Los Angeles to Penn Valley is 447.6 miles and takes about 8h 24m via Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, and Golden State Freeway, with a fuel budget near $107 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though it's recommended for two days. This trip stays within California, moving from the Pacific Coast region towards its northern reaches. Given its mostly highway profile, expect a straightforward drive focused on covering distance efficiently. Planning for two days allows for a more relaxed pace and the chance to break up the nearly 450 miles into more manageable segments.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
223.8 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
297.1 mi
5h 20m
I 5 Truck
37.7 mi
43m
Golden State Freeway
29 mi
33m
Alan S. Hart Freeway
16.9 mi
19m
Hollywood Freeway
15.5 mi
19m
State Highway 49
14.2 mi
18m
Capital City Freeway
10.6 mi
11m
Grass Valley Highway
8.3 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 297.1 mi, about 5h 20m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 173 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,927 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,115
Quietest
2 AM
~561 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7×
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 Penn Valley, 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 right at fork onto I 5
26 mi·27 min·Westside Freeway
14
Keep left at fork onto I 5
46 mi·50 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·12 sec
Exit 518Toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake TahoeUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·12 sec
Exit 518Toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, BroadwayUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 518Toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake TahoeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto US 50; I 80 Business
1.2 mi·1 min·Capital City Freeway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
9.4 mi·10 min·Capital City Freeway
Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, FresnoUse the slight right lane.
20
Continue on I 80
7.0 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 80
17 mi·19 min·Alan S. Hart Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 119BToward CA 49 North: Grass Valley, PlacervilleUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn left onto CA 49
5.8 mi·9 min·Grass Valley Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Enter roundabout onto CA 49
117 ft·3 sec·Grass Valley Highway
25
Continue on CA 49
1.3 mi·1 min·Grass Valley Highway
26
Enter roundabout onto CA 49
117 ft·3 sec·Grass Valley Highway
27
Continue on CA 49
1.1 mi·1 min·Grass Valley Highway
28
Continue on CA 49
14 mi·18 min·State Highway 49
Use the straight lane.
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
30
Turn left onto CA 20
5.7 mi·6 min·Eric Rood Memorial Expressway
31
Turn left onto Penn Valley Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Penn Valley Drive
32
Continue on Penn Valley Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Penn Valley Drive
33
Turn left onto Horton Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Horton Street
34
Turn left onto Lasso Loop
0.2 mi·38 sec·Lasso Loop
35
Turn right onto Willow Lane
396 ft·17 sec·Willow Lane
36
Arrive at destination
Willow Lane
Trip Plan
For this 8.5-hour drive, splitting it over two days is the recommended approach. Aim to depart Los Angeles in the morning to take advantage of lighter traffic. Consider stopping for the night around the halfway point to avoid a marathon driving day. With two recommended days, you can comfortably complete the 447.6 miles without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 297.1-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, as services can be spaced out on long highway segments.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 223.8 miles from Los Angeles, CA, or about 4h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 297.1 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 98 miles or 1h 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 223.8 miles or 4h 9m 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 223.8 miles or 4h 9m
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 7h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Penn Valley, 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 224 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Penn Valley, CA
Aim for roughly 224 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 98 miles from Los Angeles, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 297.1 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 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 24.5 and 383.8 — 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
381.6 mi into trip|~7h in
Take the exit toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe
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 518
Toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South L...
10
381.8 mi into trip|~7h in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, Broadway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 518
Toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South La...
9
381.9 mi into trip|~7h in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 518
Toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe
8
383.8 mi into trip|~7h 3m in|I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, F...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$93.64 one way
$187.29 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg157 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$97.26
$194.51
premium
$5.67
$99.83
$199.66
diesel
$4.80
$84.52
$169.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$94
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$224–$334
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 156.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
134.3
1
$47.00
$21.48
Efficient EV
111.9
1
$39.17
$17.90
EV Truck/SUV
179
2
$62.66
$28.65
Gas CO2
157 kg
EV CO2
52 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Late night
in Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
4:24 AM
PDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
SSW 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Destination
Penn Valley, CA
Late night
in Penn Valley on Sunday
Local time
4:24 AM
PDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
SSW 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
8h 24m 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.
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 15.4
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
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 92.6
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 on highways, with 95% of the route utilizing them. You'll experience a long stretch of 297.1 miles on the Westside Freeway, indicating extended periods of high-speed cruising. After this, the highway will transition to surface roads, though the data doesn't specify exactly where. Be prepared for significant urban merging and dense exit sequences early on, typical of major freeway systems.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 297.1 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 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 27 significant decision points across 447.6 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 381.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 381.8 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
3,438 ft19 ft
Total Climb
4,895 ft
Total Descent
3,763 ft
Highest Point
3,438 ft
~63.9 mi in
Elevation Range
3,419 ft
Notable High Points
3,438 ft at ~63.9 miles+2,070 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 Penn Valley, CA, road signs point toward Lake Tahoe, Broadway, Fresno and Placerville.
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 longest stretch is about 297.1 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 224 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 37 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 Penn Valley, 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. There are 37 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 381.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 381.8 miles: 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 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Penn Valley, CA before the return drive.
