Daly City, CA to Los Angeles, CA is 387 miles and takes about 7h 13m via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $86 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route primarily sticks to major freeways, covering 97% highway driving. You'll traverse California from the Pacific Coast region to another Pacific Coast locale, making it a straightforward connection between Northern and Southern California. Given its efficiency and single-day feasibility, it's a solid choice for reaching your destination without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
193.5 miles from Daly City, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
224.4 mi
4h
I 5 Truck
63.9 mi
1h 13m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.3 mi
33m
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi
18m
Hollywood Freeway
16.2 mi
20m
MacArthur Freeway
15.9 mi
18m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.8 mi
8m
Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 224.4 mi, about 4h
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 89 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,926 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,652
Quietest
2 AM
~360 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 44 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 Daly City, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on Hillcrest Drive
194 ft·11 sec·Hillcrest Drive
2
Turn right onto Mission Circle
332 ft·15 sec·Mission Circle
3
Turn right onto Bepler Street
299 ft·20 sec·Bepler Street
4
Turn left onto CA 82
0.4 mi·58 sec·San Jose Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 280 North: Civic Center, Bay Bridge
6
Merge onto I 280
3.0 mi·3 min·John F Foran Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 280
3.0 mi·3 min·Southern Embarcadero Freeway
Exit 54BToward I 280 North: Downtown San Francisco, Sixth StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 57Toward 6th StreetUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto Brannan Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Brannan Street
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·5th Street
Use the left lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·44 sec
Toward I 80 East: Bay Bridge, OaklandUse the slight right / right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 80
0.2 mi·22 sec·Route 80
13
Continue on I 80
5.8 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 8BToward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-StocktonUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 580
16 mi·18 min·MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Merge onto I 580
12 mi·13 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
11 mi·11 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
5.9 mi·6 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
20
Merge onto I 5
224 mi·4 hr·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 5 Truck
Exit 158Toward I 405 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
5.3 mi·6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.5 mi·32 sec
Exit 153BToward CA 170 South: HollywoodUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on CA 170
16 mi·20 min·Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 2CToward BroadwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on West Aliso Street
409 ft·18 sec·West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
29
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.3 mi·35 sec·North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
30
Turn left onto West 1st Street
354 ft·12 sec·West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
31
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour drive, leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid the worst traffic, especially as you approach Los Angeles. With only one recommended day, you can comfortably complete it in a single go, but plan for about 2 stops to stretch your legs and refuel. The estimated fuel cost is around $86, so be sure to factor that into your budget. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on the Westside Freeway is over 200 miles, so you'll want to top off before embarking on that segment if you're starting with less than half a tank.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 193.5 miles from Daly City, CA, or about 3h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 85 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 193.5 miles or 3h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Los Angeles, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Daly City, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Daly City, CA
This is one driving day of about 387 miles and 7h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Daly City, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 224.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.7 and 364.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
6.7 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward 6th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 57
Toward 6th Street
7
7.6 mi into trip|~10m in|5th Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
7.7 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 East: Bay Bridge, Oakland
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right / right lanes.
Toward I 80 East: Bay Bridge, Oakland
8
14.2 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the exit toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-Stockton
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 8B
Toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-St...
8
364.3 mi into trip|~6h 44m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$80.97 one way
$161.93 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg135 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$84.09
$168.18
premium
$5.67
$86.31
$172.63
diesel
$4.80
$73.07
$146.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$81
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$106–$131
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 135.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
116.1
1
$40.64
$18.58
Efficient EV
96.8
1
$33.86
$15.48
EV Truck/SUV
154.8
1
$54.18
$24.77
Gas CO2
135 kg
EV CO2
45 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Daly City, CA
Morning
in Daly City on Sunday
Local time
9:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
W 14 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 12:00PM PDT until July 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:39AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Destination
Los Angeles, CA
Morning
in Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
9:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 12:00PM PDT until July 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:39AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
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.
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
14 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 13m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 13.3
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 13.3
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
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,...
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 360.3
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...
23 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 13.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect almost entirely highway driving, with 97% of the 387 miles on major roads like the Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. The longest continuous stretch on the Westside Freeway spans 224.4 miles, meaning you'll have long periods of consistent cruising. You'll notice the transition from the more urban feel near Daly City to broader stretches of highway as you head south. The final portion of the drive will involve merging into the Los Angeles metro area.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 224.4 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 27 significant decision points across 387 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 6.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Daly City is a city in the northernmost part of San Mateo County on the Peninsula of the San Francisco Bay Area in California, directly south of San Francisco proper.
Frank Lloyd Wright is said to have quipped, "Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles," a quote that has since been repeated both by those who love and hate L.A. The "City of Angels" is home to people who hail from all parts of the globe and an important center of culture, business, media, and international trade. However, it's most famous for being a major center of the world's television, motion picture, and music industry, which forms the base of the city's status and lures visitors for its show business history and celebrity culture. Visitors are also drawn to Los Angeles for its Mediterranean climate and numerous beaches, which gave birth to California's famed surf culture.
Top landmarks
•Hollywood Walk of Fame — more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks...
•Hollywood Sign — sign reading "HOLLYWOOD" located in Los Angeles, California, United States
•Getty Center — campus of the Getty Museum and other programs of the Getty Trust in Los Angeles
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 13m. Total distance: 387 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 13m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 224.4 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 33 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 Los Angeles, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Los Angeles, CA before the return drive.
