Traffic Predict

Best Time to Drive from Los Angeles to Palmdale

Right now (6:02 pm PDT): about 86 minutes via SR-14 North and US-101 North and I-5 North, usually 76 at this time.

Only 7% of this drive is measured by working traffic sensors right now. The rest is estimated from nearby sensors, typical speeds and street traffic, so times can be off. Why so few sensors work.

On weekdays the 61-mile drive from Los Angeles to Palmdale (via SR-14 North and US-101 North and I-5 North) usually takes as little as 57 minutes and up to 86 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 8 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 65 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 2:30 pm on Sundays (68 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Palmdale to Los Angeles

Freeway, about 55 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 7 miles: 8 to 9 minutes on weekdays, estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time (we don't have street sensors yet). Drive times are measured from Downtown LA (City Hall) to central Palmdale along the route shown. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Los Angeles to Palmdale by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave5am6am7am8am9am10am11am12pm1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm9pm
Mon5858636468676565666770787975646058
Tue5759636465656362636571778076656158
Wed5758626567666563646570778076666057
Thu5859636667676565656674848477696257
Fri5759616464646364667080848476686358
Sat5757585860616365646665656563626157
Sun5756565758596264666768666463616159

Simulated from typical freeway speeds at each point of the drive for the time you would reach it, from every 5-minute reading we have recorded. We don't have sensors on surface streets yet, so the time on them is estimated from how congested the freeways around each end of the drive are at that time, in both directions: streets jam when the freeways do.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from Los Angeles to Palmdale?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 8 pm. The drive usually takes about 57 minutes then, versus up to 86 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to Palmdale?

The 61-mile drive usually takes 57 to 86 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 65 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Los Angeles to Palmdale?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 86 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

SR-14 North in Los Angeles (27 miles) · US-101 North in Los Angeles (11 miles) · I-5 North in Los Angeles (11 miles) · SR-170 North in Los Angeles (6 miles)

Los Angeles traffic right now · Los Angeles traffic tomorrow

More drives

Palmdale to Los Angeles (return trip) · Los Angeles to Santa Monica · Los Angeles to Long Beach · Los Angeles to West Covina · Los Angeles to Burbank · Los Angeles to Glendale · Los Angeles to Santa Clarita · Los Angeles to Van Nuys · Los Angeles to Torrance · Los Angeles to Hollywood · Los Angeles to Culver City · Los Angeles to El Monte

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