Drive corridor · sweet spot
Phoenix to Los Angeles road trip: 19 stops worth the detour
Phoenix, AZ → Los Angeles, CA. Ranked detours with honest +N min estimates — then open a pre-filled plan door when you're ready to drive it.
Worth the detour
Stops along the drive
9 stops · 10 hidden
- Cabazon Dinosaurs+1 minRoadside Americana · CA
Giant roadside dinosaurs off I-10
- Verrado Victory+7 minGolf · AZ
The bolder of Verrado's two courses, with big elevation swings against the White Tank Mountains. A Tom Lehman design the West Valley quietly considers its best public play.
- La Quinta Resort Mountain Course+19 minGolf · CA
Pete Dye built this one straight into the Santa Rosa Mountains, with fairways tucked beneath sheer rock faces. Dramatic desert scenery at a storied old resort.
- SilverRock Resort+21 minGolf · CA
An Arnold Palmer municipal course at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains that once hosted the Bob Hope Classic. Big mountain backdrops at a public price.
- PGA West Greg Norman Course+22 minGolf · CA
Greg Norman's natural-desert layout at PGA West, routed through arroyos and native landscape with minimal housing. The quietest of the resort's courses.
- PGA West Stadium Course+23 minGolf · CA
Pete Dye at his most diabolical, headlined by the island-green 17th nicknamed Alcatraz and a bunker called the San Andreas Fault. Punishing, theatrical, and unforgettable in the desert sun.
- Watts Towers+29 minRoadside Americana · CA
Simon Rodia’s 99-ft mosaic spires
- Sterling Grove+34 minGolf · AZ
A fresh Nicklaus design at the base of the White Tanks, Troon-managed and currently open for daily-fee play. Catch it while you can, as it is slated to go private as the community fills in.
- Joshua Tree National Park+52 minNational parks · CA
Twisted trees, granite piles & dark skies
Corridor graph
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State hubs & places
Where to stay
Where to stay along this drive
Hotels, cabins, and rentals close to the action — compare and book for your trip.
At the destination: Los Angeles →
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FAQ
Before you go
- How long is the drive from Phoenix to Los Angeles?
About 6 hr 5 min and 373 mi of road driving, before any detours.
- What are the best stops between Phoenix and Los Angeles?
Top ranked stops include 101 Noodle Express, Cabazon Dinosaurs, Verrado Victory. Each stop shows an honest +N min detour estimate from the main drive.
- Can I plan this drive in Roamward?
Yes — open the pre-filled From→To planner for Phoenix to Los Angeles, pick a detour budget, and save the trip.
Paper backup
Glovebox note
Dead zones happen. Plan this corridor, then use Print glovebox sheet on the trip page for a paper itinerary with coordinates — no signal required. Start here: pre-filled From→To door.