Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
10h 2m
Distance
532.2 mi
857 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$122
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Portola, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles to Portola is 532.2 miles and takes about 10 hours 2 minutes via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $122 and an overnight recommendation. This long-distance drive traverses California, starting in the Pacific Coast region and ending in the same region, but inland. Given the 10-hour drive time, it's best split over two days for a more comfortable experience. You'll be spending the majority of your time on major highways, so plan for consistent travel without many opportunities for spontaneous detours.
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
266.1 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 54m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 297.1 mi | 5h 20m |
| Alan S. Hart Freeway | 84.2 mi | 1h 37m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.7 mi | 43m |
| Golden State Freeway | 29 mi | 33m |
| CA 89 | 22.9 mi | 32m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 15.5 mi | 19m |
| Capital City Freeway | 10.6 mi | 11m |
| Beckwourth Calpine Road | 8.6 mi | 10m |
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Portola, CA.
Start on West 1st Street
Turn right onto North Broadway
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 101
Continue on US 101
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Keep left at fork onto I 5
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 50; I 80 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
Continue on I 80
Continue on I 80
Take the exit
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Turn left onto Truckee Way
Enter roundabout onto Truckee Way
Continue on Truckee Way
Enter roundabout onto CA 89
Continue on CA 89
Enter roundabout onto CA 89
Continue on CA 89
Turn left onto CA 49; CA 89
Turn right onto CR A23
Continue on CR A23
Turn left onto CA 70
Continue on CA 70
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Given the 10-hour duration, this trip is best tackled over two days to avoid driver fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight for the initial leg. The route has two recommended stops, which are crucial for breaking up the 532.2 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 297.1 miles on the Westside Freeway, as services can be spaced out. Consider planning your overnight stay around the halfway point to ensure a well-rested second day.
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.
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 117 miles or 2h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 266.1 miles or 4h 54m 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 266.1 miles or 4h 54m
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 8h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portola, CA than in the middle of the route.
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 266 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Portola, CA
Aim for roughly 266 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
176 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.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
351 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 Lincoln, CANight 1
266 mi · about 5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Sacramento, CA after about 266 miles or 5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 117 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 266.1 miles from Los Angeles, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 297.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 266 miles or 5 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
Regular Gas
$122.32 one way
$244.64 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $126.05 | $252.10 |
| premium | $6.18 | $129.43 | $258.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $117.50 | $235.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$122
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$252–$362
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 186.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 159.7 | 1 | $55.88 | $25.55 |
| Efficient EV | 133.1 | 1 | $46.57 | $21.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 212.9 | 2 | $74.51 | $34.06 |
Gas CO2
186 kg
EV CO2
62 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Los Angeles on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 7:10PM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
Night in Portola on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
PDT
Current temp
27°F
Mostly Clear
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 7:10PM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
67°F
Lincoln, CA
351 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Recreation Area
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National Monument
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is predominantly highway driving, with a 94% highway share, making it a fast-paced journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 297.1 miles on the Westside Freeway, so be prepared for extended periods of sustained driving. The drive progresses by moving inland and northward, transitioning from the immediate coastal influence to a more interior California landscape. Expect a consistent, high-speed travel experience for most of the trip.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Alan S. Hart Freeway. 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.
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 28 significant decision points across 532.2 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Los Angeles, CA and Portola, CA, road signs point toward Lake Tahoe, Broadway, Fresno, Donner Lake and Truckee.
Lake Tahoe
Broadway
Fresno
Donner Lake
Truckee
“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
Founded 1946
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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