Origin
Los Altos, CA
Late night in Los Altos on Tuesday
Local time
5:05 AM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Los Altos, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 43m
Distance
352.6 mi
567 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$81
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 31m
★
6 AM
6h 43m
8 AM
7h 7m
10 AM
6h 51m
12 PM
6h 49m
3 PM
6h 53m
5 PM
7h 6m
8 PM
6h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Altos, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Los Altos, CA to Los Angeles, CA is 352.6 miles and takes about 6h 43m via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $81 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Pacific Coast region to another part of the Pacific Coast, staying within California. It's a predominantly highway route, so expect a straightforward trip with minimal detours. With a recommended one-day drive, this is a solid option if you're looking to get from the Bay Area to Southern California efficiently.
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
176.3 miles from Los Altos, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 24m 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 | 40.6 mi | 50m |
| US 101 | 20.3 mi | 23m |
| West Valley Freeway | 18.1 mi | 20m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 16.2 mi | 20m |
| Golden State Freeway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Foothill Expressway | 3.8 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 181.1 mi, about 3h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Altos, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on North San Antonio Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
North San Antonio Road
2
Continue on North San Antonio Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North San Antonio Road
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on CR G5
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Foothill Expressway
Use the left lane.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 280 South: San Jose
5
Turn slight left onto I 280
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Junipero Serra Freeway
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 12B
Toward CA 85 South: Gilroy
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto CA 85
18 mi
·
20 min
·
West Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on CA 85
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
CA 85
Exit 1A
Toward US 101 South
9
Continue on US 101
20 mi
·
23 min
·
US 101
10
Take the exit onto CA 152
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
CA 152
Toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
11
Turn left onto CA 152
353 ft
·
12 sec
·
East 10th Street
12
Continue on CA 152
41 mi
·
50 min
·
Pacheco Pass Highway
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5: Los Angeles
14
Merge onto I 5
181 mi
·
3 hr 14 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 158
Toward I 405 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 153B
Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on CA 170
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on West Aliso Street
409 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left onto West 1st Street
354 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a one-day drive, leaving Los Altos early in the morning, ideally before 7 AM, will help you beat some of the traffic, especially as you get closer to Los Angeles. You'll have about 6 hours and 43 minutes of driving time, so plan for one stop to stretch your legs and refuel. The fuel cost is estimated at $81. Pay close attention to the transition points between the Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, as this is where the driving environment will change most significantly.
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 176.3 miles from Los Altos, CA, or about 3h 24m 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 78 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.3 miles or 3h 24m 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 31m
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 Los Altos, 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 Los Altos, CA
This is one driving day of about 352.6 miles and 6h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Los Altos, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
176 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 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 176.3 miles from Los Altos, 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 181.1 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 5.5 and 352.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
5.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward CA 85 South: Gilroy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12B
Toward CA 85 South: Gilroy
8
329.8 mi into trip
|
~6h 13m 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
335.4 mi into trip
|
~6h 20m 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
352.1 mi into trip
|
~6h 41m 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
352.3 mi into trip
|
~6h 42m in
|
North Spring Street
Turn right onto North Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$81.04 one way
$162.08 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
123 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $83.51 | $167.03 |
| premium | $6.18 | $85.75 | $171.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $77.85 | $155.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$81
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$106–$131
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 105.8 | 1 | $37.02 | $16.92 |
| Efficient EV | 88.2 | 1 | $30.85 | $14.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 141 | 1 | $49.36 | $22.57 |
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 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
Los Angeles, CA
Late night in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
5:05 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°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
9 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
6h 43m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 87% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on major roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 181.1 miles on the Westside Freeway. You'll transition from highway cruising to other road types after this long segment. Expect to encounter dense urban merging and exiting as you approach the Los Angeles area.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 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 5.5 miles in.
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 17 significant decision points across 352.6 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 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 329.8 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 335.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Los Altos, CA
Full guide →Founded 1952
Los Altos is in Santa Clara County, in the South Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in California. The city means "The Heights" or "Foothills" in Spanish. It is mostly residential, but it does have several areas which could be considered 'business districts'.
Top landmarks
- • Steve Jobs Garage — house in Los Altos, California
- • Willard Griffin House and Carriage House — Carriage House in Los Altos, California, USA.
- • Los Altos History Museum — museum in Los Altos, California
Arriving in Los Angeles, CA
Full guide →“Tinseltown” · Founded 1781
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
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 43m. Total distance: 352.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 43m 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.
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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 329.8 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 335.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.4 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.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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