Origin
Hercules, CA
Late night in Hercules on Tuesday
Local time
5:03 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hercules, 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
7h 7m
Distance
383.1 mi
617 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$88
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 57m
★
6 AM
7h 8m
8 AM
7h 30m
10 AM
7h 16m
12 PM
7h 13m
3 PM
7h 17m
5 PM
7h 29m
8 PM
7h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hercules, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Hercules, CA to Los Angeles, CA is 383.1 miles and takes about 7h 7m via Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, with a fuel budget near $88 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This primarily highway route connects two points within California's Pacific Coast region. Given its mostly highway profile and single-day recommendation, it's a straightforward trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently between Northern and Southern California. Plan for a consistent driving experience as you make your way south.
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
191.6 miles from Hercules, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 32m 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 | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 16.2 mi | 20m |
| Donald D Doyle Highway | 14.8 mi | 17m |
| John Muir Parkway | 12.8 mi | 15m |
| Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway | 7.3 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 224.4 mi, about 4h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hercules, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on Railroad Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Railroad Avenue
2
Continue on Bayfront Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Bayfront Boulevard
3
Continue on John Muir Parkway
13 mi
·
15 min
·
John Muir Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 12B
Toward I 680 South: San Jose
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 680
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 680
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 30A
Toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 580: Stockton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 580
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
11 mi
·
11 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
16
Merge onto I 5
224 mi
·
4 hr
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
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.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 153B
Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on CA 170
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on West Aliso Street
409 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
26
Turn left onto West 1st Street
354 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
27
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, aim to depart Hercules early in the morning to avoid the worst of any potential traffic congestion. With only 2 recommended stops and a fuel budget around $88, you can be flexible with when and where you choose to break up the 383.1 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 224.4-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, as services can be spaced out. This route is well-suited for a single-day journey, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider an overnight stop around the halfway point.
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 191.6 miles from Hercules, CA, or about 3h 32m 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 84 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 191.6 miles or 3h 32m 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 55m
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 Hercules, 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 Hercules, CA
This is one driving day of about 383.1 miles and 7h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Hercules, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
192 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 84 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 191.6 miles from Hercules, 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 224.4 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 225 decision points cluster between mile 13.3 and 360.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
13.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 680 South: San Jose
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12B
Toward I 680 South: San Jose
8
36.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
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 30A
Toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
8
36.3 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
7
37 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 580: Stockton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580: Stockton
8
360.3 mi into trip
|
~6h 38m 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
$88.05 one way
$176.11 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
134 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $90.74 | $181.47 |
| premium | $6.18 | $93.17 | $186.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $84.58 | $169.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$88
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$113–$138
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 134 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 114.9 | 1 | $40.23 | $18.39 |
| Efficient EV | 95.8 | 1 | $33.52 | $15.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 153.2 | 1 | $53.63 | $24.52 |
Gas CO2
134 kg
EV CO2
45 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
Late night in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
5:03 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
3 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 7m 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?
Expect 93% of this 383.1-mile drive to be on highways, offering a consistent cruising experience for the majority of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch on a highway is 224.4 miles on the Westside Freeway. You'll notice a high density of exits and merging traffic as you transition between the various freeway segments, particularly as you approach urban areas. The route is designed for efficient travel with minimal time spent on surface streets.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 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?
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 13.3 miles in.
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 22 significant decision points across 383.1 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 13.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Hercules, CA to Los Angeles, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Stockton along the way.
Stockton
36.1 mi in
|
~43m
About the Cities
Starting in Hercules, CA
Full guide →Founded 1900
Pinole is in the north of Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area in California on the southern shore of San Pablo Bay. Hercules is a suburban community next door. Neither of them have much to attract tourists, but they do have a selection of restaurants as well as walking and biking paths through the wetlands along the bay.
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 7h 7m. Total distance: 383.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 7m 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.
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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.3 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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