If you are planning a trip from Hidden Hills to Laguna, prepare for a 374.1-mile journey that takes approximately 6 hours and 7 minutes behind the wheel. Because this route is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight highway shot, it is best approached as a dedicated day trip. You should budget around $51 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Pacific Coast locations. While the drive is manageable in a single day, the technical nature of the roads means you will need to stay focused throughout the trip. It is a practical option for travelers looking to navigate the region without the monotony of major interstates.
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
186.7 miles from Hidden Hills, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
285.8 mi
5h 7m
I 5 Truck
39.3 mi
45m
Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi
25m
Ventura Freeway
9.9 mi
11m
San Diego Freeway
9.6 mi
11m
Elk Grove Boulevard
3 mi
5m
Long Valley Road
1 mi
2m
Foulks Ranch Drive
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 285.8 mi, about 5h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hidden Hills, CA and Laguna, CA.
1
Start on Hidden Ridge Road
24 ft·6 sec·Hidden Ridge Road
2
Continue on Lasher Road
0.2 mi·57 sec·Lasher Road
3
Turn right onto Long Valley Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Long Valley Road
4
Continue on Long Valley Road
0.2 mi·25 sec·Long Valley Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto Mulholland Drive
369 ft·7 sec·Mulholland Drive
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
288 ft·7 sec
Toward US 101 South: Los AngelesUse the right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 101 South: Los AngelesUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto US 101
9.9 mi·11 min·Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Santa MonicaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 405 North: SacramentoUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 405
9.6 mi·11 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / sharp right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.6 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161AToward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 TruckUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi·41 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi·4 hr 1 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi·27 min·Westside Freeway
18
Keep left at fork onto I 5
35 mi·37 min·Westside Freeway
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 506Toward Elk Grove BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto E12
3.0 mi·5 min·Elk Grove Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
21
Turn left onto Foulks Ranch Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Foulks Ranch Drive
Use the left lane.
22
At end of road, turn right onto Laguna Park Drive
0.2 mi·29 sec·Laguna Park Drive
23
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
0.2 mi·37 sec·Seasons Drive
24
Turn left onto November Drive
0.1 mi·29 sec·November Drive
25
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way
155 ft·12 sec·Mapleview Way
26
Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court
183 ft·8 sec·Fall Breeze Court
27
Arrive at destination
Fall Breeze Court
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 374.1-mile trek, aim to depart early in the morning to account for the 6-hour and 7-minute duration. Since the route features zero planned stops, you should identify your own refueling points along the way to ensure your $51 fuel budget remains on track. Given the turn-heavy profile, keep your vehicle in good working order, specifically checking your tires and brakes before heading out. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so do not hesitate to build in extra time for rest breaks if the technical nature of the local roads begins to cause fatigue. Prioritize mapping out your specific path through the turns before you leave to avoid unnecessary navigation headaches.
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 186.7 miles from Hidden Hills, CA, or about 3h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 285.8 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 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 186.7 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laguna, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hidden Hills, 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 Hidden Hills, CA
This is one driving day of about 373.5 miles and 6h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Hidden Hills, 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 285.8 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 23.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in|Mulholland Drive
Turn right onto Mulholland Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
7
11.5 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Santa Monica
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.
Toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Sa...
7
11.6 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 405 North: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 405 North: Sacramento
9
23.2 mi into trip|~29m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$85.85 one way
$171.69 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg131 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$88.46
$176.93
premium
$6.18
$90.83
$181.66
diesel
$5.61
$82.46
$164.93
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: 130.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
112.1
1
$39.22
$17.93
Efficient EV
93.4
1
$32.68
$14.94
EV Truck/SUV
149.4
1
$52.29
$23.90
Gas CO2
131 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Hidden Hills, CA
Morning
in Hidden Hills on Sunday
Local time
10:26 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Laguna, CA
Morning
in Laguna on Sunday
Local time
10:26 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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.
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...
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 90.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly engaging experience behind the wheel, as this route consists entirely of local roads with a 0% highway share. You will find yourself constantly navigating turns rather than cruising on long, straight stretches of asphalt. Because there is no single longest uninterrupted stretch, the drive demands your full attention as you transition through various local road segments. This lack of highway travel means your average speed will be lower than a typical cross-country sprint, keeping the pace deliberate and steady. Be prepared for a technical drive that rewards drivers who enjoy hands-on navigation over mindless highway cruising.
98% 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: 285.8 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 1.3 miles in near Mulholland Drive.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 373.5 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 1.3 miles (Mulholland Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 55m. Total distance: 373.5 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 285.8 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 Laguna, 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 1.3 miles (Mulholland Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 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 and César E. Chávez National Monument. 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 13.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Laguna, CA before the return drive.
