Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Morning in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
6:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Los Angeles, CA to San Andreas, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 9m
Distance
356.2 mi
573 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$82
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 58m
★
6 AM
7h 9m
8 AM
7h 31m
10 AM
7h 17m
12 PM
7h 15m
3 PM
7h 18m
5 PM
7h 30m
8 PM
7h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
San Andreas, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Los Angeles to San Andreas is 356.2 miles and takes about 7h 9m via Golden State Highway, with a fuel budget near $82 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within California's Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward path north. While it's a single-day trip, you'll want to be mindful of the total time. It's a practical option if you need to get from Southern California to the Sierra Nevada foothills efficiently.
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
178.1 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 21m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Golden State Highway | 111.4 mi | 2h |
| Golden State Freeway | 62.4 mi | 1h 9m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.7 mi | 43m |
| La Grange Road | 26.2 mi | 38m |
| Northbound California State Route 99 | 22 mi | 25m |
| CA 99 | 21.4 mi | 24m |
| Snelling Highway | 17.7 mi | 26m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 15.5 mi | 19m |
Longest stretch:
Golden State Highway
— 111.4 mi, about 2h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and San Andreas, 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 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Use 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 left at fork onto CA 99
27 mi
·
30 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on CA 99
111 mi
·
2 hr
·
Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 144
Toward Avenue 7
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto CA 99
21 mi
·
24 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Northbound California State Route 99
Toward CA 99
18
Take the exit onto CA 59; CA 140
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 59; CA 140
Exit 188
Toward CA 140 West, CA 59 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto CA 59
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
V Street
20
Turn left onto CA 59
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
West 16th Street
21
Turn right onto CA 59
18 mi
·
26 min
·
Snelling Highway
22
Continue on CA 59; J16
387 ft
·
6 sec
·
La Grange Road
23
Continue on CA 59; J16
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Merced Falls Road
24
Turn left onto J59
26 mi
·
38 min
·
La Grange Road
25
At end of road, turn right onto CA 108; CA 120
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
CA 108; CA 120
26
Turn left onto E15
11 mi
·
15 min
·
O'Byrnes Ferry Road
27
Continue on E15
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
28
Turn right onto CA 4
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
CA 4
29
Turn straight onto CA 4
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
CA 4
30
Turn left onto CA 49
11 mi
·
15 min
·
North Main Street
Use the left lane.
31
Arrive at destination
CA 49
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, aim for an early morning departure from Los Angeles to avoid peak traffic. With 2 planned stops, you can break up the 356.2 miles into manageable segments. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 111.4-mile stretch on the Golden State Highway, as services can be spaced out. The $82 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting, but it's always wise to have a little extra. This is a manageable one-day trip, so you have flexibility in your stop timing.
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 178.1 miles from Los Angeles, CA, or about 3h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.4 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 178.1 miles or 3h 21m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Andreas, 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 356.2 miles and 7h 9m.
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 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Golden State Highway for about 111.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
178 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 178.1 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 Golden State Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111.4 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 235 decision points cluster between mile 16.9 and 273.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
16.9 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
22.3 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
229.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 16m in
Take the exit toward Avenue 7
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 144
Toward Avenue 7
8
273.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 6m in
|
CA 59; CA 140
Take the exit onto CA 59; CA 140 toward CA 140 West, CA 59 North
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 188
Toward CA 140 West, CA 59 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$81.87 one way
$163.74 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
125 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $84.37 | $168.73 |
| premium | $6.18 | $86.62 | $173.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $78.64 | $157.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$82
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$107–$132
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106.9 | 1 | $37.40 | $17.10 |
| Efficient EV | 89.1 | 1 | $31.17 | $14.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 142.5 | 1 | $49.87 | $22.80 |
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.
Destination
San Andreas, CA
Morning in San Andreas on Tuesday
Local time
6:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°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.
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
7 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 9m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a mix of highway and surface roads, with 49% of it being highway driving. You'll encounter your longest stretch of continuous driving, 111.4 miles, on the Golden State Highway. Expect urban merging and an exit-heavy environment initially, transitioning to more open cruising as you progress.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.4 mi on Golden State Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 356.2 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 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles (I 5 Truck): 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Los Angeles, CA to San Andreas, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Avenue 7 along the way.
Avenue 7
229.2 mi in
|
~4h 16m
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?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 9m. Total distance: 356.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 9m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.4 miles on Golden State Highway. 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 San Andreas, 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 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at San Andreas, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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