Origin
Elk Grove, CA
Morning in Elk Grove on Tuesday
Local time
6:51 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elk Grove, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 55m
Distance
372.1 mi
599 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$86
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 45m
★
6 AM
6h 56m
8 AM
7h 19m
10 AM
7h 4m
12 PM
7h 2m
3 PM
7h 5m
5 PM
7h 18m
8 PM
6h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elk Grove, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Elk Grove, CA to Los Angeles, CA is 372.1 miles and takes about 6h 55m via Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, and South Sacramento Freeway, with a fuel budget near $86 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip covers ground within the Pacific Coast region, primarily sticking to major freeways for efficient travel. Given its mostly highway profile and single-day recommendation, it's a straightforward drive for those looking to get between Northern and Southern California quickly. You'll spend nearly all your time on well-traveled roads, making it a practical option for a direct journey.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
186 miles from Elk Grove, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 27m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 250.2 mi | 4h 28m |
| I 5 Truck | 63.9 mi | 1h 13m |
| South Sacramento Freeway | 29.7 mi | 34m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 16.2 mi | 20m |
| Golden State Freeway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Crosstown Freeway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Elk Grove Florin Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| CA 4 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 250.2 mi, about 4h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elk Grove, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on Elk Grove Florin Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Elk Grove Florin Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto East Stockton Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Stockton Boulevard
Use the left / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto E2
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Grant Line Road
4
Continue on E2
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Kammerer Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
6
Merge onto CA 99
30 mi
·
34 min
·
South Sacramento Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 4
8
Merge onto CA 4
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Crosstown Freeway
9
Take the exit onto CA 4
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
CA 4
Toward I 5: Sacramento
10
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 4
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 4
Toward I 5 South
11
Merge onto I 5; CA 4
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Westside Freeway
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
48 sec
·
Westside Freeway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi
·
4 hr 13 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 153B
Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on CA 170
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on West Aliso Street
409 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left onto West 1st Street
354 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6h 55m drive, aim to depart Elk Grove in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic congestion as you approach Los Angeles. With a fuel cost estimated around $86, plan your refueling stops accordingly, though the 250.2-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway means you can cover a good portion before needing to fill up. Given it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility; however, starting early is key to a smooth arrival. Watch for the dense exit patterns as you get closer to the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 186 miles from Elk Grove, CA, or about 3h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 250.2 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 82 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 186 miles or 3h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 44m
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 Elk Grove, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Elk Grove, CA
This is one driving day of about 372.1 miles and 6h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Elk Grove, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 250.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
186 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 186 miles from Elk Grove, 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 250.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 371.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
East Stockton Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto East Stockton Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
8
349.3 mi into trip
|
~6h 26m 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
7
354.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 33m in
Take the exit toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 153B
Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
7
371.6 mi into trip
|
~6h 54m in
Take the exit toward Broadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
7
371.8 mi into trip
|
~6h 55m in
|
North Spring Street
Turn right onto North Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$85.52 one way
$171.05 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
130 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $88.13 | $176.26 |
| premium | $6.18 | $90.49 | $180.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $82.15 | $164.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$86
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$111–$136
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 130.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 111.6 | 1 | $39.07 | $17.86 |
| Efficient EV | 93 | 1 | $32.56 | $14.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 148.8 | 1 | $52.09 | $23.81 |
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Los Angeles, CA
Morning in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
6:51 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
17 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
6h 55m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 99% highway, meaning you'll be on freeways for almost the entire 372.1 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a single freeway is 250.2 miles on the Westside Freeway. You won't encounter significant surface streets until very near your destination. Expect a consistent cruising experience with frequent exits and merges typical of major interstate travel through populated areas.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 250.2 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 1.5 miles in near East Stockton Boulevard.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 20 significant decision points across 372.1 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 1.5 miles (East Stockton Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 349.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 354.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Elk Grove, CA
Full guide →Founded 1850
Elk Grove is a city of 176,000 people (2020) in Sacramento County in California. Elk Grove has many wineries, wine cellars, and vineyards.
Arriving in Los Angeles, CA
Full guide →“Tinseltown” · Founded 1781
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 55m. Total distance: 372.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 55m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 250.2 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (East Stockton Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 349.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 354.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.9 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.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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