Los Angeles to Palo Alto is 355.9 miles and takes about 6h 45m via Westside Freeway and CA 152, with a fuel budget near $85 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within California, traversing the Pacific Coast region on both ends. With nearly all of the drive on highways, it's a straightforward, efficient option for getting north. You'll likely be looking at around 7 hours of pure driving time, making it a solid choice for a single-day excursion.
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
177.9 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
CA 152
41.1 mi
51m
I 5 Truck
37.7 mi
43m
Golden State Freeway
29 mi
33m
US 101
25.6 mi
29m
South Valley Freeway
19.9 mi
22m
Hollywood Freeway
15.5 mi
19m
Embarcadero Road
1.2 mi
4m
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 Palo Alto, 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 left at fork onto US 101
22 mi·25 min·US 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
3.7 mi·4 min·US 101
Use the slight left lane.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 402Toward Embarcadero Road, Oregon Expressway, Stanford UniversityUse the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward Stanford University, Embarcadero RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 101 North: Stanford University, Embarcadero Road West, San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Stanford University, Embarcadero Road WestUse the straight / right lanes.
24
Continue on Embarcadero Road
1.2 mi·4 min·Embarcadero Road
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn sharp left onto Middlefield Road
98 ft·3 sec·Middlefield Road
Use the left lane.
26
Arrive at destination
Middlefield Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour-plus drive, plan to depart Los Angeles early in the morning to avoid the heaviest traffic. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with your stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering the 182.5-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, as services might be less frequent. The $85 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you go. With only one recommended stop, you can choose a location that suits your needs for a quick break or meal.
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 177.9 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 177.9 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 Palo Alto, 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 355.9 miles and 6h 45m.
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.
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 24.5 and 354.5 — 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
353.8 mi into trip|~6h 39m in
Take the exit toward Embarcadero Road, Oregon Expressway, Stanford University
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 402
Toward Embarcadero Road, Oregon Expressway, Sta...
9
354.1 mi into trip|~6h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Stanford University, Embarcadero Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Stanford University, Embarcadero Road
9
354.3 mi into trip|~6h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 101 North: Stanford University, Embarcadero Road West, San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 101 North: Stanford University, Embar...
9
354.5 mi into trip|~6h 41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Stanford University, Embarcadero Road West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Stanford University, Embarcadero Road We...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$74.46 one way
$148.92 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg125 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$77.33
$154.66
premium
$5.67
$79.38
$158.75
diesel
$4.80
$67.20
$134.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$99–$124
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
106.8
1
$37.37
$17.08
Efficient EV
89
1
$31.14
$14.24
EV Truck/SUV
142.4
1
$49.83
$22.78
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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Afternoon
in Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
1:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:09PM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Destination
Palo Alto, CA
Afternoon
in Palo Alto on Sunday
Local time
1:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 3 to 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:09PM 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.
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
12 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 45m 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 24.5
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 85.9
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...
30 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 355.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 99% of it on paved roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 182.5 miles on the Westside Freeway before transitioning. The majority of your travel will be on major roadways, offering a consistent cruising experience with minimal time on surface streets. Expect a high volume of exits and merges common to major freeway travel.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 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?
9/10
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 Effort9/10
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 21 significant decision points across 355.9 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 353.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 354.1 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
2,703 ft28 ft
Total Climb
3,081 ft
Total Descent
3,338 ft
Highest Point
2,703 ft
~50.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,676 ft
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 Palo Alto, CA, road signs point toward Hollister and San Jose.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 45m. Total distance: 355.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 45m 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.
Yes — we found about 25 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 Palo Alto, 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 25 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 353.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 354.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, César E. Chávez National Monument and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. 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 13.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Palo Alto, CA before the return drive.
