The city of Los Angeles was designed with the automobile in mind and is more driver-friendly than most big cities in the US. With lots of freeways and wide local roads, a lot of Southern California visitors also find it convenient to drive from place to place. Just remember Los Angeles is a major metropolitian area and subject to traffic jams during rush hours.
If you decide to drive in LA, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Here are a few things to keep in mind if you decide to drive.
1. You must have valid driver's license and liability insurance to legally drive within the state of California.
2. Child seats are a requirement for children weighing under 60 pounds or for children under the age of 6 years old.
3. Driving while intoxicated is illegal and anyone caught driving with a blood alcohol level of .08% or greater will be immediately arrested.
4. Seat belts are mandatory when your vehicle is in motion.
5. Car pool lanes are for vehicles with two or more passengers. (Infants count, pets do not!) To enter or exit the carpool lane properly and legally you must wait until the broken white line appears. If you cross the double yellow line to get in or out of a carpool lane you will be given aticket and a stiff fine of $271.00.
6. It is against the law to drive on California roads while talking on your cell phone. All drivers must use a hands-free device.
7. If possible, avoid rush hour traffic, which is heaviest from 7am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm.
California Driving Distance (Miles/KM)
Los Angeles | Palm Springs | S. Lake Tahoe | Sacramento | San Diego | San Francisco | Santa Barbara | |
103 Miles |
441 Miles |
383 Miles |
127 Miles |
403 Miles |
96 Miles |
Los Angeles | |
103 Miles |
474 Miles |
484 Miles |
135 Miles |
504 Miles |
199 Miles |
Palm Springs | |
467 Miles |
510 Miles |
135 Miles |
554 Miles |
222 Miles |
536 Miles |
S. Lake Tahoe | |
383 Miles |
484 Miles |
99 Miles |
510 Miles |
87 Miles |
391 Miles |
Sacramento | |
127 Miles |
135 Miles |
529 Miles |
510 Miles |
548 Miles |
228 Miles |
San Diego | |
403 Miles |
504 Miles |
182 Miles |
87 Miles |
548 Miles |
321 Miles |
San Francisco | |
96 Miles |
199 Miles |
508 Miles |
391 Miles |
228 Miles |
321 Miles |
Santa Barbara |
How far is Santa Monica CA from other neighboring cities and attractions? Use the chart below to figure out the distance in miles and kilometers.
Location | Miles | KM |
---|---|---|
Beverly Hills | 7 miles | 11 km |
Disneyland | 45 miles | 73 km |
Downtown LA (Convention Ctr) | 13 miles | 21 km |
Getty Center | 10 miles | 17 km |
Hollywood | 12 miles | 19 km |
LA Airport (LAX) | 8 miles | 13 km |
Malibu | 8 miles | 13 km |
Marina del Rey | 2 miles | 3 km |
Palm Springs | 137 miles | 220 km |
Rose Bowl (Pasadena) | 22 miles | 36 km |
San Diego | 139 miles | 227 km |
Santa Barbara | 80 miles | 130 km |
Sony Studios | 7 miles | 11 km |
UCLA / Westwood | 5 miles | 8 km |
Universal Studios | 18 miles | 29 km |
Venice Beach | .5 miles | 1 km |
West Hollywood | 10 miles | 15 km |
Getting Around Los Angeles | LA Metro Bus |
LA Taxi | Car Rental in LA |
Metro Rail | Metrolink |
Airport Shuttle Vans | LAX FlyAway Bus |