Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
17.1 mi
27 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Laguna, CA
Tori Pezzulla❤️
Thornton, CA
Stephen Leonardi
This short 17.1-mile drive from Laguna, CA to Thornton, CA is an easy 24-minute trip, making it perfect for a day trip. You'll spend about 61% of your time on highways, with the longest stretch being 10.4 miles on Westside Freeway. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $4, and with no designated stops, it's a straightforward transit. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, so you'll be staying within familiar coastal territory throughout. This route is ideal if you're looking for a quick and efficient transfer between two points without a significant time commitment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 10.4 mi | 11m |
| Franklin Boulevard | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Hood Franklin Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Elk Grove Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| Foulks Ranch Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Seasons Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Walnut Grove Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Thornton Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Laguna, CA and Thornton, CA.
Start on Fall Breeze Court
Turn right onto Mapleview Way
Turn right onto November Drive
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
Turn left onto Laguna Park Drive
Turn left onto Foulks Ranch Drive
Turn right onto E12
Turn left onto J8
Keep slight right at fork onto J8
Turn right onto Hood Franklin Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Turn left onto J11
Continue on J8
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 3.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Mapleview Way
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto November Drive
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Laguna Park Drive
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto J8 / Franklin Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$3.93 one way
$7.86 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $4.05 | $8.10 |
| premium | $6.18 | $4.16 | $8.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.78 | $7.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.80 | $0.82 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.50 | $0.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Laguna on Tuesday
Local time
2:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Partly Cloudy
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 1:22AM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
Late night in Thornton on Tuesday
Local time
2:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this route, with 61% of your travel time spent on faster roads like Westside Freeway and Franklin Boulevard. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is a 10.4-mile stretch on Westside Freeway, offering a consistent pace. While much of the journey is on these main arteries, the inclusion of Hood Franklin Road suggests a transition to more local roads as you approach your destination. This mix provides a practical driving experience, balancing efficient travel with a touch of local flavor as you near Thornton.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Franklin Boulevard. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Mapleview Way.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 17.1 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Mapleview Way): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (November Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Seasons Drive): Navigation decision point.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 17.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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