Trip from Los Angeles, CA to Ferndale, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

12h 14m

Distance

633.5 mi

1,019 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$146

one way

EV Charging

Fair

9 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

12h 3m ★

6 AM

12h 14m

8 AM

12h 36m

10 AM

12h 22m

12 PM

12h 20m

3 PM

12h 23m

5 PM

12h 35m

8 PM

12h 8m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Los Angeles, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Ferndale, CA

Dominik Gryzbon

Trip Overview

The drive from Los Angeles, CA to Ferndale, CA covers 633.5 miles and takes about 12h 14m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, Redwood Highway, Saint Helena Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-haul drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 225.6 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $145.61 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

3 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

316.7 miles from Los Angeles, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 49m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Westside Freeway	225.6 mi	4h 1m
Redwood Highway	172 mi	3h 31m
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: Westside Freeway — 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Ferndale, CA.

Start on West 1st Street

0.1 mi · 32 sec · West 1st Street

Turn right onto North Broadway

0.4 mi · 49 sec · North Broadway

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Toward US 101 North, CA 110

Merge onto US 101

0.7 mi · 55 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

Continue on US 101

15 mi · 19 min · Hollywood Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 59 sec

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 5

4.5 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

2.2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

36 mi · 41 min · I 5 Truck

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

22 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

226 mi · 4 hr 1 min · Westside Freeway

Toward I 5 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

16 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass

1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

Merge onto I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

1.6 mi · 1 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 16 sec

Exit 44B Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 30 sec

Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 680

15 mi · 17 min · Donald D Doyle Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 680

5.0 mi · 5 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

Toward I 680, CA 24 Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 680

6.0 mi · 6 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 680

243 ft · 3 sec · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 680

1.8 mi · 2 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 780

6.7 mi · 7 min · I 780

Toward I 780: Benicia Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Exit 1B Toward I 80 East: Sacramento Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

448 ft · 11 sec

Toward I 80 East: Sacramento Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 80

2.7 mi · 3 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Exit 33 Toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus Parkway Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward CA 37: Napa Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on CA 37

1.5 mi · 1 min · CA 37

Toward CA 37 Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec

Exit 19 Toward CA 29: Napa, Sonoma Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto CA 29

1.6 mi · 1 min · Sonoma Boulevard

Use the right lane.

Continue on CA 29

4.0 mi · 4 min · Broadway Street

Use the straight lane.

Continue on CA 29

1.3 mi · 1 min · Napa–Vallejo Highway

Use the left lane.

Continue on CA 12; CA 29

22 mi · 25 min · Saint Helena Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on CA 29; CA 128

2.4 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Continue on CA 29; CA 128

6.8 mi · 7 min · Saint Helena Highway

Continue on CA 128

1.4 mi · 1 min · Foothill Boulevard

Continue on CA 128

16 mi · 18 min · Saint Helena Highway

Continue on CA 128

6.6 mi · 7 min · Saint Helena Highway

At end of road, turn right onto CA 128

0.9 mi · 1 min · Geyserville Avenue

Turn left onto CA 128

359 ft · 6 sec · Canyon Road

Take the exit onto CA 128

0.3 mi · 39 sec · CA 128

Merge onto US 101; CA 128

55 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Redwood Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 101

4.5 mi · 5 min · Willits Bypass

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 48 sec

Merge onto US 101

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Willits Bypass

Continue on US 101

117 mi · 2 hr 24 min · Redwood Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec

Toward Fernbridge, Ferndale

Continue on Fernbridge Drive

527 ft · 9 sec · Fernbridge Drive

Continue on Fernbridge Drive

0.6 mi · 1 min · Fernbridge Drive

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto CA 211

4.8 mi · 10 min · CA 211

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

CA 211

Trip Plan

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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 316.7 miles from Los Angeles, CA, or about 5h 49m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 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 139 miles or 2h 38m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 316.7 miles or 5h 49m 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 316.7 miles or 5h 49m

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 10h 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ferndale, 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 317 miles and 6.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Ferndale, CA

Aim for roughly 317 miles and 6.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 139 miles from Los Angeles, CA.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 3 real breaks 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.

city in Solano County, California, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Vallejo, CA

209 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

town in Sonoma County, California, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Windsor, CA

418 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Windsor, CA

Overnight Options

Night 1

Windsor, CA

317 mi · about 6.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Windsor, CA after about 317 miles or 6.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Fresno, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 139 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Manteca, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 316.7 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 225.6 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 317 miles or 6.1 hours on the road.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Central Kitchen at The Lorenzo

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Los Angeles, California

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+12139082400

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Jurassic Magic Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Los Angeles, California

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+12132639741

Visit website

Central Kitchen at The Lorenzo

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Los Angeles, California

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+12139082400

Visit website

Coyote Valley Casino

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 497.7

Redwood Valley, California

+17074850700

Visit website

Jurassic Magic Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Los Angeles, California

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+12132639741

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 588.2

Miranda, California

+31880109500

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 633.5

Loleta, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 452.5

Cloverdale, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Later in the drive, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 497.7

Redwood Valley, California

2 mi from route

Napa Valley Bike Tours & Rentals

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 407.2

Yountville, California

Hours: 9 am–5:30 pm

+17072518687

Visit website

Napa Valley Aloft Hot Air Balloon Rides

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 407.2

Yountville, California

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+17079444400

Visit website

Ferndale Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

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.

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

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...

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...

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

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

$145.61 one way

$291.21 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 222 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.02	$150.04	$300.09
premium	$6.18	$154.06	$308.12
diesel	$5.61	$139.87	$279.74

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$146

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$276–$386

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 221.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

9 DC fast chargers · Coverage: fair

ROW DTLA - Tesla Supercharger

Los Angeles, CA

Tesla

16 DCFC

CSULA Parking Structure E

Los Angeles, CA

EVCS

16 DCFC

1820 Industrial

Los Angeles, CA

EVCS

8 DCFC

CSULA Parking Structure B

Los Angeles, CA

EVCS

6 DCFC

Norfolk Upper Lot

Los Angeles, CA

Non-Networked

6 DCFC

Los Angeles Police Department - Main Street Parking

Los Angeles, CA

Non-Networked

4 DCFC

661 Imperial St

Los Angeles, CA

EVCS

2 DCFC

LADWP - Materials Test Lab

Los Angeles, CA

Non-Networked

2 DCFC

EVCS: 4 Non-Networked: 3 ChargePoint Network: 1 Tesla: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $67 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	190	2	$66.52	$30.41
Efficient EV	158.4	1	$55.43	$25.34
EV Truck/SUV	253.4	3	$88.69	$40.54

Gas CO2

222 kg

EV CO2

74 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 Apr 19, 2026

Origin

Los Angeles, CA

Evening in Los Angeles on Sunday

Local time

5:07 PM

PDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ferndale, CA

Evening in Ferndale on Sunday

Local time

5:07 PM

PDT

Current temp

59°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.

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

4 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

12h 14m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

633.5 mi / 12h 14m — a long-haul route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. Biggest road: Westside Freeway.

57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

53 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?

10/10

At 12h 14m, 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 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 38 significant decision points across 633.5 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.

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 Ferndale, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek, Novato and Auto Mall.

San Francisco

310 mi in | ~5h 41m | via I 580

Sacramento

346.6 mi in | ~6h 22m

Concord

346.6 mi in | ~6h 22m

Walnut Creek

346.6 mi in | ~6h 22m

Novato

384.8 mi in | ~7h 7m

Auto Mall

384.8 mi in | ~7h 7m

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?

Solo Traveler

12h 14m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.

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 — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 317 miles on day one.

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 Ferndale, 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 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Not recommended in a single day. At 12.2 hours each way, a round trip means 24.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ferndale, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500