Los Angeles to Bay Point is 361.7 miles and takes about 6h 50m via I-5 Truck and Golden State Freeway, with a fuel budget near $87 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within California, connecting the Pacific Coast region from south to north. Expect a largely highway-focused experience that's efficient for getting from point A to point B. Given the duration and distance, it's best tackled as a single-day drive, especially if you aim to avoid peak traffic.
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
180.8 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
225.6 mi
4h 1m
I 5 Truck
37.7 mi
43m
Golden State Freeway
29 mi
33m
CA 4
19 mi
22m
Hollywood Freeway
15.5 mi
19m
William Elton Brown Freeway
13.9 mi
14m
Byron Highway
5.1 mi
7m
Mountain House Parkway
3.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 178 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,926 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,652
Quietest
2 AM
~360 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.4×
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 Los Angeles, CA and Bay Point, CA.
1
Start on West 1st Street
0.1 mi·32 sec·West 1st Street
2
Turn right onto North Broadway
0.4 mi·49 sec·North Broadway
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 101 North, CA 110
4
Merge onto US 101
0.7 mi·55 sec·Santa Ana Freeway
5
Continue on US 101
15 mi·19 min·Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·59 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 5
4.5 mi·5 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi·2 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161AToward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 TruckUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi·41 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi·4 hr 1 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
14 mi·14 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
15
Keep slight right at fork
288 ft·7 sec
Toward Patterson Pass Road
16
Turn straight onto Mountain House Parkway
0.7 mi·1 min·Mountain House Parkway
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto International Parkway
0.8 mi·1 min·International Parkway
18
Continue on Mountain House Parkway
2.8 mi·5 min·Mountain House Parkway
Use the straight lane.
19
At end of road, turn left onto J4
1.8 mi·2 min·Byron Road
Use the slight left lane.
20
Continue on J4
1.5 mi·2 min·Byron-Bethany Road
21
Continue on J4
5.1 mi·7 min·Byron Highway
22
Turn left onto Camino Diablo
1.6 mi·3 min·Camino Diablo
23
Turn right onto Vasco Road
3.4 mi·4 min·Vasco Road
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on CA 4
19 mi·22 min·CA 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 19Toward Bay Point, San Marco Boulevard, Willow Pass RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn right onto Willow Pass Road
0.3 mi·35 sec·Willow Pass Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Turn left onto Port Chicago Highway
0.2 mi·38 sec·Port Chicago Highway
Use the left / uturn lanes.
28
Turn left onto Riverside Drive
329 ft·14 sec·Riverside Drive
Use the left lane.
29
Arrive at destination
Riverside Drive
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6h 50m drive, consider an early morning departure from Los Angeles to bypass the worst of the city's notorious traffic. With a single recommended day, pacing is key; plan for one stop to stretch your legs and refuel. The fuel cost estimate is $87, so ensure your tank is full before leaving the LA area. Keep an eye on the mileage, as the 225.6-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway is quite substantial and offers few opportunities to exit and re-enter easily.
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 180.8 miles from Los Angeles, CA, or about 3h 23m 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 180.8 miles or 3h 23m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bay Point, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving 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 Los Angeles, CA
This is one driving day of about 361.7 miles and 6h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from 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 225.6 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.9 and 361.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
16.9 mi into trip|~22m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
24.5 mi into trip|~31m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
7
84.5 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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
360.9 mi into trip|~6h 48m in
Take the exit toward Bay Point, San Marco Boulevard, Willow Pass Road
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 19
Toward Bay Point, San Marco Boulevard, Willow P...
7
361.2 mi into trip|~6h 49m in|Willow Pass Road
Turn right onto Willow Pass Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$75.67 one way
$151.34 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$78.59
$157.18
premium
$5.67
$80.67
$161.34
diesel
$4.80
$68.30
$136.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$76
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$101–$126
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.5
1
$37.98
$17.36
Efficient EV
90.4
1
$31.65
$14.47
EV Truck/SUV
144.7
1
$50.64
$23.15
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 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.
Forecast as of Jul 20, 2026
Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Morning
in Los Angeles on Monday
Local time
6:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
SSW 0 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 6:43PM PDT until July 21 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 19 at 3:37PM PDT until July 20 at 6:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
Bay Point, CA
Morning
in Bay Point on Monday
Local time
6:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 14 to 17 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 6:43PM PDT until July 21 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 19 at 3:37PM PDT until July 20 at 6:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka 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
5 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 50m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 361.7
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 24.9
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...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
near mile 361.7
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 87.3
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...
29 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 361.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a 96% highway drive, meaning you'll spend most of your time on major freeways. The longest continuous stretch on the Westside Freeway is 225.6 miles. You'll notice the density of exits and the merging traffic common to major interstates for much of the way. The highway portion effectively ends as you approach your destination, transitioning to surface roads.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 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?
8/10
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 16.9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 361.7 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 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.5 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,831 ft27 ft
Total Climb
2,998 ft
Total Descent
3,193 ft
Highest Point
2,831 ft
~51.7 mi in
Elevation Range
2,804 ft
Notable High Points
2,831 ft at ~51.7 miles+598 ft prominence
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 Los Angeles, CA to Bay Point, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco along the way.
San Francisco
310 mi in|~5h 41m|via I 580
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
Pittsburg is a city of 76,000 people (2020) in the east part of Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area on the west edge of the San Francisco Bay Delta.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 50m. Total distance: 361.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 50m 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.
Yes — we found about 33 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 Bay Point, 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 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.5 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bay Point, CA before the return drive.
