How far is South Lake Tahoe, CA from Los Angeles, CA?
The driving distance from South Lake Tahoe, CA to Los Angeles, CA is about 443.8 miles (714.3 km), with a travel time of about 07h 36m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 350.8 miles (564.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 13m 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 07h 36m.
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.
Snow Showers Likely
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between South Lake Tahoe and Los Angeles.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Lake Tahoe and Los Angeles.
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1
Start on El Dorado Avenue
688 ft · 24 sec · El Dorado Avenue
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2
At the end of the road, turn left onto Oakland Avenue
1994 ft · 57 sec · Oakland Avenue
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3
Turn right onto Los Angeles Avenue
1185 ft · 38 sec · Los Angeles Avenue
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4
At the end of the road, turn left onto Lake Tahoe Boulevard
2.6 mi · 5 min · Lake Tahoe Boulevard
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5
Continue on Lincoln Highway
1.1 km · 2 min · Lincoln Highway
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6
Take the exit right toward Kingsbury Grade
11.1 mi · 20 min · Kingsbury Grade
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7
Turn right onto Foothill Road
1.3 mi · 2 min · Foothill Road
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8
Turn left onto Centerville Lane
2.8 mi · 5 min · Centerville Lane
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9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Centerville Lane
20 m · 1 sec · Centerville Lane
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10
Exit the roundabout onto Centerville Lane
1.2 mi · 2 min · Centerville Lane
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11
Continue on Centerville Lane
1.2 km · 1 min · Centerville Lane
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12
Continue on Dresslerville Road
1.4 mi · 3 min · Dresslerville Road
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13
Continue on Riverview Drive
3003 ft · 2 min · Riverview Drive
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14
Turn right onto Main Street
18.7 mi · 26 min · Main Street
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15
Continue on Route 395
43.3 mi · 56 min · Route 395
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16
Turn left onto Emigrant Street
2635 ft · 42 sec · Emigrant Street
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17
At the end of the road, turn right onto Sinclair Street
549 ft · 14 sec · Sinclair Street
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18
Turn left onto Main Street
70.9 mi · 1 hr 25 min · Main Street
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19
Take the exit slight right
1401 ft · 18 sec
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20
Take the ramp straight
780 ft · 10 sec
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21
Merge slight left
16 mi · 19 min
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22
Turn right onto North Barlow Lane
1 mi · 2 min · North Barlow Lane
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23
Turn left onto West Line Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · West Line Street
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24
Turn right onto South Main Street
2.4 mi · 4 min · South Main Street
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25
Continue on El Camino Sierra
5 mi · 6 min · El Camino Sierra
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26
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
7.4 mi · 9 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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27
Continue on North Main Street
1317 ft · 32 sec · North Main Street
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28
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
26.1 mi · 31 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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29
Continue on North Edwards Street
1.1 km · 2 min · North Edwards Street
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30
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
15.1 mi · 18 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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31
Continue on North Main Street
2.2 mi · 5 min · North Main Street
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32
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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33
Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
7 mi · 8 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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34
Keep slight right to continue on Aerospace Highway
6.4 mi · 7 min · Aerospace Highway
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35
Continue on Midland Trail
22 mi · 25 min · Midland Trail
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36
Continue on Aerospace Highway
20 mi · 23 min · Aerospace Highway
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37
At the end of the road, turn left onto Sierra Highway
4.7 mi · 6 min · Sierra Highway
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38
Continue on Aerospace Highway
15.7 mi · 17 min · Aerospace Highway
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39
Continue on Antelope Valley Freeway
48.2 mi · 53 min · Antelope Valley Freeway
-
40
Keep slight left to continue on Antelope Valley Freeway
1.5 km · 1 min · Antelope Valley Freeway
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41
Keep slight left
2606 ft · 36 sec
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42
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
2.6 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway
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43
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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44
Keep slight left
5.3 mi · 6 min
-
45
Take the exit slight right toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
2508 ft · 33 sec
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46
Continue on Hollywood Freeway
16.2 mi · 21 min · Hollywood Freeway
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47
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway
636 ft · 17 sec
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48
Continue on West Aliso Street
125 m · 18 sec · West Aliso Street
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49
Turn right onto North Spring Street
1455 ft · 36 sec · North Spring Street
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50
Turn left onto West 1st Street
108 m · 14 sec · West 1st Street
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51
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between South Lake Tahoe and Los Angeles.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
70.9 mi · 01h 25m
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.
Snow Showers Likely leaving South Lake Tahoe 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 South Lake Tahoe to Los Angeles?
The road trip is about 443.8 miles (714.3 km) and usually takes 07h 36m 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 South Lake Tahoe and 222.8 miles from Los Angeles.
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 93 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 $90.34 one way or $180.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 139.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Snow Showers Likely around South Lake Tahoe and Mostly Sunny near Los Angeles.
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 South Lake Tahoe and Los Angeles. Straight-line distance: 350.81 mi (564.57 km).
#1 South Lake Tahoe
City in California
| Population | 22,847 |
| Coordinates | 38.9332400, -119.9843500 |
| Altitude | 1901 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: West 1st Street (-118.243569, 34.052341)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 714 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 47m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 05m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 52m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 23m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 20m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 32m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $90.34 | $180.69 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $94.99 | $189.99 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $97.77 | $195.53 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $118.50 | $237.00 |
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.