City Hall countdown, then Pasadena's parade
This is leg 1 of 1, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Los Angeles New Year's Eve
Downtown Los Angeles to Pasadena
Downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena sit about 14 km (8.6 mi) apart in a straight line, with Pasadena to the north-east. It is leg 1 of 1 on our Los Angeles New Year's Eve itinerary, a 3-day trip. It is a short hop across town, easy by local transit, ride share or on foot.
- Straight-line distance
- 14 km · 8.6 mi
- Est. road distance
- 17–19 km
- Est. drive time
- 20–45 min
- Direction
- Heading north-east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 25–45 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
Across town
This is a short in-city hop of about 14 km in a straight line. Our Los Angeles New Year's Eve guide suggests public transit and ride shares or taxis for getting around. By car it takes an estimated 20–45 min without traffic.
Metro has run free rides on New Year's Eve in recent years (in 2025 from 4 am Dec 31 to 3 am Jan 1) with all-night service on the main rail lines; take the B or D Line to Civic Center/Grand Park station. Streets around Grand Park and the Music Center close from mid-evening, and rideshare surges after midnight. For the parade, take the Metro A Line to Memorial Park or Del Mar station in Pasadena; roads along the route close from around 10 pm Dec 31 and parking near Colorado Boulevard fills before dawn.
Open Downtown Los Angeles → Pasadena directions in Google Maps ↗
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Pasadena
Rose Parade city below the San Gabriels; New Year's Day for floats, a diner breakfast and a walk.
Rose Parade
The Tournament of Roses parade of flower-covered floats, bands and horses, held on Colorado Boulevard since 1890.
Rose Bowl Stadium
The 1922 stadium in the Arroyo Seco that hosts the Rose Bowl Game, a College Football Playoff game, on Jan 1.
Colorado Street Bridge
Curved 1913 concrete arch bridge over the Arroyo Seco, with a walking path along the stream bed below.
Pie 'n Burger
Counter diner near Caltech since 1963, known for griddled burgers, pancakes and fruit pies by the slice.
Old Pasadena
Blocks of restored brick buildings and alleys along Colorado Boulevard, with shops, cafes and bars.
Floatfest
The parked floats, close enough to see the seeds, petals and bark they are covered in, on Sierra Madre Boulevard.
Before you leave Downtown Los Angeles
Grand Park, City Hall and Bunker Hill; 2 nights for dinner, the countdown and a rooftop.
N.Y.E.L.A. at Grand Park
The county's free New Year's Eve party, with live stages, food trucks and a countdown projected onto City Hall.
Griffith Observatory
Art deco observatory on Mount Hollywood with free telescopes and the classic night view over the downtown towers.
Perch
French bistro and rooftop bar 15 floors above Pershing Square, with fire pits and open views of the towers.
On this curated route
Where Downtown Los Angeles → Pasadena sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Pasadena to Downtown Los Angeles is the same 14 km in a straight line, heading south-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Downtown Los Angeles to Pasadena: questions travelers ask
How far is Downtown Los Angeles from Pasadena?
Downtown Los Angeles is about 14 km (8.6 mi) from Pasadena in a straight line, with Pasadena to the north-east. By road, we estimate 17–19 km (10–12 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Downtown Los Angeles to Pasadena?
An estimated 20–45 min, assuming 17–19 km of road at average speeds of 25–45 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Downtown Los Angeles to Pasadena?
Our Los Angeles New Year's Eve itinerary includes this leg. Los Angeles New Year's Eve runs about 3 days across 2 stops, best in Dec 30 – Jan 1.
Guides for both ends
- Downtown Los Angeles travel guide
- Los Angeles weather covers Downtown Los Angeles
- Pasadena travel guide
- Pasadena weather best time to visit
Pasadena by month
Plan Downtown Los Angeles → Pasadena with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.