How far is Washington, DC from Los Angeles, CA?
The driving distance from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA is about 2672.7 miles (4301.3 km), with a travel time of about 46h 53m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 2294.2 miles (3692.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 93h 47m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
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 46h 53m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
The most populous city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Scattered Rain Showers
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Washington and Los Angeles.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington and Los Angeles.
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1
Start on 15th Street Northwest
1097 ft · 26 sec · 15th Street Northwest
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2
Turn right onto Constitution Avenue Northwest
1662 ft · 1 min · Constitution Avenue Northwest
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3
Turn right onto 17th Street Northwest
1570 ft · 36 sec · 17th Street Northwest
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4
Turn left onto New York Avenue Northwest
666 ft · 13 sec · New York Avenue Northwest
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5
Continue on E Street Northwest
916 ft · 19 sec · E Street Northwest
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6
Continue on E Street Expressway
1706 ft · 21 sec · E Street Expressway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on I 66 West: Virginia
1263 ft · 31 sec
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8
Keep slight right to continue on I 66 West
2741 ft · 1 min
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge
1070 ft · 23 sec · Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge
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10
Continue on Custis Memorial Parkway
7.3 mi · 11 min · Custis Memorial Parkway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Custis Memorial Parkway
67.1 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Custis Memorial Parkway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 South: Roanoke
1 km · 1 min
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13
Merge slight right onto I 81 South: Roanoke
108.7 mi · 1 hr 58 min
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14
Keep slight left
117.1 mi · 2 hr 10 min
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15
Continue straight
1.3 mi · 1 min
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16
Keep slight left
148.2 mi · 2 hr 39 min
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17
Continue on I 40 West: Knoxville
1.1 km · 45 sec
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18
Merge slight left
52.8 mi · 59 min
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19
Keep slight right to continue on Nashville
154.8 mi · 2 hr 47 min
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20
Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
2.1 mi · 3 min
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21
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
2263 ft · 43 sec
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22
Merge slight right onto Downtown Loop
1 km · 52 sec · Downtown Loop
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23
Continue on Downtown Loop
2.3 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop
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24
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Memphis
196.9 mi · 3 hr 34 min
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25
Take the exit slight right toward I 240 West, I 40 West: Jackson Mississippi, Little Rock
680 ft · 9 sec
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26
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 West: Little Rock
11.1 mi · 13 min
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27
Keep slight left
453.8 mi · 7 hr 43 min
-
28
Keep slight left to continue on Tinker Diagonal
12.3 mi · 14 min · Tinker Diagonal
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29
Continue on Crosstown Expressway
1.4 km · 1 min · Crosstown Expressway
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30
Keep slight right to continue on Crosstown Expressway
4.7 mi · 6 min · Crosstown Expressway
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31
Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
64.9 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
-
32
Continue on Senator Ed Berrong Memorial Highway
2.6 mi · 3 min · Senator Ed Berrong Memorial Highway
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33
Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
24.1 mi · 25 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
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34
Continue on Great Western Cattle Trail
10.6 mi · 11 min · Great Western Cattle Trail
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35
Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
953.6 mi · 16 hr 6 min · Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
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36
Take the exit slight right toward Golden Shores, Oatman
1199 ft · 14 sec
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37
Continue straight
1645 ft · 19 sec
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38
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
994 ft · 11 sec · Purple Heart Trail
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39
Continue on Needles Freeway
12 mi · 13 min · Needles Freeway
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40
Take the exit slight right toward J Street
2166 ft · 26 sec
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41
Merge slight left onto Needles Freeway
142.7 mi · 2 hr 33 min · Needles Freeway
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42
Merge slight left onto Barstow and Mojave Freeway
45.7 mi · 49 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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43
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
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44
Continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway
6.3 mi · 7 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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45
Take the exit slight left
14.8 mi · 16 min
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46
Take the exit slight right toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
2597 ft · 1 min
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47
Merge slight left onto San Bernardino Freeway
1.5 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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48
Take the exit slight left
62 m · 5 sec
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49
Merge slight left onto I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
7.3 mi · 8 min · I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
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50
Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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51
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.4 km · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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52
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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53
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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54
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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55
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.6 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
-
56
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.4 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
-
57
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.5 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
-
58
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
-
59
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
2 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
-
60
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.6 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
-
61
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
2.6 mi · 3 min · San Bernardino Freeway
-
62
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
12.4 mi · 14 min · San Bernardino Freeway
-
63
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.5 km · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
64
Take the exit slight right toward Spring Street
549 ft · 14 sec
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65
Turn right onto North Spring Street
1889 ft · 47 sec · North Spring Street
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66
Turn left onto West 1st Street
108 m · 14 sec · West 1st Street
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67
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Washington and Los Angeles.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Continue on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
954 mi · 16h 06m
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.
Scattered Rain Showers leaving Washington 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 Washington to Los Angeles?
The road trip is about 2672.7 miles (4301.3 km) and usually takes 46h 53m 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?
Midwest City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 1334.5 miles from Washington and 1338.2 miles from Los Angeles.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 2294.2 miles (3692.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 378.5 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 $385.35 one way or $770.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 838.1 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 3 hour time difference between Washington and Los Angeles, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Scattered Rain Showers around Washington and Mostly Sunny near Los Angeles.
Stop Ideas Near Midwest City
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 Midwest City.
Santa Fe Depot
Norman
Guthrie, OK
Purcell
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Washington and Los Angeles. Straight-line distance: 2294.19 mi (3692.15 km).
#1 Washington
Located on the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia, this city serves as the capital of the United States.
| Population | 712,816 |
| Coordinates | 38.8951100, -77.0363700 |
| Altitude | 7 |
| 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: Los Angeles (-118.24368, 34.05223)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 4301 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 89h 03m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 66h 49m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 53h 27m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 44h 32m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 38h 10m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 33h 20m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.09 | $385.35 | $770.70 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $433.73 | $867.46 |
| Premium | $4.95 | $467.21 | $934.42 |
| Diesel | $5.98 | $563.97 | $1,127.95 |
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 Washington, D.C. · Apr 20, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.