Origin
Hydesville, CA
Morning in Hydesville on Tuesday
Local time
8:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hydesville, 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
12h 1m
Distance
625.9 mi
1,007 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$144
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
11h 51m
★
6 AM
12h 2m
8 AM
12h 23m
10 AM
12h 9m
12 PM
12h 7m
3 PM
12h 10m
5 PM
12h 22m
8 PM
11h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hydesville, CA
Dominik Gryzbon
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Hydesville to Los Angeles is 625.9 miles and takes about 12 hours 1 minute via Redwood Highway, Westside Freeway, and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $144 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route traverses the Pacific Coast region of California, starting in the north and heading south toward Southern California. It's a long-haul drive, best split over two days, and covers varied terrain. Consider this trip if you're looking for a direct path connecting Northern California to the Los Angeles area.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
313 miles from Hydesville, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Highway | 227.5 mi | 4h 35m |
| 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 |
| MacArthur Freeway | 16.4 mi | 18m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 16.2 mi | 20m |
| John T. Knox Freeway | 13.6 mi | 17m |
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 227.5 mi, about 4h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hydesville, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on CA 36
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
CA 36
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward CA 36 East
3
Merge onto US 101
111 mi
·
2 hr 17 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on US 101
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on US 101; CA 20
116 mi
·
2 hr 18 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
14 mi
·
17 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 451B
Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 80; I 580
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Interstate Highway 80
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi
·
18 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 580
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
11 mi
·
11 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
14
Merge onto I 5
224 mi
·
4 hr
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 153B
Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on CA 170
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on West Aliso Street
409 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left onto West 1st Street
354 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
Given the 12-hour drive time, planning for two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight hours. With 3 recommended stops, you can break up the driving every few hours to rest and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 227.5-mile stretch on the Redwood Highway where services might be less frequent. Splitting the drive will make the 625.9 miles much more manageable.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 313 miles from Hydesville, CA, or about 6h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 227.5 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 138 miles or 2h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 313 miles or 6h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 313 miles or 6h 16m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 10h 49m
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 Hydesville, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hydesville, CA
Aim for roughly 313 miles and 6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Los Angeles, CA
Aim for roughly 313 miles and 6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 138 miles from Hydesville, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Redwood Highway for about 227.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
207 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
413 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Castro Valley, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
313 mi · about 6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Santa Rosa, CA after about 313 miles or 6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 138 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 313 miles from Hydesville, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Redwood Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 227.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 313 miles or 6 hours on the road.
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 236 and 608.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
236 mi into trip
|
~4h 47m in
|
I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 451B
Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
8
253.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 8m in
|
I 580 / Interstate Highway 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / Interstate Highway 80 toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
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, I 880 South: Downtown Oaklan...
8
253.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 9m in
|
I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockt...
8
603.1 mi into trip
|
~11h 32m 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
608.7 mi into trip
|
~11h 38m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$143.86 one way
$287.72 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
219 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $148.24 | $296.49 |
| premium | $6.18 | $152.21 | $304.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $138.19 | $276.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$144
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$274–$384
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 219 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $66 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 187.8 | 2 | $65.72 | $30.04 |
| Efficient EV | 156.5 | 1 | $54.77 | $25.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 250.4 | 3 | $87.63 | $40.06 |
Gas CO2
219 kg
EV CO2
73 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
8:42 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
6 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
12h 1m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 primarily on highways, with 63% of the travel occurring on freeways. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on the Redwood Highway, covering 227.5 miles without needing to exit. Expect a significant amount of highway cruising, with transitions to surface roads as you approach urban areas. The driving is mostly straightforward, with the longest single stretch suggesting a focus on maintaining speed.
63% 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: 227.5 mi on Redwood Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
At 12h 1m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 236 miles in near I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway.
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 625.9 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 236 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 253.4 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 253.6 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): 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.
Between Hydesville, CA and Los Angeles, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda and San Jose.
Oakland
236 mi in
|
~4h 47m
|
via I 580
Hayward
253.4 mi in
|
~5h 8m
|
via I 580
Stockton
253.4 mi in
|
~5h 8m
|
via I 580
Alameda
253.4 mi in
|
~5h 8m
|
via I 580
San Jose
253.4 mi in
|
~5h 8m
|
via I 580
About the Cities
Starting in Hydesville, CA
Full guide →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).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 227.5 miles on Redwood Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 313 miles on day one.
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 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 236 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 253.4 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 253.6 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 12.0 hours each way, a round trip means 24.1 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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