Los Angeles to Crescent City is 727.6 miles and takes about 14h 15m via Redwood Highway and Westside Freeway, with a fuel budget near $174 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-haul drive spans California, taking you from the Pacific Coast region to another stretch of the Pacific Coast. With a recommended two days for this trip, you'll experience a significant shift in scenery and feel as you head north. It's a substantial drive, so planning your overnight stop is key to enjoying the experience without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
4 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
363.8 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 6h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Redwood Highway
266.7 mi
5h 31m
Westside Freeway
225.6 mi
4h 1m
Saint Helena Highway
51.2 mi
59m
I 5 Truck
37.7 mi
43m
Golden State Freeway
29 mi
33m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
19.6 mi
22m
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi
18m
Hollywood Freeway
15.5 mi
19m
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 266.7 mi, about 5h 31m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 89 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 Crescent City, 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
16 mi·17 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi·1 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
15
Merge onto I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
1.6 mi·1 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 44BToward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut CreekUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 680
15 mi·17 min·Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 680
5.0 mi·5 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680, CA 24Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
6.0 mi·6 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
243 ft·3 sec·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
1.8 mi·2 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 780
6.7 mi·7 min·I 780
Toward I 780: BeniciaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: SacramentoUse the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight left at fork
448 ft·11 sec
Toward I 80 East: SacramentoUse the slight left lane.
27
Merge onto I 80
2.7 mi·3 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Exit 33Toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward CA 37: NapaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on CA 37
1.5 mi·1 min·CA 37
Toward CA 37Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 19Toward CA 29: Napa, Sonoma BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Turn right onto CA 29
1.6 mi·1 min·Sonoma Boulevard
Use the right lane.
33
Continue on CA 29
4.0 mi·4 min·Broadway Street
Use the straight lane.
34
Continue on CA 29
1.3 mi·1 min·Napa–Vallejo Highway
Use the left lane.
35
Continue on CA 12; CA 29
22 mi·25 min·Saint Helena Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
2.4 mi·2 min·Main Street
37
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
6.8 mi·7 min·Saint Helena Highway
38
Continue on CA 128
1.4 mi·1 min·Foothill Boulevard
39
Continue on CA 128
16 mi·18 min·Saint Helena Highway
40
Continue on CA 128
6.6 mi·7 min·Saint Helena Highway
41
At end of road, turn right onto CA 128
0.9 mi·1 min·Geyserville Avenue
42
Turn left onto CA 128
359 ft·6 sec·Canyon Road
43
Take the exit onto CA 128
0.3 mi·39 sec·CA 128
44
Merge onto US 101; CA 128
55 mi·1 hr 7 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Continue on US 101
4.5 mi·5 min·Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Take the exit
0.7 mi·48 sec
47
Merge onto US 101
0.2 mi·16 sec·Willits Bypass
48
Continue on US 101
129 mi·2 hr 38 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Continue on US 101
2.9 mi·6 min·Broadway Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
50
Turn right onto US 101
1.4 mi·3 min·West 5th Street
51
Continue on US 101
83 mi·1 hr 46 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
52
Continue on US 101
0.5 mi·1 min·M Street
53
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·9th Street
54
Arrive at destination
9th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 14-hour drive time, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart Los Angeles early in the morning to make good progress before your first stop. You have four stops planned, which should help break up the 727.6 miles. Consider planning your overnight around the halfway point to ensure a balanced driving schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel expenses, estimated at $174, and be aware that the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 266.7 miles on the Redwood Highway, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 4 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 363.8 miles from Los Angeles, CA, or about 6h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 266.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 160 miles or 3h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 363.8 miles or 6h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 363.8 miles or 6h 42m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 12h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Crescent City, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Los Angeles, CA
Aim for roughly 364 miles and 7.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Crescent City, CA
Aim for roughly 364 miles and 7.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 160 miles from Los Angeles, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 4 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Redwood Highway for about 266.7 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 38
5 decision points cluster between mile 24.5 and 382 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8
346.6 mi into trip|~6h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44B
Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacr...
9
346.7 mi into trip|~6h 22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacr...
8
367.2 mi into trip|~6h 46m in|I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
8
382 mi into trip|~7h 4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$152.22 one way
$304.45 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg255 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$158.10
$316.19
premium
$5.67
$162.28
$324.56
diesel
$4.80
$137.38
$274.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$152
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$282–$392
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 254.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $76 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
218.3
2
$76.40
$34.92
Efficient EV
181.9
2
$63.67
$29.10
EV Truck/SUV
291
3
$101.86
$46.57
Gas CO2
255 kg
EV CO2
85 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Evening
in Los Angeles on Saturday
Local time
6:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
SSW 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 12:00PM PDT until July 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:39AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Destination
Crescent City, CA
Evening
in Crescent City on Saturday
Local time
6:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Sunny
NNW 12 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 12:00PM PDT until July 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:39AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
31 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
14h 15m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 376.4
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...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 376.4
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 25.1
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...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 376.4
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
$15
near mile 376.4
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 376.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route involves a 49% highway share, meaning you'll spend roughly half your time on major freeways like the Westside Freeway before transitioning to roads like the Redwood Highway. The longest continuous stretch on the Redwood Highway is 266.7 miles, offering a good period of consistent travel. Expect to encounter significant urban merging near Los Angeles before the landscape opens up. The transition from freeway to surface roads will be noticeable as you progress north.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
54 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 266.7 mi on Redwood Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
At 14h 15m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.5 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 38 significant decision points across 727.6 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 24.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 346.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 346.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,775 ft42 ft
Total Climb
3,872 ft
Total Descent
4,114 ft
Highest Point
2,775 ft
~52 mi in
Elevation Range
2,733 ft
Notable High Points
2,775 ft at ~52 miles+2,466 ft prominence
1,205 ft at ~519.7 miles+667 ft prominence
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 Crescent City, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek, Novato and Auto Mall.
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
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 266.7 miles on Redwood Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 364 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 44 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 Crescent City, 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 4 meaningful breaks. There are 44 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 346.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 346.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 14.3 hours each way, a round trip means 28.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Crescent City, CA before the return drive.
