Los Angeles to El Granada is 379.7 miles and takes about 7 hours 17 minutes via Westside Freeway, CA 152, and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $86 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within California, taking you from the Pacific Coast region to another part of the Pacific Coast. Given its mostly highway profile and single-day duration, this route is a straightforward drive for those looking to cover ground efficiently. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on the freeway, making it a practical choice for a quick transit between Southern and Northern California.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
189.9 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
182.5 mi
3h 15m
CA 152
41.1 mi
51m
I 5 Truck
37.7 mi
43m
Golden State Freeway
29 mi
33m
Junipero Serra Freeway
20.4 mi
23m
South Valley Freeway
19.9 mi
22m
CA 85
18.4 mi
21m
Hollywood Freeway
15.5 mi
19m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 182.5 mi, about 3h 15m
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 Los Angeles, CA and El Granada, 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
183 mi·3 hr 15 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 403BToward 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
12 mi·16 min·CA 152
16
Take the exit onto CA 152
0.5 mi·1 min·CA 152
Toward US 101 North: San Jose
17
Merge onto US 101; CA 152
20 mi·22 min·South Valley Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 85
18 mi·21 min·CA 85
Exit 377BToward CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain ViewUse the slight right lane.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 19Toward I 280 North, I 280 South: San Jose, San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 280 North: San Francisco
21
Merge onto I 280
20 mi·23 min·Junipero Serra Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
421 ft·8 sec
Exit 33Toward CA 92: Half Moon Bay, San Mateo, HaywardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward CA 92 West: Half Moon Bay
24
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·29 sec·this road
25
Turn slight right onto CA 92
2.4 mi·4 min·Half Moon Bay Road
26
Continue on CA 92
4.9 mi·8 min·San Mateo Road
27
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi·29 sec·Main Street
Use the right lane.
28
Turn right onto CA 1
2.9 mi·4 min·Cabrillo Highway North
Use the right lane.
29
Turn right onto Coronado Street
299 ft·11 sec·Coronado Street
Use the right lane.
30
Turn left onto Avenue Alhambra
0.2 mi·30 sec·Avenue Alhambra
31
Turn right onto Avenue Portola
72 ft·3 sec·Avenue Portola
32
Arrive at destination
Avenue Portola
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour drive, leaving Los Angeles early in the morning is your best bet to avoid the worst of the city's traffic. With two recommended stops, you can easily break up the 379.7 miles into manageable segments. Plan your stops around the transitions between the main roads, particularly as you move from the Westside Freeway onto CA 152 and then I 5 Truck. Given the 96% highway share, ensure you're comfortable with sustained driving and keep an eye on your fuel levels, as services can be spread out on some highway sections.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 189.9 miles from Los Angeles, CA, or about 3h 33m 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 84 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.9 miles or 3h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near El Granada, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Los Angeles, CA
This is one driving day of about 379.7 miles and 7h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Los Angeles, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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.
The midpoint is around 189.9 miles from Los Angeles, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 24.5 and 368.1 — 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
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
9
328.2 mi into trip|~6h 10m in|CA 85
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 85 toward CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 377B
Toward CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View
8
346.6 mi into trip|~6h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 280 North, I 280 South: San Jose, San Francisco
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 I 280 North, I 280 South: San Jose, San...
8
368.1 mi into trip|~6h 57m in
Take the exit toward CA 92: Half Moon Bay, San Mateo, Hayward
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 33
Toward CA 92: Half Moon Bay, San Mateo, Hayward
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$86.06 one way
$172.12 round trip
$5.76/gal25.4 MPG avg133 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.96
$89.04
$178.07
premium
$6.09
$91.07
$182.14
diesel
$5.40
$80.77
$161.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$86
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$111–$136
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
EV Charging Along Route
4 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
Tesla Supercharger
Arvin, California
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Santa Clarita, California
Tesla
1 DCFC
Electrify America Charging Station
Stevenson Ranch, California
Electrify America
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Santa Clarita, California
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla: 2
Electrify America: 1
ChargePoint: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113.9
1
$39.87
$18.23
Efficient EV
94.9
1
$33.22
$15.19
EV Truck/SUV
151.9
1
$53.16
$24.30
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 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 Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Night
in Los Angeles on Saturday
Local time
11:01 PM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Rain Showers Likely
WSW 5 to 10 mph60% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 25 at 6:51PM PDT until April 27 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 25 at 1:57PM PDT until April 26 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Destination
El Granada, CA
Night
in El Granada on Saturday
Local time
11:01 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Rain
WSW 5 to 9 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 25 at 6:51PM PDT until April 27 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 25 at 1:57PM PDT until April 26 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
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
3 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
7h 17m 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.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 379.7
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
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 13.1
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...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 379.7
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...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 91.7
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,...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
$15
near mile 379.7
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 379.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 96% of the route on freeways. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 182.5 miles on the Westside Freeway before transitioning. The final portion of your trip will likely involve more surface roads as you approach your destination. Expect a consistent cruising speed for most of the drive, with urban merging and dense exits common in the initial and final sections.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 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 CA 152. 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 25 significant decision points across 379.7 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 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; at 328.2 miles (CA 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 El Granada, CA, road signs point toward Hollister, San Jose, Mountain View and San Francisco.
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
The Peninsula (or San Francisco Peninsula) region of the San Francisco Bay Area lies immediately south of the City and County of San Francisco—reaching from its famous neighbor to the north into the high-tech region of Silicon Valley. For purposes of this travel guide, the Peninsula is synonymous with San Mateo County. While many of the Peninsula's residents work and play to the north or south, the Peninsula has its attractions, including some beautiful wilderness areas.
The Peninsula has two coasts—one on the San Francisco Bay, the other on the Pacific Ocean—but few major cities or ports. The Santa Cruz Mountains divide the region in half north-south, with a large wilderness area that's great for hiking and mountain biking.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 17m. Total distance: 379.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 17m 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 El Granada, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 84.5 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 328.2 miles (CA 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at El Granada, CA before the return drive.
