194.66 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $117.97 | $235.94 |
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.