How far is New York City, NY from Los Angeles, CA?

The driving distance from New York City, NY to Los Angeles, CA is about 2797.8 miles (4502.6 km), with a travel time of about 49h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 2445.5 miles (3935.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 99h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
2797.8 mi
49h 46m
Flight
2445.55 mi
3935.74 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from New York City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
2445.55 mi
Kilometers
3935.74 km
Flight Time
04h 55m

Driving Distance

Road route
2797.8 mi
Kilometers
4502.63 km
Drive Time
49h 46m

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 49h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Los Angeles
Wed, Apr 22, 5:38 AM PDT
Return by in New York City
Fri, Apr 24, 10:25 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave New York City
2026-04-20T06:52
Arrive Los Angeles
Wed, Apr 22, 8:38 AM EDT
Route Timing
49h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
4:46 AM to 6:16 AM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
8:28 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in New York City
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Wood River
NE

City in Nebraska

From New York City
1396.7 mi
24h 53m
To Los Angeles
1401.1 mi
24h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
51°F
Monday

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Apr 20 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
16 to 21 mph NW
Destination
73°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Apr 20 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between New York City and Los Angeles.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New York City and Los Angeles.

  1. 1

    Start on Broadway

    24 m · 7 sec · Broadway

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Chambers Street

    529 ft · 27 sec · Chambers Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Church Street

    65 m · 17 sec · Church Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Reade Street

    535 ft · 27 sec · Reade Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Hudson Street

    1889 ft · 2 min · Hudson Street

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Hudson Street

    859 ft · 39 sec · Hudson Street

  7. 7

    Take the exit right toward I 78: Holland Tunnel, New Jersey

    124 m · 14 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Holland Tunnel

    1.8 mi · 4 min · Holland Tunnel

  9. 9

    Continue on 14th Street

    2256 ft · 1 min · 14th Street

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on 14th Street Viaduct

    1674 ft · 25 sec · 14th Street Viaduct

  11. 11

    Continue on NJ 139 Lower Level

    1.2 km · 1 min · NJ 139 Lower Level

  12. 12

    Continue on Pulaski Skyway

    124 m · 8 sec · Pulaski Skyway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1-9 North: Secausus

    128 m · 14 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Tonnelle Avenue

    2.6 mi · 3 min · Tonnelle Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn straight

    10.9 mi · 13 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight right

    10.8 mi · 12 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap

    1366 ft · 33 sec

  18. 18

    Continue on Interstate 80 West

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Interstate 80 West

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: Delaware Water Gap

    1623 ft · 21 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Christopher Columbus Highway

    44.6 mi · 53 min · Christopher Columbus Highway

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Shortway

    5.5 mi · 8 min · Keystone Shortway

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Shortway

    318.2 mi · 5 hr 50 min · Keystone Shortway

  23. 23

    Keep slight right

    4.5 mi · 5 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West, I 76 East

    2550 ft · 1 min

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Cleveland

    2349 ft · 1 min

  26. 26

    Merge slight left onto Ohio Turnpike

    31.1 mi · 33 min · Ohio Turnpike

  27. 27

    Keep slight left to continue on Ohio Turnpike

    187.4 mi · 3 hr 21 min · Ohio Turnpike

  28. 28

    Continue on Indiana Toll Road

    135.8 mi · 2 hr 27 min · Indiana Toll Road

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West, I 94, US 6: Des Moines

    3216 ft · 1 min

  30. 30

    Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West, I 80 West, SR 51, US 6 East

    543 ft · 13 sec

  31. 31

    Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West, I 80 West

    14.2 mi · 20 min

  32. 32

    Take the exit slight right toward US 41 North: Calumet Avenue, Hammond, Munster

    1047 ft · 16 sec

  33. 33

    Keep slight left to continue on Calumet Avenue South

    1187 ft · 18 sec

  34. 34

    Keep slight left

    1805 ft · 28 sec

  35. 35

    Merge slight left onto Borman Expressway

    2724 ft · 42 sec · Borman Expressway

  36. 36

    Continue on Kingery Expressway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Kingery Expressway

  37. 37

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 394 South, I 94 West: Danville, Chicago

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  38. 38

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West, I 294 North

    1703 ft · 26 sec

  39. 39

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 7 min · Tri-State Tollway

  40. 40

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Iowa

    145.4 mi · 2 hr 41 min

  41. 41

    Keep slight left to continue on I 74 West, I 280 West: Moline, Rock Island

    9.6 mi · 10 min

  42. 42

    Keep slight left to continue on I 280 West: Des Moines

    82 mi · 1 hr 30 min

  43. 43

    Continue straight

    102 mi · 1 hr 51 min

  44. 44

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

    95.5 mi · 1 hr 43 min

  45. 45

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska

    23.7 mi · 26 min

  46. 46

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West Express: Council Bluffs, Omaha

    355.4 mi · 6 hr 3 min

  47. 47

    Keep slight right to continue on I 76 West: Denver

    188 mi · 3 hr 10 min

  48. 48

    Merge slight left

    501.7 mi · 8 hr 38 min

  49. 49

    Keep slight left to continue on I 15 South: Las Vegas

    1.2 mi · 3 min

  50. 50

    Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Highway

    160.9 mi · 2 hr 40 min · Veterans Memorial Highway

  51. 51

    Continue on Las Vegas Freeway

    123.8 mi · 2 hr 10 min · Las Vegas Freeway

  52. 52

    Continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway

    5.7 mi · 6 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway

  53. 53

    Keep slight left to continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway

    1.4 km · 57 sec · Barstow and Mojave Freeway

  54. 54

    Merge slight right

    151.2 mi · 2 hr 43 min

  55. 55

    Continue on CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway

    5.6 mi · 6 min · CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway

  56. 56

    Continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway

    6.3 mi · 7 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway

  57. 57

    Take the exit slight left

    14.8 mi · 16 min

  58. 58

    Take the exit slight right toward I 10 West: Los Angeles

    2597 ft · 1 min

  59. 59

    Merge slight left onto San Bernardino Freeway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  60. 60

    Take the exit slight left

    62 m · 5 sec

  61. 61

    Merge slight left onto I-10 Metro ExpressLanes

    7.3 mi · 8 min · I-10 Metro ExpressLanes

  62. 62

    Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  63. 63

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    1.4 km · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  64. 64

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  65. 65

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  66. 66

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  67. 67

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  68. 68

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  69. 69

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  70. 70

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  71. 71

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    2 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  72. 72

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  73. 73

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    2.6 mi · 3 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  74. 74

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    12.4 mi · 14 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  75. 75

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    2349 ft · 36 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

  76. 76

    Take the exit slight right toward Alameda Street, Union Station

    798 ft · 19 sec

  77. 77

    Continue on East Arcadia Street

    988 ft · 32 sec · East Arcadia Street

  78. 78

    Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street

    1696 ft · 45 sec · North Los Angeles Street

  79. 79

    Turn right onto East 1st Street

    141 m · 18 sec · East 1st Street

  80. 80

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between New York City and Los Angeles.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
80 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
25
13 merges, 12 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
2.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 76 West
690 mi · 25%
I 80 West Express
355 mi · 13%
Keystone Shortway
328 mi · 12%
I 80 West
267 mi · 10%
Ohio Turnpike
218 mi · 8%
I 280 West
184 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

I 76 West

Merge slight left

502 mi · 08h 38m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
49h 46m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
99h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+352.3 mi
2445.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wood River
24h 53m from New York City
Leave By
8:28 AM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving New York City 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 New York City to Los Angeles?

The road trip is about 2797.8 miles (4502.6 km) and usually takes 49h 46m 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?

Wood River is a useful midpoint, sitting about 1396.7 miles from New York City and 1401.1 miles from Los Angeles.

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

The direct path is about 2445.5 miles (3935.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 352.3 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 EDT. 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 $395.81 one way or $791.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 877.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 3 hour time difference between New York City and Los Angeles, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny around New York City and Mostly Sunny near Los Angeles.

Stop Ideas Near Wood River

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Wood River, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Wood River.

RAIL

Hastings

32 mi away
501 West First St.
RAIL

Holdrege

78 mi away
100 West Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between New York City and Los Angeles. Straight-line distance: 2445.55 mi (3935.74 km).

New York City

#1 New York City

The most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York metropolitan area.

Population8,398,748
Coordinates40.7142700, -74.0059700
Altitude10
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: New York City (-74.00597, 40.71427)
End: Los Angeles (-118.24368, 34.05223)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 4503 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)93h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)69h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)55h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)46h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)39h 58m
80 mph (129 km/h)34h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
98.73 gal
373.72 L · about $395.81
Round trip
$791.62
197.46 gal · 747.44 L
Estimated CO2
877.4 kg one way
Round trip: 1754.8 kg / 3869 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.01 $395.81 $791.62
Mid-grade $4.48 $442.41 $884.82
Premium $4.86 $479.93 $959.85
Diesel $4.69 $463.44 $926.88

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 New York · Apr 20, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 3 hours time gap between New York City, NY and Los Angeles, CA. The current time in New York City is 06:52:33, although it is 03:52:33 in Los Angeles.

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.