Origin
Lake Los Angeles, CA
Evening in Lake Los Angeles on Saturday
Local time
6:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Los Angeles, CA to Oakland, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 25, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 10m
Distance
375 mi
604 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$85
one way
EV Charging
Good
9 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 0m
★
6 AM
7h 11m
8 AM
7h 33m
10 AM
7h 19m
12 PM
7h 16m
3 PM
7h 20m
5 PM
7h 32m
8 PM
7h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Los Angeles, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Oakland, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lake Los Angeles to Oakland is 375 miles and takes about 7h 10m via Westside Freeway, with a fuel budget near $85 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California, connecting the Pacific Coast region from south to north. With a high percentage of highway driving, expect a fairly direct trip. This route is best suited for a single-day push, especially if you want to maximize your time at your destination. Consider this a straightforward transit between two points in the Golden State.
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
187.5 miles from Lake Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 44m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 225.6 mi | 4h 1m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.6 mi | 34m |
| West Avenue D | 22.4 mi | 30m |
| Golden State Freeway | 21.1 mi | 24m |
| East Avenue J | 19.5 mi | 28m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| Lancaster Road | 13.5 mi | 18m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 9.8 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 54 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,375 veh/hr typical · worst 2,087
Quietest
2 AM
~295 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
4.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 43 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Los Angeles, CA and Oakland, CA.
1
Start on 169th Street East
11 ft
·
5 sec
·
169th Street East
2
Turn left onto Park Valley Avenue
318 ft
·
21 sec
·
Park Valley Avenue
3
Turn left onto 170th Street East
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
170th Street East
4
At end of road, turn left onto N5
19 mi
·
28 min
·
East Avenue J
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
Toward CA 14 North, CA 138 West: Mojave
6
Merge onto CA 14; CA 138
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 14; CA 138
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto CA 138
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
CA 138
Exit 49
Toward CA 138: Avenue D, Gorman
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on CA 138
22 mi
·
30 min
·
West Avenue D
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on CA 138
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Lancaster Road
11
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 5 North: Sacramento
12
Merge onto I 5
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
16
Merge onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
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.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 880 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 880
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 41A
Toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Oak Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
12th Street
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn right onto Harrison Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Harrison Street
Use the right lane.
25
Turn left onto 14th Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
14th Street
26
Arrive at destination
14th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, leaving early in the morning is recommended to avoid heavier traffic, especially as you get closer to Oakland. With only 2 planned stops suggested, you can be flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during the 225.6-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, as services can be spread out. Given the duration, it's a manageable one-day trip, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider breaking it up with an overnight stay around the halfway point. Ensure your vehicle is in good condition before departing.
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 187.5 miles from Lake Los Angeles, CA, or about 3h 44m 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 83 miles or 1h 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 187.5 miles or 3h 44m 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 1m
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 Lake Los Angeles, 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 Lake Los Angeles, CA
This is one driving day of about 375 miles and 7h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Lake Los Angeles, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
188 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 83 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 187.5 miles from Lake Los Angeles, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 373.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
5.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
N5 / East Avenue J
At end of road, turn left onto N5 / East Avenue J
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
30.6 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
CA 138
Take the exit onto CA 138 toward CA 138: Avenue D, Gorman
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 49
Toward CA 138: Avenue D, Gorman
7
89.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m 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
8
361.3 mi into trip
|
~6h 53m 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
8
373.9 mi into trip
|
~7h 7m 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
$85.00 one way
$169.99 round trip
$5.76/gal
25.4 MPG avg
131 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.96 | $87.93 | $175.87 |
| premium | $6.09 | $89.94 | $179.88 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $79.77 | $159.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$85
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$110–$135
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 131.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
EV Charging Along Route
9 DC fast chargers · Coverage: good
ChargePoint Charging Station
Lancaster, CA
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Lancaster, California
Tesla
1 DCFC
Rivian Adventure Network
Firebaugh, California
Rivian
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Firebaugh, California
Tesla
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Lebec, California
Other
1 DCFC
Circle K Charging Station
Lancaster, California
Other
1 DCFC
Electrify America Charging Station
Firebaugh, California
Electrify America
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Lancaster, California
EV Connect
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 2
Tesla: 2
Other: 2
Rivian: 1
Electrify America: 1
EV Connect: 1
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 | 112.5 | 1 | $39.38 | $18.00 |
| Efficient EV | 93.8 | 1 | $32.81 | $15.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 150 | 1 | $52.50 | $24.00 |
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.
Destination
Oakland, CA
Evening in Oakland on Saturday
Local time
6:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
74°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 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 10m 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.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 375
Park Closure: Hyde Street Pier Closure
Caution: Sick Birds and Wildlife, H5N1
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 375
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 375
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument
National Monument
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
$15
near mile 375
View on nps.gov
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 375
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
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 90.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 83% of the drive on freeways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 225.6 miles on the Westside Freeway, so plan for extended periods of consistent speed. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely occur towards the end of your trip. Expect a noticeable increase in traffic and merging as you approach urban areas. The majority of your time will be spent on high-speed roadways.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 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?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in near N5 / East Avenue J.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 375 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 5.4 miles (N5 / East Avenue J): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.6 miles (CA 138): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.1 miles (I 5 / Westside 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lake Los Angeles, CA and Oakland, CA, road signs point toward Gorman and San Francisco.
Gorman
30.6 mi in
|
~42m
|
via CA 138
San Francisco
314.7 mi in
|
~6h
|
via I 580
About the Cities
Starting in Lake Los Angeles, CA
Full guide →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 10m. Total distance: 375 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 10m 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.
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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.4 miles (N5 / East Avenue J): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.6 miles (CA 138): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.1 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.4 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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