How Far Is Atlanta From Los Angeles? Your Practical Guide From the ATL

If you’re in Atlanta, Georgia and planning a trip to Los Angeles, California, the two cities feel like different worlds—but how far apart are they really, and what does that mean for your travel plans?

Below is a clear breakdown of distance, flight time, driving time, and travel options specifically from Atlanta, so you can choose the best way to get from the Peach State to the West Coast.

How Far Is It From Atlanta to Los Angeles?

In simple terms:

• Straight-line (flight) distance: about 1,940–2,000 miles
• Driving distance: about 2,150–2,250 miles, depending on your route

When people ask, “How far is Atlanta to Los Angeles?”, they usually care about how long it takes more than the exact miles, so let’s look at travel times from an Atlanta standpoint.

Flying From Atlanta to Los Angeles

For most people in Atlanta, flying is the fastest and most convenient option.

Flight Distance & Time

• Approximate flight distance: ~1,940 miles
• Nonstop flight time: typically 4.5 to 5 hours in the air
• Total trip time (with airport processes): usually 6–8 hours from arrival at ATL to leaving LAX

This assumes you’re flying from:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  6000 N Terminal Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30320
  Main info line: (800) 897-1910

…to one of the main Los Angeles–area airports, typically:

• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

There are also flights from Atlanta to Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), or Ontario (ONT) on some carriers, but LAX is the most common.

Nonstop vs. Connecting Flights

From Atlanta, you’ll often find:

• Nonstop flights to LAX from major carriers
• One-stop flights that may connect through cities like Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, or Houston

Nonstop is usually best if:

• You want the shortest total travel time
• You prefer to avoid the unpredictability of connections

Connecting flights may make sense if:

• You’re looking for lower fares
• You’re booking late or during peak travel times and nonstops are limited

Driving From Atlanta to Los Angeles

If you’re considering a road trip from Atlanta to Los Angeles, distance and time matter a lot more.

Driving Distance & Time

• Typical driving distance: roughly 2,150–2,250 miles
• Estimated driving time (no long stops): about 32–35 hours of wheel time

Realistically, most Atlanta drivers will spread this over 3–5 days, depending on how long you want to be on the road each day.

The most common routes from Atlanta head west on I‑20 or I‑10, connecting through states like:

• Alabama
• Mississippi
• Louisiana
• Texas
• New Mexico
• Arizona
• California

What This Means for an Atlanta Traveler

If you leave from somewhere in the Atlanta metro area—for example, Midtown, Buckhead, Decatur, or Sandy Springs—you should factor in:

• Rush hour traffic on I‑75/I‑85, I‑20, or the Perimeter (I‑285) when planning your departure
• Extra time just getting out of the city, especially on Friday evenings or holiday weekends

A realistic plan for most Atlanta drivers:

• Day 1: Reach western Louisiana or eastern Texas
• Day 2: Reach New Mexico or Arizona
• Day 3+: Continue to the Los Angeles area

Flying vs. Driving From Atlanta to Los Angeles: At-a-Glance

Here’s a quick comparison framed for someone starting in Atlanta:

How Time Zones Affect Your Trip

Atlanta is in the Eastern Time Zone (ET).
Los Angeles is in the Pacific Time Zone (PT).

Los Angeles is 3 hours behind Atlanta.

What this means in practice:

• If you leave ATL at 9:00 a.m. ET on a nonstop flight and spend about 5 hours in the air, you’ll land around:

  • 11:00 a.m. PT in Los Angeles
    (It feels like 2:00 p.m. to your body.)

• When driving, you’ll gain time on the clock as you move west, but your body will still feel like Atlanta time, especially the first couple of days.

This time difference can be important if you have:

• Same-day meetings in Los Angeles
• Events you must attend shortly after landing
• Children traveling with you who may feel the time shift more strongly

Getting to the Airport in Atlanta

Since this article is Atlanta-specific, it helps to know how to reach ATL efficiently before heading to Los Angeles.

By MARTA

MARTA runs directly to the airport:

• Take the Red or Gold Line to the Airport Station
• The station is inside the Domestic Terminal, near the baggage claim area

MARTA is often a good choice if:

• You want to avoid I‑75/I‑85 traffic into the city
• You’re staying near neighborhoods like Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, or Sandy Springs

By Car

If you’re driving yourself from Atlanta:

• From Downtown/Midtown: use I‑75/I‑85 South and follow signs to the airport
• From East Atlanta or Decatur: consider I‑20 West to I‑75/85 South
• From Cobb or North Fulton: you’ll likely use the Downtown Connector (I‑75/85) or I‑285 to loop around, depending on traffic

Factor in:

• 30–60 minutes from many parts of the metro area in light to moderate traffic
• More time during morning/evening rush hours, major events, or bad weather

Typical Reasons Atlantans Travel to Los Angeles

Understanding why you’re going helps you decide the best way to cover the distance:

• Business travel: Film, TV, tech, entertainment, and corporate meetings
• Tourism: Disneyland (via the wider LA area), beaches, Hollywood, theme parks
• Family visits: Many Atlantans have relatives along the West Coast
• Relocation or extended stays: Students, creative professionals, or people moving between the two cities

For quick trips, the distance strongly favors flying.
For relocation or long stays, some Atlanta residents choose to drive or ship a car to manage belongings and vehicles.

How Far Is Atlanta to Los Angeles by Different Measures?

To summarize the key “how far” angles in simple terms:

• By air: about 1,940 miles and 4.5–5 hours flying
• By road: about 2,150–2,250 miles and 32–35 hours driving
• By time zone difference:3 hours earlier in Los Angeles than in Atlanta

Quick Planning Tips for Atlantans Headed to Los Angeles

A few practical pointers tailored to someone starting in or around Atlanta:

• Check multiple departure windows from ATL: Very early morning or late-night flights sometimes move more smoothly, especially around Atlanta’s busier daytime periods.
• Account for Atlanta traffic: If your flight is during peak periods, aim to get to Hartsfield-Jackson earlier than you think you need.
• Watch for weather: Summer thunderstorms and winter cold fronts can affect ATL departures more than Los Angeles arrivals.
• Use the time change to your advantage: Morning departures from Atlanta often get you to Los Angeles before noon local time, giving you almost a full day on the West Coast.

In everyday terms, Atlanta and Los Angeles are about 2,000 miles and a half-day of travel apart by air, or a multi-day drive apart by road. Once you decide whether to fly or drive, you can plan the rest of your trip around Atlanta’s traffic patterns, airport access, and the 3‑hour time difference.