Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
64.9 mi
105 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Santa Paula, CA
Wikimedia Commons
This 64.9-mile journey from Los Angeles to Santa Paula is a manageable 1-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes. You'll navigate a mix of freeways and local roads, with about 55% of the drive on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $15, making it an economical option. Since there are no designated stops in the data, you can tailor your pace to your liking. This drive remains within the Pacific Coast region, offering a consistent feel throughout your travel.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Freeway | 15.5 mi | 19m |
| East Telegraph Road | 12.7 mi | 16m |
| I 5 Truck | 11.4 mi | 12m |
| Golden State Freeway | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| West Telegraph Road | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| Henry Mayo Drive | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Ventura Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Korean War Veterans' Memorial Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Santa Paula, 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
Take the exit onto CA 126
Continue on CA 126
Turn straight onto CA 126
Continue on CA 126
Continue on CA 126
Continue on CA 126
Continue on CA 126
Take the exit
Turn right onto CA 150
Turn right onto East Main Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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.
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 32.5 miles from Los Angeles, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 16.9 and 64.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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 onto CA 126 toward CA 126 West: Newhall Ranch Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CA 150: Tenth Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$14.92 one way
$29.83 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $15.37 | $30.74 |
| premium | $6.18 | $15.78 | $31.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.33 | $28.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.81 | $3.12 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.68 | $2.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26 | 0 | $9.09 | $4.15 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Late night in Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
3:09 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Santa Paula on Sunday
Local time
3:09 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with 55% of the journey on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 15.5 miles along the Hollywood Freeway. As you progress, the drive transitions from the urban environment of Los Angeles onto roads like East Telegraph Road and I 5 Truck, offering a varied landscape. This blend means you'll experience both faster-paced freeway segments and potentially more local traffic as you approach Santa Paula.
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.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.9 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
“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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 64.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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