Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Morning in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
6:48 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Los Angeles, CA to Boulder Creek, 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 57m
Distance
356.1 mi
573 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$82
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 47m
★
6 AM
6h 58m
8 AM
7h 21m
10 AM
7h 6m
12 PM
7h 4m
3 PM
7h 7m
5 PM
7h 20m
8 PM
6h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Boulder Creek, CA
Zülfü Demir📸
Trip Overview
Los Angeles to Boulder Creek is 356.1 miles and takes about 6h 57m via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $82 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive will take you entirely within California, moving from the Pacific Coast region towards its northern part. With 87% of the route on highways, expect a predominantly freeway experience for most of the 6h 57m trip. The $82 fuel cost is an estimate, so consider that when planning your budget. It's a feasible one-day trip, but you could also break it up if you prefer a more relaxed pace.
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
178.1 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 20m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 182.5 mi | 3h 15m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.7 mi | 43m |
| CA 152 | 36.1 mi | 43m |
| Golden State Freeway | 29 mi | 33m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 15.5 mi | 19m |
| Cabrillo Highway | 13.8 mi | 15m |
| Riverside Road | 9.5 mi | 13m |
| Highway 9 | 6.6 mi | 15m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 182.5 mi, about 3h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Boulder Creek, 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 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Use 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
183 mi
·
3 hr 15 min
·
Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 403B
Toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
14
Continue on CA 152; CA33
29 mi
·
33 min
·
CA 152; CA33
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 152
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
CA 152
16
Turn left onto CR G7
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Bloomfield Avenue
17
At end of road, turn right onto CA 25
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Bloomfield Avenue
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
19
Merge onto US 101
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South Valley Freeway
20
Continue on US 101
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
El Camino Real
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 347
Toward CA 129 West: Watsonville, Santa Cruz
22
Turn right onto CA 129
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Chittenden Road
23
Continue on CA 129
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Riverside Road
24
Enter roundabout onto CA 129
144 ft
·
2 sec
·
Riverside Road
25
Continue on CA 129
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Riverside Road
26
Turn right onto Blackburn Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Blackburn Street
27
At end of road, turn left onto CA 152
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
East Lake Avenue
28
Turn right onto CA 152
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Main Street
29
Turn left onto CA 152
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
30
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
31
Merge onto CA 1
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Cabrillo Highway
32
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
Toward CA 17 North: San Jose, Oakland
33
Merge onto CA 17
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Cruz Highway
Use the straight lane.
34
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
Toward Mount Hermon Road
35
Continue on CA 17 Business
3.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Mount Hermon Road
Use the straight lane.
36
Turn right onto Graham Hill Road
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Graham Hill Road
37
Turn right onto CA 9
6.6 mi
·
15 min
·
Highway 9
38
Turn right onto Middleton Avenue
101 ft
·
2 sec
·
Middleton Avenue
39
Arrive at destination
Middleton Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 6h 57m drive, leaving Los Angeles in the morning, ideally before 9 AM, will help you avoid the worst of the city's traffic. The route has one recommended stop, which is a good opportunity to refuel and stretch your legs. Given the 356.1-mile distance, you can comfortably complete this in one day, but if you'd like to explore more along the way, consider stopping overnight. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 182.5-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, as services can be spaced out on major highways.
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 178.1 miles from Los Angeles, CA, or about 3h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.5 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 78 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 178.1 miles or 3h 20m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boulder Creek, 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 356.1 miles and 6h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 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 182.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
178 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 178.1 miles from 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 182.5 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 275 decision points cluster between mile 16.9 and 84.5 — 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.
6
22.3 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway
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
6
26.1 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$81.85 one way
$163.69 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
125 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $84.34 | $168.68 |
| premium | $6.18 | $86.60 | $173.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $78.62 | $157.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$82
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$107–$132
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106.8 | 1 | $37.39 | $17.09 |
| Efficient EV | 89 | 1 | $31.16 | $14.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 142.4 | 1 | $49.85 | $22.79 |
Gas CO2
125 kg
EV CO2
42 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
Boulder Creek, CA
Morning in Boulder Creek on Tuesday
Local time
6:48 AM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
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.
Road read
6h 57m 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 24.6
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 86
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 87% of the 356.1 miles on major freeways. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch on the Westside Freeway, covering 182.5 miles. After the highway portion concludes, the remaining miles will be on surface roads. Be prepared for merging traffic as you transition between the different highway segments.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 182.5 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 16.9 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 27 significant decision points across 356.1 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 22.3 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): 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.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,704 ft
150 ft
Total Climb
3,408 ft
Total Descent
3,206 ft
Highest Point
2,704 ft
~50.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,554 ft
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 Los Angeles, CA and Boulder Creek, CA, road signs point toward Hollister, San Jose and Santa Cruz.
Hollister
267 mi in
|
~4h 55m
San Jose
267 mi in
|
~4h 55m
Santa Cruz
312.8 mi in
|
~5h 51m
About the Cities
Starting 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 57m. Total distance: 356.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 182.5 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 Boulder Creek, 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 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): 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.
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 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 13.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Boulder Creek, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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