Origin
Fremont, CA
Late night in Fremont on Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fremont, CA to Thousand Oaks, 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 53m
Distance
365 mi
587 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$84
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 42m
★
6 AM
6h 53m
8 AM
7h 17m
10 AM
7h 1m
12 PM
6h 59m
3 PM
7h 3m
5 PM
7h 15m
8 PM
6h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thousand Oaks, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fremont, CA to Thousand Oaks, CA is 365 miles and takes about 6h 53m via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $84 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Pacific Coast region, starting in Northern California and heading south. Given its profile as mostly highway, expect a relatively straightforward drive focused on covering distance efficiently. With a recommended one-day drive, you can anticipate a full day behind the wheel, making it ideal for those looking to reach their destination without 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
182.5 miles from Fremont, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 29m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 181.1 mi | 3h 14m |
| I 5 Truck | 58.6 mi | 1h 7m |
| Pacheco Pass Highway | 40.6 mi | 50m |
| Bayshore Freeway | 32.3 mi | 37m |
| Ventura Freeway | 22.2 mi | 25m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 13.3 mi | 15m |
| I 405 Truck | 9 mi | 10m |
| Golden State Freeway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 181.1 mi, about 3h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fremont, CA and Thousand Oaks, CA.
1
Start on Mowry Avenue
109 ft
·
4 sec
·
Mowry Avenue
2
Continue on Mowry Avenue
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Mowry Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on Mowry Avenue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Mowry Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 880 South: San Jose
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 880
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Merge onto US 101
32 mi
·
37 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto CA 152
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
CA 152
Toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
9
Turn left onto CA 152
353 ft
·
12 sec
·
East 10th Street
10
Continue on CA 152
41 mi
·
50 min
·
Pacheco Pass Highway
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5: Los Angeles
12
Merge onto I 5
181 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
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.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Exit 63B
Toward US 101 South, US 101 North: Los Angeles, Ventura
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward US 101 North: Ventura, Ventura Freeway
19
Merge onto US 101
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
Exit 41
Toward Hampshire Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
312 ft
·
4 sec
Toward Hampshire Road, Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks Boulevard
Use the right lane.
22
Turn slight right onto Hampshire Road
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Hampshire Road
23
Turn left onto East Thousand Oaks Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
East Thousand Oaks Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Turn right
63 ft
·
4 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6h 53m drive, aim for an early morning departure from Fremont to avoid potential traffic. Since it's a single-day trip, plan for one main stop for fuel and a break, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer highway stretches, and utilize the available services. The $84 fuel cost is an estimate, so confirm current prices. Given the route's highway-heavy nature, staying alert for changing speed limits and exit information is key.
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 182.5 miles from Fremont, CA, or about 3h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.1 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 182.5 miles or 3h 29m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thousand Oaks, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fremont, 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 Fremont, CA
This is one driving day of about 365 miles and 6h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fremont, 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 181.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
183 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 182.5 miles from Fremont, 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 181.1 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 15.2 and 364.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
15.2 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
8
332.8 mi into trip
|
~6h 15m 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
8
342 mi into trip
|
~6h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 101 South, US 101 North: Los Angeles, Ventura
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 63B
Toward US 101 South, US 101 North: Los Angeles,...
7
342.1 mi into trip
|
~6h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 101 North: Ventura, Ventura Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 101 North: Ventura, Ventura Freeway
9
364.7 mi into trip
|
~6h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Hampshire Road, Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Hampshire Road, Civic Arts Plaza, Thousa...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$83.89 one way
$167.79 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
128 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $86.45 | $172.90 |
| premium | $6.18 | $88.76 | $177.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $80.59 | $161.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$84
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$109–$134
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 109.5 | 1 | $38.32 | $17.52 |
| Efficient EV | 91.3 | 1 | $31.94 | $14.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 146 | 1 | $51.10 | $23.36 |
Gas CO2
128 kg
EV CO2
43 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
Thousand Oaks, CA
Late night in Thousand Oaks on Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°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
19 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
6h 53m 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.
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 365
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...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 264.3
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...
30 mi from route
~75 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 88% of the route on main roads like the Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. You'll encounter a long stretch of 181.1 miles on the Westside Freeway, which means extended periods of consistent driving. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur later in the trip, likely closer to your destination. Expect to notice dense exit patterns and varying traffic conditions as you navigate urban and suburban areas.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 181.1 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 15.2 miles in.
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 19 significant decision points across 365 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 15.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 332.8 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 342 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
On the drive from Fremont, CA to Thousand Oaks, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura along the way.
Ventura
342 mi in
|
~6h 25m
About the Cities
Starting in Fremont, CA
Full guide →Founded 1956
Fremont is a suburban city in the southern part of the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area; it is the 4th largest city in the Bay Area by population. Fremont is in the southern part of Alameda County, California, between Union City to the north, Sunol and the hills to the east, Milpitas and Santa Clara County to the south, and the San Francisco Bay to the west. The city of Newark, near the edge of the Bay, is surrounded by the city of Fremont. Fremont industry is not particularly large relative to other parts of the Bay Area, but neither is it a bedroom community. Many people in Fremont work locally in the electronics and high-tech industry, while many others commute to Silicon Valley or San Francisco locations for work.
Top landmarks
- • Mission San José — 18th-century Spanish mission in Fremont, California
- • Ardenwood Historic Farm — human settlement in California, United States of America
- • Niles Depot Museum — railway museum in Niles, California
Arriving in Thousand Oaks, CA
Full guide →Founded 1964
Thousand Oaks is a city in Ventura County in Southern California. It is the largest city in the Conejo Valley, which it shares with Agoura Hills and Westlake Village, nestled within the Santa Monica Mountains. Newbury Park on the west and Oak Park on the east are districts of Thousand Oaks.
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 53m. Total distance: 365 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 53m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 181.1 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 Thousand Oaks, 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 15.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 332.8 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 342 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, César E. Chávez National Monument and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Thousand Oaks, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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