Origin
Lake Los Angeles, CA
Afternoon in Lake Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
12:21 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Los Angeles, CA to Stockton, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 31m
Distance
341.8 mi
550 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$79
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 20m
★
6 AM
6h 32m
8 AM
6h 56m
10 AM
6h 40m
12 PM
6h 38m
3 PM
6h 42m
5 PM
6h 55m
8 PM
6h 24m
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
Stockton, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lake Los Angeles, CA to Stockton, CA is 341.8 miles and takes about 6h 31m via Westside Freeway, Golden State Freeway, with a fuel budget near $79 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily traverses the Pacific Coast region of California, offering a straightforward, highway-focused experience. Expect this to be a functional trip, connecting two points within the state with minimal detours. With a duration under seven hours, it's a manageable single-day journey, ideal if you're looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. It’s a good option for a quick trip up or down the 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
170.9 miles from Lake Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 250.5 mi | 4h 28m |
| West Avenue D | 22.4 mi | 30m |
| Golden State Freeway | 21.1 mi | 24m |
| East Avenue J | 19.5 mi | 28m |
| Lancaster Road | 13.5 mi | 18m |
| Antelope Valley Freeway | 5.5 mi | 5m |
| 170th Street East | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| South El Dorado Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 250.5 mi, about 4h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Los Angeles, CA and Stockton, 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 right at fork onto I 5
25 mi
·
26 min
·
Westside Freeway
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 471
Toward CA 4 West
16
Keep slight right at fork
407 ft
·
5 sec
17
Turn straight onto West Charter Way
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Charter Way
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
Turn left onto South El Dorado Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South El Dorado Street
19
Continue on North El Dorado Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
North El Dorado Street
20
Turn right onto East Fremont Street
117 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Fremont Street
21
Arrive at destination
East Fremont Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 31m duration, starting your drive from Lake Los Angeles in the morning will allow you ample time to reach Stockton before evening. While this is a single-day trip, consider a brief stop around the halfway point to stretch and refuel, especially since the longest stretch on the Westside Freeway is quite substantial at 250.5 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated fuel cost is $79, and plan your stops accordingly. The flexibility of a one-day drive means you can adjust your pace 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 170.9 miles from Lake Los Angeles, CA, or about 3h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 250.5 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 75 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170.9 miles or 3h 26m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stockton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lake Los Angeles, CA
This is one driving day of about 341.8 miles and 6h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Lake Los Angeles, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 250.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
171 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 75 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 170.9 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 250.5 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 89.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Park Valley Avenue
Turn left onto Park Valley Avenue
Navigation decision point
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.
6
27.3 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
CA 14; CA 138 / Antelope Valley Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 14; CA 138 / Antelope Valley Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$78.56 one way
$157.12 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
120 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $80.96 | $161.91 |
| premium | $6.18 | $83.12 | $166.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $75.47 | $150.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$79
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$104–$129
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 102.5 | 1 | $35.89 | $16.41 |
| Efficient EV | 85.5 | 0 | $29.91 | $13.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 136.7 | 1 | $47.85 | $21.88 |
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 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.
Destination
Stockton, CA
Afternoon in Stockton on Sunday
Local time
12:21 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°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
1 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
6h 31m 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.
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
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 94.3
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 characterized as a highway-focused drive, with 81% of the journey taking place on major highways like the Westside Freeway and Golden State Freeway. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 250.5 miles on the Westside Freeway, indicating long periods of consistent driving. The road's personality is largely defined by these freeway segments, suggesting a relatively fast-paced and direct travel experience. Prepare for a drive where the focus is on covering distance efficiently rather than on winding scenic byways.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 250.5 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and West Avenue D. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Park Valley Avenue.
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 17 significant decision points across 341.8 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: near the start (Park Valley Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (N5 / East Avenue J): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles (CA 14; CA 138 / Antelope 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.
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 Lake Los Angeles, CA to Stockton, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Gorman along the way.
Gorman
30.6 mi in
|
~42m
|
via CA 138
About the Cities
Arriving in Stockton, CA
Full guide →Founded 1849
Stockton is a city in the San Joaquin Valley in northern California. Sitting on the San Joaquin Delta, Stockton is the world's most inland natural port and used to be a major port city. One of the larger cities along I-5 through the Central Valley, it is a convenient stop and offers a variety of restaurants and accommodations for road-trippers. There are several shopping centers and movie theaters and one art museum but few major attractions.
Top landmarks
- • Haggin Museum — art museum in Stockton, California
- • USCGC Fir — Lighthouse tender
- • USS Lucid — 1953 Aggressive-class minesweeper
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 6h 31m. Total distance: 341.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 31m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 250.5 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 Stockton, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Park Valley Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (N5 / East Avenue J): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles (CA 14; CA 138 / Antelope Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Stockton, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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