Coast to Coast: The New York to Los Angeles Road Trip
Driving from New York to Los Angeles is the definitive American road trip: about 2,775 miles and 41 hours of driving across the Appalachians, the Great Plains, the Rockies, and the Mojave Desert. Done sensibly, it's a five-to-seven-day journey that shows you more of the country than a lifetime of flights ever will.
The Classic Northern Itinerary
Most drivers break the trip into four big legs, each ending in a city with plenty of hotels and food options:
| Leg | Distance | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| New York → Chicago | 790 mi | ~12h |
| Chicago → Denver | 1,000 mi | ~15h |
| Denver → Las Vegas | 750 mi | ~11h |
| Las Vegas → Los Angeles | 270 mi | ~4h 30m |
Day one gets you out of the Northeast corridor and across Pennsylvania and Ohio to Chicago — the toughest driving day in terms of traffic. Days two and three cross the Plains on I-80 or I-70; the scenery is repetitive, but the roads are fast and fuel is cheap. From Denver the landscape turns spectacular: the Rockies, the red rock of Utah, and finally the Mojave into Las Vegas. The last leg into Los Angeles is a short 4-5 hours, leaving time to arrive in daylight.
When to Go
Late spring (May-June) and early fall (September-October) are ideal — long daylight hours, mild temperatures, and no snow risk in the Rockies. In winter, I-70 through Colorado and I-80 through Wyoming see regular snow closures; take the I-40 southern corridor instead, which roughly follows historic Route 66 through Oklahoma City, Albuquerque, and Flagstaff.
Budget
- Gas: about 93 gallons at 30 MPG — roughly $320 at $3.50/gallon. See the live estimate on our NYC to LA route page.
- Tolls: $40-60, nearly all of it east of Chicago (I-80/I-90 through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois).
- Lodging: $80-150/night in interstate towns; book Denver and Las Vegas ahead on weekends.
- Food: $30-50 per person per day if you mix diners with grocery stops.
Tips from the Road
Frequently Asked Questions
Five days is the realistic minimum, averaging about 8 hours of driving per day. Seven days is far more comfortable and leaves time for stops like Chicago, Denver, and the Grand Canyon area.
Budget roughly $320 in gas for a 30 MPG vehicle, plus $400-700 for 4-6 nights of mid-range lodging and $150-250 for food. A one-week trip for two typically runs $900-1,300 excluding attractions.
The fastest route follows I-80 and I-70 through Chicago and Denver, then I-15 into Southern California. A southern alternative via I-40 (roughly the old Route 66 corridor) is better in winter.