Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Anaheim, CA to Ferndale, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
12h 43m
Distance
659.2 mi
1,061 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$161
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
12h 32m
★
6 AM
12h 44m
8 AM
13h 7m
10 AM
12h 52m
12 PM
12h 49m
3 PM
12h 53m
5 PM
13h 5m
8 PM
12h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Anaheim, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Ferndale, CA
Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Overview
Anaheim to Ferndale is 659.2 miles and takes about 12h 43m via Westside Freeway, Redwood Highway, and Saint Helena Highway, with a fuel budget near $150 and best split over two days. This long-haul drive crosses California from south to north, connecting the Pacific Coast region with itself. It's a significant trip that requires careful planning to manage the distance and time effectively. Be prepared for a full day of driving if you choose to do it in one go, though splitting it over two days is recommended for a more relaxed pace.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
329.6 miles from Anaheim, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 4m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 225.6 mi | 4h 1m |
| Redwood Highway | 172 mi | 3h 31m |
| Saint Helena Highway | 51.2 mi | 59m |
| Golden State Freeway | 50 mi | 57m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.7 mi | 43m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 21.3 mi | 24m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 19.6 mi | 22m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 354 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,464 veh/hr typical · worst 3,254
Quietest
2 AM
~475 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 89 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anaheim, CA and Ferndale, CA.
1
Start on this road
200 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto South Anaheim Boulevard
422 ft
·
21 sec
·
South Anaheim Boulevard
3
Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Lincoln Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
5
Merge onto I 5
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
15
Merge onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 44B
Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 680
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 680
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680, CA 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
243 ft
·
3 sec
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 780
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 780
Toward I 780: Benicia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 1B
Toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Use the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight left at fork
448 ft
·
11 sec
Toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Use the slight left lane.
27
Merge onto I 80
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 33
Toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 37: Napa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on CA 37
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 37
Toward CA 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 19
Toward CA 29: Napa, Sonoma Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Turn right onto CA 29
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Sonoma Boulevard
Use the right lane.
33
Continue on CA 29
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Broadway Street
Use the straight lane.
34
Continue on CA 29
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Napa–Vallejo Highway
Use the left lane.
35
Continue on CA 12; CA 29
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
37
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
38
Continue on CA 128
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Boulevard
39
Continue on CA 128
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
40
Continue on CA 128
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
41
At end of road, turn right onto CA 128
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Geyserville Avenue
42
Turn left onto CA 128
359 ft
·
6 sec
·
Canyon Road
43
Take the exit onto CA 128
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
CA 128
44
Merge onto US 101; CA 128
55 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Continue on US 101
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
47
Merge onto US 101
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Willits Bypass
48
Continue on US 101
117 mi
·
2 hr 24 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward Fernbridge, Ferndale
50
Continue on Fernbridge Drive
527 ft
·
9 sec
·
Fernbridge Drive
51
Continue on Fernbridge Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Fernbridge Drive
Use the left lane.
52
Turn left onto CA 211
4.8 mi
·
10 min
·
CA 211
Use the left lane.
53
Arrive at destination
CA 211
Trip Plan
Given the 12-hour driving time, it's highly recommended to split this drive over two days. Aim to start early on your first day to cover a substantial portion, perhaps around 6-7 hours of driving. Plan your overnight stop strategically, considering the 225.6-mile longest stretch on the Westside Freeway as a potential point to break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you move onto the Redwood Highway and Saint Helena Highway, where services might be less frequent than on the initial freeway segment. Budgeting around $150 for fuel is a good estimate for this 659.2-mile route.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 329.6 miles from Anaheim, CA, or about 6h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 145 miles or 2h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 329.6 miles or 6h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 329.6 miles or 6h 4m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 11h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ferndale, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Anaheim, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Anaheim, CA
Aim for roughly 330 miles and 6.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Ferndale, CA
Aim for roughly 330 miles and 6.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 145 miles from Anaheim, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 225.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
218 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
435 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Windsor, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
330 mi · about 6.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Windsor, CA after about 330 miles or 6.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 145 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 329.6 miles from Anaheim, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 225.6 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 330 miles or 6.4 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Irvine Lodge Rest Area
0 mi from route
Moss Cove Rest Area
0 mi from route
Empire Camp Rest Area
0 mi from route
Water
0.1 mi from route
Dos Amigos Vista Point
0.1 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Castaic Truck Stop
0.1 mi from route
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Coalinga Avenal Safety Roadside Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Lost Hills Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Northbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.4 mi from route
Hunter Hill Rest Area
0.8 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.8 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.9 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.3 mi from route
Rest Area
1.6 mi from route
Rest Area
1.7 mi from route
Rest Area
1.8 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 395 decision points cluster between mile 50.3 and 407.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
50.3 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
8
372.3 mi into trip
|
~6h 51m in
Take the exit toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44B
Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacr...
9
372.5 mi into trip
|
~6h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacr...
8
393 mi into trip
|
~7h 16m in
|
I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
8
407.8 mi into trip
|
~7h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$161.32 one way
$322.64 round trip
$6.22/gal
25.4 MPG avg
231 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.40 | $166.12 | $332.25 |
| premium | $6.57 | $170.41 | $340.81 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $160.36 | $320.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$161
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$291–$401
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 230.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $69 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 197.8 | 2 | $69.22 | $31.64 |
| Efficient EV | 164.8 | 1 | $57.68 | $26.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 263.7 | 3 | $92.29 | $42.19 |
Gas CO2
231 kg
EV CO2
77 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Anaheim, CA
Morning in Anaheim on Saturday
Local time
8:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
NE 5 to 15 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 7:50PM PDT until October 17 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 7:50PM PDT until October 17 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Ferndale, CA
Morning in Ferndale on Saturday
Local time
8:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Patchy Fog
NW 2 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 7:50PM PDT until October 17 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 7:50PM PDT until October 17 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
26 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
12h 43m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 409.2
View on nps.gov
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 409.2
View on nps.gov
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 386.4
View on nps.gov
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 45.5
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument
National Monument
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
$15
near mile 409.2
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 113.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip involves 58% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch being 225.6 miles on the Westside Freeway. After the initial highway segment, you'll transition to roads like the Redwood Highway and Saint Helena Highway, which will offer a different driving experience. Expect to encounter more varied terrain and potentially denser local traffic as you move away from the primary freeway.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
53 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 225.6 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
At 12h 43m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 50.3 miles in near I 5 Truck.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 39 significant decision points across 659.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 50.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 372.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 372.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
4,118 ft
19 ft
Total Climb
5,947 ft
Total Descent
6,048 ft
Highest Point
4,118 ft
~94.2 mi in
Elevation Range
4,099 ft
Notable High Points
4,118 ft at ~94.2 miles
+3,076 ft prominence
1,591 ft at ~565 miles
+854 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Anaheim, CA and Ferndale, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek, Novato and Auto Mall.
San Francisco
335.8 mi in
|
~6h 11m
|
via I 580
Sacramento
372.3 mi in
|
~6h 51m
Concord
372.3 mi in
|
~6h 51m
Walnut Creek
372.3 mi in
|
~6h 51m
Novato
410.6 mi in
|
~7h 36m
Auto Mall
410.6 mi in
|
~7h 36m
About the Cities
Starting in Anaheim, CA
Full guide →Founded 1857
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. It is best known for being the home of Disneyland. Its second claim to fame is hosting the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks and Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels.
Top landmarks
- • Disneyland — American theme park in California owned by The Walt Disney Company
- • Disney California Adventure — theme park in California, part of Disneyland Resort
- • Soarin' — flight motion simulator attraction at Disney parks
Arriving in Ferndale, CA
Full guide →Founded 1893
Ferndale is a city in Humboldt County is in the North Coast region of California with a charming Victorian ambience.
Top landmarks
- • A. Berding House — historic house in California, United States
- • Alford-Nielson House — single-family detached home in Ferndale, California
- • Ferndale Main Street Historic District — historic district in California, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
12h 43m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 225.6 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 330 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 41 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Ferndale, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 3 meaningful breaks. There are 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 50.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 372.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 372.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 12.7 hours each way, a round trip means 25.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ferndale, CA before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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