The total driving distance from Los Angeles, California to Orlando, Florida is approximately 2,515 miles. With a non-stop drive time of around 36 hours, the road trip would take 2-3 days to complete comfortably. Factors like road conditions, weather, traffic, and stops along the way can all impact the total length of the drive.
Driving Route from LA to Orlando
The most direct interstate route from LA to Orlando primarily utilizes I-10 E and I-20 E highways. The route passes through major cities like Phoenix, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, and Jacksonville along the way. Key sections of the route include:
- Los Angeles to Phoenix: 380 miles, 5-6 hours
- Phoenix to San Antonio: 865 miles, 12-13 hours
- San Antonio to New Orleans: 532 miles, 7-8 hours
- New Orleans to Jacksonville: 485 miles, 7 hours
- Jacksonville to Orlando: 253 miles, 4 hours
Driving Times
The total drive time from LA to Orlando is approximately 36 hours non-stop. Most people will take 2-3 days to complete the trip, driving about 8-10 hours per day. Here is an estimated breakdown of drive times:
| Day | Route | Miles | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Los Angeles to San Antonio | 1,245 miles | 17-18 hours |
| Day 2 | San Antonio to Jacksonville | 1,017 miles | 14-15 hours |
| Day 3 | Jacksonville to Orlando | 253 miles | 4 hours |
| Total | 2,515 miles | 36 hours |
This allows for stopping to rest, eat, refuel, and switch drivers. Many road trippers take 4-5 days to make the cross-country drive.
Factors That Impact Drive Time
Several variables can affect the length of the drive from LA to Orlando:
- Traffic: Rush hour and congestion in major cities can add hours to drive times. Avoiding traffic around Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, New Orleans and Jacksonville will greatly reduce delays.
- Weather: Inclement weather like heavy rain, thunderstorms, or winter conditions in northern states can slow driving and create hazardous road conditions. Checking forecasts and planning around storms is advised.
- Construction/Detours: Roadwork and construction zones on the interstates can cause slowdowns. Taking alternate routes when available can bypass these delays.
- Rest Stops: Taking breaks to sleep, eat, refuel, switch drivers. This adds time but is necessary for safety.
- Sightseeing: Some opt to take extra days and spend time visiting attractions along the route. This extends the road trip but allows for a more leisurely vacation drive.
Building in buffers for traffic, weather, and stops can help estimate realistic drive timelines. Those hoping to minimize total drive days should aim for efficient non-stop miles whenever possible.
Best Times to Depart
Leaving at strategic times can help avoid traffic and other slowdowns on an LA to Orlando road trip:
- Avoid morning and evening rush hour traffic in major cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans and Jacksonville.
- Check city event schedules and avoid departing during major conventions, festivals or other events that draw crowds and clog roads.
- Leave early in the morning or late at night when there are fewer cars on the road.
- Avoid departure on holiday weekends when many travelers are also on the road.
- Monitor weather forecasts closely and delay departure if major storms or blizzard conditions are imminent along your route.
Timing your LA departure to avoid high-traffic times and inclement weather can help maximize driving time and minimize delays.
Tips for an Efficient Drive
Here are some tips for maximizing drive time and completing the LA to Orlando trip efficiently:
- Pack Strategically – Only bring essentials and pack light to reduce weight and improve gas mileage.
- Plot Stops in Advance – Identify ideal rest stops, gas stations, restaurants and lodging along your route to minimize time finding them.
- Share Driving – Switching off with another driver allows you to cover more ground without stopping.
- Stay Hydrated/Alert – Drink water, avoid heavy foods, rotate drivers to maintain alertness.
- Follow Speed Limits – Resist the urge to speed as getting pulled over will cost you time.
- Have Your Vehicle Serviced – Get tuned up and check things like tires/wipers to avoid breakdowns.
- Bring Driving Aids – Audiobooks, playlists, podcasts to make time pass faster.
- Avoid Rush Hours – Plan route to skip major cities during high-traffic times.
Careful preparation, strategic packing and driving, and taking safety precautions will all contribute to maximizing your time on the road.
Typical Drive Schedule from LA to Orlando
Here is a sample 3-day drive schedule from LA to Orlando with approximate times:
Day 1
- 8:00am – Depart LA
- 12:00pm – Lunch stop in Phoenix (4 hrs)
- 4:00pm – Driver switch in Tucson (8 hrs)
- 8:00pm – Dinner in El Paso (12 hrs)
- 12:00am – Stop for sleep in San Antonio (17 hrs total)
Day 2
- 7:00am – Depart San Antonio
- 10:00am – Breakfast stop in Houston (3 hrs)
- 2:00pm – Lunch stop in Lafayette (7 hrs)
- 7:00pm – Stop for dinner/sleep in Pensacola (12 hrs)
Day 3
- 8:00am – Depart Pensacola
- 12:00pm – Lunch stop in Jacksonville (4 hrs)
- 4:00pm – Arrive Orlando (8 hrs)
This schedule spreads the drive over 3 days, allows for plenty of breaks and overnight rests, and avoids big cities during rush hours. Drivers can choose to add in sightseeing stops as desired.
Costs for Driving from LA to Orlando
The main costs on a LA to Orlando road trip will be:
- Gas – For a vehicle that gets 25 mpg and gas costing $3.50/gallon, the total gas costs would be about $350.
- Lodging – Hotel/motel rooms for 2 nights at approximately $100/night = $200
- Food – Restaurant meals and snacks for 2-3 people for 3 days = approx. $300
- Supplies – Bottled water, coffee, snacks = approx $50
- Vehicle wear and tear – Oil changes, tire wear – approx $50
The total cost could run $950-$1,000. Costs can be reduced by packing food, staying with friends/family along the way, splitting costs with additional passengers, etc.
Alternatives to Driving
Some alternatives to driving include:
- Flying – A direct flight takes only 2-3 hours but costs more and requires renting a car in Orlando. Total trip time is still 5-6 hours accounting for airport time.
- Train – Amtrak offers train routes from LA to Orlando but the journey would take 2-3 days still and provide less flexibility than driving.
- Bus – Greyhound buses run this route but take 50+ hours direct so optimal for those without vehicles but not time savings.
Driving allows you to take your own vehicle, stop flexibly as desired, control schedule/pace, and see sights along the way. The trade-off is spending 2+ days on the road.
Conclusion
Driving from Los Angeles to Orlando takes approximately 2-3 days covering 2,500 miles on the road. With strategic planning to maximize daily mileage, factor in rest and breaks, avoid high-traffic times, and watch weather, it’s feasible to complete the cross-country drive in 36 hours of total drive time.
Careful preplanning of optimal stops, packing efficiently, sharing driving duties, budgeting for expenses, and staying safe and alert while driving can help ensure an on-time arrival to enjoy your Orlando destination.
While flying or taking a train/bus are much quicker, driving allows flexibility in schedule and route as well as transportation of your own vehicle. Following a smart driving schedule can keep you on track to complete the LA to Orlando road trip in just a few days on the open road.