Trip from La Verne, CA to Oakland, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 18m

Distance

394.7 mi

635 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$91

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min

4 AM

7h 8m ★

6 AM

7h 19m

8 AM

7h 40m

10 AM

7h 26m

12 PM

7h 24m

3 PM

7h 27m

5 PM

7h 39m

8 PM

7h 12m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city in Los Angeles County, California, United States

La Verne, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city and county seat of Alameda County, California, United States

Oakland, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

La Verne, CA to Oakland, CA is 394.7 miles and takes about 7h 18m via Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $91 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within California, moving from the Pacific Coast region north to the same region. It's a nearly all-highway trip, making it a straightforward drive for those looking to get from Southern California to the Bay Area efficiently. Plan for a single-day transit, as the estimated driving time allows for completion before evening.

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

197.4 miles from La Verne, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 41m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Westside Freeway	225.6 mi	4h 1m
Foothill Freeway	46.8 mi	54m
I 5 Truck	37.1 mi	42m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway	29.6 mi	34m
Golden State Freeway	22.3 mi	25m
William Elton Brown Freeway	17 mi	18m
Nimitz Freeway	9.8 mi	11m
Castro Valley Freeway	2.4 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between La Verne, CA and Oakland, CA.

Start on Bonita Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Bonita Avenue

Turn right onto Wheeler Avenue

0.9 mi · 1 min · Wheeler Avenue

Turn left onto CA 66; US 66 Hist

0.7 mi · 1 min · Foothill Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward CA 210 West: Pasadena Use the right lane.

Merge onto CA 210

1.1 mi · 1 min · Foothill Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210

20 mi · 23 min · Foothill Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210

26 mi · 29 min · Foothill Freeway

Exit 26A Toward I 210 West: Sacramento Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 9 sec

Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 5 Truck

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck

Exit 161A

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

36 mi · 41 min · I 5 Truck

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

22 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

226 mi · 4 hr 1 min · Westside Freeway

Toward I 5 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

16 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass

1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

Merge onto I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

12 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 238

2.4 mi · 2 min · Castro Valley Freeway

Exit 34 Toward I 238 Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Toward I 880 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 880

9.8 mi · 11 min · Nimitz Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec

Exit 41A Toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto Oak Street

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Oak Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto 12th Street

0.3 mi · 45 sec · 12th Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto Harrison Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Harrison Street

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto 14th Street

0.2 mi · 48 sec · 14th Street

Arrive at destination

14th Street

Trip Plan

For this 7-hour drive, departing La Verne in the morning, ideally before 9 AM, will help you avoid the worst of the Southern California traffic. With only two recommended stops, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. The 99% highway profile means you'll want to keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 225.6-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway. Given the straightforward nature of the drive, you have flexibility to adjust your stop times as needed.

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 197.4 miles from La Verne, CA, or about 3h 41m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 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 87 miles or 1h 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 197.4 miles or 3h 41m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 8m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakland, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving La Verne, 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 La Verne, CA

This is one driving day of about 394.7 miles and 7h 18m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from La Verne, 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 225.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city and county seat of Kern County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bakersfield, CA

197 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.

Popular next leg

Bakersfield, CA to Oakland, CA

271.8 mi · 5h 4m

Pacing Suggestions

Santa Clarita, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 87 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Coalinga, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 197.4 miles from La Verne, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 225.6 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop

Rail Side Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

San Dimas, California

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+19095998637

Visit website

Sweet Savory Cafe & Bakery

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

San Dimas, California

2.3 mi

Rail Side Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

San Dimas, California

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+19095998637

Visit website

Sweet Savory Cafe & Bakery

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

San Dimas, California

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+19093059738

Visit website

Roaming Bean Coffee

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10

Berkeley, California

Hours: 8:30 am–1 pm

+19252572672

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Kettleman City, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

EV Range Charging Station

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Kettleman City, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18333872643

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Stevenson Ranch, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Valencia, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Valencia, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Valencia, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Valencia, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 3 mi from route ~7 min detour

Firebaugh, California

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Pomona, California

Hours: Closed

+19096222133

Visit website

The Museum @ The Mural House

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Oakland, California

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+16463067175

Visit website

Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Alameda, California

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+15105443187

Visit website

Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Alameda, CA

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+15105443175

Visit website

Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Valencia, California

+16612554100

Visit website

Becky Temko Tot Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour

Berkeley, California

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+15109816660

Visit website

Pirates of Emerson Haunted Themed Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour

Pleasanton, California

Visit website

Carr Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

First break 4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

Glendale, California

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+18185482184

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 23

5 decision points cluster between mile 23.7 and 393.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

23.7 mi into trip | ~29m in | I 210 / Foothill Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 26A Toward I 210 West: Sacramento

108.8 mi into trip | ~2h 6m in | I 5 / Westside Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 5 North

381 mi into trip | ~7h in | I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway toward I 238

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 34 Toward I 238

383.4 mi into trip | ~7h 3m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 880 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 880 North

393.6 mi into trip | ~7h 15m in

Take the exit toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive

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 41A Toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$90.72 one way

$181.44 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 138 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.02	$93.48	$186.97
premium	$6.18	$95.99	$191.97
diesel	$5.61	$87.14	$174.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$91

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$116–$141

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 138.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	118.4	1	$41.44	$18.95
Efficient EV	98.7	1	$34.54	$15.79
EV Truck/SUV	157.9	1	$55.26	$25.26

Gas CO2

138 kg

EV CO2

46 kg (67% 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 20, 2026

Origin

La Verne, CA

Morning in La Verne on Tuesday

Local time

8:13 AM

PDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Oakland, CA

Morning in Oakland on Tuesday

Local time

8:13 AM

PDT

Current temp

47°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

23 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

7h 18m 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?

You'll spend 99% of your time on the highway for this 394.7-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch without branching off is 225.6 miles, primarily on the Westside Freeway. Expect frequent exits and entrances as you navigate through various urban and suburban areas. The transition from highway to surface roads, if any, will be minimal and happen very late in your trip.

99% 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: 225.6 mi on Westside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Foothill Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.7 miles in near I 210 / Foothill 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 23 significant decision points across 394.7 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 23.7 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.8 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 381 miles (I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 La Verne, CA to Oakland, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco along the way.

San Francisco

334.4 mi in | ~6h 8m | via I 580

About the Cities

Arriving in Oakland, CA

Full guide →

Founded 1852

Oakland is a port city in the Bay Area of California in the United States. Once an industrial area overshadowed by San Francisco, its larger neighbor to the west, this city of 440,000 people (2020) has begun to step out from under San Francisco's shadow with its notable natural and architectural features and its rise as the multicultural "hipster" city of the Bay Area.

Top landmarks

• San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge — suspension bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland, California, USA
• Lake Merritt — lagoon in Oakland, California, USA
• Oakland Museum of California — art museum in Oakland, California

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 18m. Total distance: 394.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 18m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 225.6 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 33 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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 Oakland, 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. There are 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Oakland, 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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Explore More

Explore more options from La Verne, CA or browse trips ending in Oakland, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.

Trip from La Verne, CA to Oakland, CA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Rail Side Cafe

Rail Side Cafe

Sweet Savory Cafe & Bakery

Roaming Bean Coffee

Electrify America Charging Station

EV Range Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

EVgo Charging Station

EVgo Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

Water

Dos Amigos Vista Point

EZ Trip Travel Center

EZ Trip Travel Center

Castaic Truck Stop

Tejon Pass Rest Area - Southbound

Love's Travel Stop

Coalinga Avenal Safety Roadside Rest Area - Northbound

Love's Travel Stop

Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Southbound

Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Northbound

Pilot Travel Center

John "Chuck" Erreca Southbound Rest Area

Buttonwillow Rest Area

Buttonwillow Rest Area

Westley Rest Area

Tejon Pass Rest Area - Northbound

Petro Stopping Centers

TA

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

TA

Lost Hills Travel Center

John "Chuck" Erreca Northbound Rest Area

Westley Rest Area

Pilot Travel Center

Alameda County Industries

TA

Flying J Travel Center

Service Plaza

Rest Area

Rest Area

Petro Stopping Centers

NHRA Motorsports Museum

The Museum @ The Mural House

Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove

Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach

Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles

Becky Temko Tot Park

Pirates of Emerson Haunted Themed Park

Carr Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

La Verne, CA

Oakland, CA

Same local time

23 degrees cooler at arrival

7h 18m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Arriving in Oakland, CA

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?