This drive from Laguna to Maywood, California, covers 381.8 miles and is estimated to take about 7 hours and 6 minutes. It's predominantly a highway-focused trip, with 98% of the journey on main roads like the Westside Freeway and I-5 Truck. Given its duration, this route is well-suited for a single day of travel, with two planned stops to break up the journey. Expect a fuel cost of approximately $88 for this Pacific Coast to Pacific Coast passage. The overall feel is that of a practical, efficient drive connecting two points within Southern California.
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
190.9 miles from Laguna, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
282.7 mi
5h 3m
I 5 Truck
83.3 mi
1h 36m
Golden State Freeway
5.3 mi
6m
Franklin Boulevard
2.3 mi
4m
Santa Ana Freeway
1.9 mi
2m
Hood Franklin Road
1.2 mi
2m
Elk Grove Boulevard
1 mi
1m
Long Beach Freeway
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 282.7 mi, about 5h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laguna, CA and Maywood, CA.
1
Start on Fall Breeze Court
183 ft·10 sec·Fall Breeze Court
2
Turn right onto Mapleview Way
155 ft·10 sec·Mapleview Way
3
Turn right onto November Drive
0.1 mi·28 sec·November Drive
4
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
0.2 mi·36 sec·Seasons Drive
5
Turn left onto Laguna Park Drive
0.2 mi·33 sec·Laguna Park Drive
6
Turn left onto Foulks Ranch Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Foulks Ranch Drive
7
Turn right onto E12
1.0 mi·1 min·Elk Grove Boulevard
8
Turn left onto J8
1.1 mi·1 min·Franklin Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto J8
1.2 mi·2 min·Franklin Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto Hood Franklin Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Hood Franklin Road
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
12
Merge onto I 5
45 mi·49 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi·48 sec·Westside Freeway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi·4 hr 13 min·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 158Toward I 405 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
25 mi·29 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
1.3 mi·1 min·Golden State Freeway
Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa AnaUse the slight left / straight lanes.
20
Merge onto I 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 130BToward I 710 South: Long BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 710
0.9 mi·1 min·Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 17AToward Atlantic Boulevard, Bandini BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward Atlantic Boulevard, MaywoodUse the left lane.
25
Turn straight onto South Atlantic Boulevard
0.8 mi·1 min·South Atlantic Boulevard
26
Turn left onto Slauson Avenue
230 ft·11 sec·Slauson Avenue
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right
153 ft·13 sec
28
Turn right
68 ft·5 sec
29
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, consider an early morning departure to minimize traffic, especially as you approach the Los Angeles area. With two recommended stops, you can plan for a mid-morning break and a lunch stop. The estimated fuel cost is $88, so ensure your tank is full before departing Laguna. Given the extensive highway portion, particularly the 282.7-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, staying alert and taking short breaks at your planned stops will be key to maintaining focus. This route is manageable in one day, so flexibility with your timing is an advantage.
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 190.9 miles from Laguna, CA, or about 3h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 282.7 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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 190.9 miles or 3h 31m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maywood, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Laguna, 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 Laguna, CA
This is one driving day of about 381.8 miles and 7h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Laguna, 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 282.7 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 351.1 and 380.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
351.1 mi into trip|~6h 27m 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
376.1 mi into trip|~6h 57m in|I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa Ana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Stre...
7
379.3 mi into trip|~7h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 130B
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
8
380.6 mi into trip|~7h 3m in
Take the exit toward Atlantic Boulevard, Bandini Boulevard
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 17A
Toward Atlantic Boulevard, Bandini Boulevard
9
380.7 mi into trip|~7h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Atlantic Boulevard, Maywood
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Atlantic Boulevard, Maywood
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$87.75 one way
$175.51 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg134 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$90.43
$180.86
premium
$6.18
$92.85
$185.70
diesel
$5.61
$84.30
$168.59
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: 133.6 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
114.5
1
$40.09
$18.33
Efficient EV
95.5
1
$33.41
$15.27
EV Truck/SUV
152.7
1
$53.45
$24.44
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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Laguna, CA
Morning
in Laguna on Sunday
Local time
7:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Maywood, CA
Morning
in Maywood on Sunday
Local time
7:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
73°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
4 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 6m 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...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 355.5
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...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 289.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 381.8-mile journey. The Golden State Freeway and Westside Freeway will dominate your drive, offering a consistent pace for the majority of the trip. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 282.7 miles on the Westside Freeway, so prepare for extended periods of steady driving. While the profile is primarily highway, the transition between these major arteries will be the main variation you experience. This route prioritizes covering distance efficiently.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 282.7 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 351.1 miles in near I 5 Truck.
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 381.8 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 351.1 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 376.1 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 379.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 6m. Total distance: 381.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 282.7 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 Maywood, 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 351.1 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 376.1 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 379.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Maywood, CA before the return drive.
