This 340.8-mile drive from Live Oak, CA to Los Angeles, CA is achievable in about 6 hours and 31 minutes, making it a solid day trip option. You'll primarily be on major highways, with Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck making up a significant portion of the journey. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $78. Given the highway-focused profile and the relatively short duration, it's well-suited for a single day's travel. This route keeps you within the Pacific Coast region throughout, offering a consistent experience.
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
170.4 miles from Live Oak, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
181.1 mi
3h 14m
I 5 Truck
63.9 mi
1h 13m
Pacheco Pass Highway
35.8 mi
42m
Hollywood Freeway
16.2 mi
20m
Cabrillo Highway
11.9 mi
13m
Riverside Road
9.5 mi
13m
Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
4m
Bloomfield Avenue
3.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 181.1 mi, about 3h 14m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 77 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~2,024 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,763
Quietest
2 AM
~371 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 44 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 Live Oak, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on this road
70 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Juan Pablo Lane
496 ft·23 sec·Juan Pablo Lane
3
Turn right onto Rodriguez Street
122 ft·6 sec·Rodriguez Street
4
Turn right onto 17th Avenue
0.2 mi·31 sec·17th Avenue
5
At end of road, turn left onto Soquel Avenue
0.2 mi·30 sec·Soquel Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
7
Merge onto CA 1
12 mi·13 min·Cabrillo Highway
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward CA 152: Watsonville, Gilroy
9
Continue on CA 152
1.4 mi·2 min·Main Street
10
Continue on CA 152
0.4 mi·52 sec·Main Street
11
Turn left onto CA 152
0.5 mi·1 min·East Beach Street
12
Turn right onto Blackburn Street
0.3 mi·52 sec·Blackburn Street
13
Turn left onto CA 129
222 ft·7 sec·East Riverside Drive
14
Continue on CA 129
0.8 mi·1 min·Riverside Road
15
Enter roundabout onto Riverside Road
92 ft·1 sec·Riverside Road
16
Continue on Riverside Road
8.6 mi·11 min·Riverside Road
17
Continue on CA 129
2.6 mi·3 min·Chittenden Road
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·31 sec
19
Merge onto US 101
2.4 mi·2 min·El Camino Real
20
Continue on US 101
3.1 mi·3 min·South Valley Freeway
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 353Toward CA 25 East
22
At end of road, turn left onto CA 25
0.7 mi·58 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
23
Continue on CR G7
3.2 mi·4 min·Bloomfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto CA 152
36 mi·42 min·Pacheco Pass Highway
25
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 5: Los Angeles
26
Merge onto I 5
181 mi·3 hr 14 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
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.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
5.3 mi·6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.5 mi·32 sec
Exit 153BToward CA 170 South: HollywoodUse the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on CA 170
16 mi·20 min·Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 2CToward BroadwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Continue on West Aliso Street
409 ft·18 sec·West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
35
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.3 mi·35 sec·North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
36
Turn left onto West 1st Street
354 ft·12 sec·West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
37
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over 6.5 hours, this drive is best tackled in a single day. Aim for an early morning departure from Live Oak to maximize your daylight and avoid potential traffic as you approach Los Angeles. You'll have one recommended stop, which should be sufficient for a break on this relatively straightforward journey. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 181.1-mile stretch on Westside Freeway, as services can be more spaced out on longer highway segments.
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 170.4 miles from Live Oak, CA, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.1 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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170.4 miles or 3h 19m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Los Angeles, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Live Oak, 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 Live Oak, CA
This is one driving day of about 340.8 miles and 6h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Live Oak, 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 181.1 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 28
5 decision points cluster between mile 318 and 340.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
318 mi into trip|~6h 1m 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
7
323.6 mi into trip|~6h 8m in
Take the exit toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 153B
Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
7
340.3 mi into trip|~6h 29m in
Take the exit toward Broadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
7
340.5 mi into trip|~6h 30m in|North Spring Street
Turn right onto North Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
340.7 mi into trip|~6h 31m in|West 1st Street
Turn left onto West 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$71.30 one way
$142.60 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg119 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$74.05
$148.10
premium
$5.67
$76.01
$152.02
diesel
$4.80
$64.35
$128.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$71
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$96–$121
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
EV Charging Along Route
18 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Gilroy, CA - Arroyo Cir - Tesla Supercharger
Gilroy, CA
Tesla
20 DCFC
Watsonville, CA - Tesla Supercharger
Watsonville, CA
Tesla
18 DCFC
Scotts Valley, CA - Tesla Supercharger
Scott's Valley, CA
Tesla
16 DCFC
Santa Cruz, CA - Tesla Supercharger
Santa Cruz, CA
Tesla
16 DCFC
Capitola, CA - 41st Ave - Tesla Supercharger
Capitola, CA
Tesla
16 DCFC
Windmill Market
San Juan Bautista, CA
NAYAX_ENERGY
12 DCFC
Gilroy, CA - Camino Arroyo - Tesla Supercharger
Gilroy, CA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Santa Cruz - Capitola
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
102.2
1
$35.78
$16.36
Efficient EV
85.2
0
$29.82
$13.63
EV Truck/SUV
136.3
1
$47.71
$21.81
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Live Oak, CA
Afternoon
in Live Oak on Sunday
Local time
3:15 PM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Sunny
SW 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 19 at 11:41AM PDT until July 20 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 11:24AM PDT until July 21 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Los Angeles, CA
Afternoon
in Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
3:15 PM
PDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
SW 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 19 at 11:41AM PDT until July 20 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 11:24AM PDT until July 21 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
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
12 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.
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
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 317.3
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...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 258.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 79% of the route utilizing major roadways like Westside Freeway and Pacheco Pass Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 181.1 miles on Westside Freeway. While largely a highway experience, the inclusion of Pacheco Pass Highway might offer some variation. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes covering distance efficiently, with most of your time spent on faster, more direct roads.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 181.1 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 318 miles in near I 5 Truck.
Driving Effort10/10
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 28 significant decision points across 340.8 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 318 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 323.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 340.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Frank Lloyd Wright is said to have quipped, "Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles," a quote that has since been repeated both by those who love and hate L.A. The "City of Angels" is home to people who hail from all parts of the globe and an important center of culture, business, media, and international trade. However, it's most famous for being a major center of the world's television, motion picture, and music industry, which forms the base of the city's status and lures visitors for its show business history and celebrity culture. Visitors are also drawn to Los Angeles for its Mediterranean climate and numerous beaches, which gave birth to California's famed surf culture.
Top landmarks
•Hollywood Walk of Fame — more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks...
•Hollywood Sign — sign reading "HOLLYWOOD" located in Los Angeles, California, United States
•Getty Center — campus of the Getty Museum and other programs of the Getty Trust in Los Angeles
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 31m. Total distance: 340.8 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 181.1 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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 Los Angeles, 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. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 318 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 323.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 340.3 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 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Los Angeles, CA before the return drive.
