How far is Rancho Palos Verdes, CA from Los Angeles, CA?

The driving distance from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA to Los Angeles, CA is about 33.2 miles (53.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 22.8 miles (36.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
33.18 mi
00h 55m
Flight
22.8 mi
36.69 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rancho Palos Verdes.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
22.8 mi
Kilometers
36.69 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
33.18 mi
Kilometers
53.4 km
Drive Time
00h 55m

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 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Los Angeles
Sun, Apr 19, 7:48 AM PDT
Return by in Rancho Palos Verdes
Sun, Apr 19, 8:44 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rancho Palos Verdes
2026-04-19T06:52
Arrive Los Angeles
Sun, Apr 19, 7:48 AM PDT
Route Timing
00h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:56 AM to 10:56 AM PDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:38 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rancho Palos Verdes
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

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.

Mid-route stop
Carson
CA

A city in Los Angeles County, California.

From Rancho Palos Verdes
15.5 mi
00h 27m
To Los Angeles
17.6 mi
00h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Rancho Palos Verdes Weather
CA
Live fallback forecast
71°F
Sunday
Using Rolling Hills as the closest live forecast in the Los Angeles County weather hub.

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph WSW
Destination
78°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Rancho Palos Verdes and Los Angeles.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rancho Palos Verdes and Los Angeles.

  1. 1

    Start on Barkentine Road

    90 m · 15 sec · Barkentine Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Palos Verdes Drive South

    3.7 mi · 7 min · Palos Verdes Drive South

  3. 3

    Continue on West 25th Street

    1 mi · 2 min · West 25th Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto South Western Avenue

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South Western Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn right onto West 1st Street

    1 mi · 3 min · West 1st Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto North Gaffey Street

    1000 ft · 24 sec · North Gaffey Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Harbor Freeway

    10.5 mi · 12 min · Harbor Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Harbor Freeway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Harbor Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Harbor Freeway

    9.1 mi · 11 min · Harbor Freeway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward 3rd Street, 4th Street, 9th Street, 6th Street, Downtown

    1545 ft · 38 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on James M Wood Boulevard, 9th Street

    964 ft · 31 sec

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto James M Wood Boulevard

    547 ft · 14 sec · James M Wood Boulevard

  13. 13

    Continue on West 9th Street

    2941 ft · 1 min · West 9th Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · South Main Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto West 1st Street

    21 m · 2 sec · West 1st Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Rancho Palos Verdes 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
16 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
48.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Harbor Freeway
21.2 mi · 64%
Palos Verdes Drive South
3.74 mi · 11%
South Western Avenue
1.74 mi · 5%
West 25th Street
1.03 mi · 3%
West 1st Street
1.01 mi · 3%
South Main Street
0.99 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Harbor Freeway

Continue on Harbor Freeway

10.5 mi · 00h 12m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
00h 55m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.4 mi
22.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Carson
00h 27m from Rancho Palos Verdes
Leave By
4:38 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Rancho Palos Verdes and Sunny near Los Angeles.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rancho Palos Verdes to Los Angeles?

The road trip is about 33.2 miles (53.4 km) and usually takes 00h 55m 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?

Carson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 15.5 miles from Rancho Palos Verdes and 17.6 miles from Los Angeles.

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

The direct path is about 22.8 miles (36.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.4 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 4:38 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.75 one way or $13.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Rancho Palos Verdes and Sunny near Los Angeles.

Stop Ideas Near Carson

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 Carson and the surrounding midpoint area.
Bell Gardens Inn Los Angeles
Stay option 11 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
Stop photo coming soon
Practical stop 12.9 mi away

City of Los Angeles

Los Angeles , CA
1149 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews E-commerce service
Palos Verdes Estates City Hall
Meeting point 7.2 mi away

Palos Verdes Estates City Hall

Palos Verdes Estates , CA
340 Palos Verdes Dr W, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274, United States
Rating 5.0/5 8 reviews City or town hall,City government office
Rolling Hills Estates City Hall
Nearby stop 6.2 mi away

Rolling Hills Estates City Hall

Rolling Hills Estates , CA
4045 Palos Verdes Dr N, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274, United States
Rating 5.0/5 4 reviews City or town hall

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Carson.

BUS

Torrance, CA

1 mi away
20575 Hamilton Avenue
BUS

San Pedro (Catalina Terminal), California

9 mi away
1st Stop: N.Front & Swinford, Berth 95, Catalina
BUS

Long Beach, California

11 mi away
601 North Long Beach Blvd.
BUS

San Pedro (Downtown), California

11 mi away
931 S. Gaffey St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rancho Palos Verdes and Los Angeles. Straight-line distance: 22.8 mi (36.69 km).

Rancho Palos Verdes

#1 Rancho Palos Verdes

A city in Los Angeles County, California.

Population40,855
Coordinates33.7444600, -118.3870200
Altitude67
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: Barkentine Road (-118.38666, 33.744511)
End: West 1st Street (-118.243569, 34.052341)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 53 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.17 gal
4.43 L · about $6.75
Round trip
$13.50
2.34 gal · 8.86 L
Estimated CO2
10.4 kg one way
Round trip: 20.8 kg / 46 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $6.75 $13.50
Mid-grade $6.07 $7.10 $14.19
Premium $6.24 $7.30 $14.61
Diesel $7.57 $8.85 $17.71

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Rancho Palos Verdes and Los Angeles. The current time is 06:52:33.

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.