Detroit to Los Angeles: Road Trip Guide & Distance

How far is Detroit from Los Angeles?

The distance from Detroit to Los Angeles is 1979.3 miles (3185.4 km) as the crow flies. Los Angeles is located W of Detroit. By car, the driving distance is approximately 2283.7 miles, taking about 40h 12min. A direct flight would take roughly 4h 29min. Both are located in United States — Detroit in Michigan and Los Angeles in California.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Detroit and Los Angeles. The driving distance uses an OSRM road-route result when route data is available. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.