Trip from Los Angeles, CA to Weaverville, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

10h 48m

Distance

587.9 mi

946 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$123

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min

4 AM

10h 39m ★

6 AM

10h 49m

8 AM

11h 8m

10 AM

10h 56m

12 PM

10h 54m

3 PM

10h 57m

5 PM

11h 7m

8 PM

10h 43m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

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Los Angeles, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Weaverville, CA

Dominik Gryzbon

Trip Overview

Los Angeles to Weaverville is 587.9 miles and takes about 10h 48m via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $141 and likely needing an overnight stop. This long-haul drive spans the Pacific Coast region, moving from Southern California's urban sprawl towards Northern California's more rural landscapes. Given the nearly 11-hour travel time, planning for an overnight stay is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. You'll be covering a significant distance, so prepare for a full day of driving if attempting it in one go, or split it into two manageable legs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

3 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

293.9 miles from Los Angeles, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 24m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Westside Freeway	425.9 mi	7h 39m
I 5 Truck	37.7 mi	43m
Cascade Wonderland Highway	31.6 mi	34m
Golden State Freeway	29 mi	33m
Eureka Way	25 mi	29m
CA 299	18.3 mi	20m
Hollywood Freeway	15.5 mi	19m
CA 44	1.2 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 425.9 mi, about 7h 39m

Traffic on I-5

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 285 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~2,813 veh/hr typical · worst 3,553

Quietest

2 AM

~359 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.8×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 48 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 Weaverville, CA.

Start on West 1st Street

0.1 mi · 32 sec · West 1st Street

Turn right onto North Broadway

0.4 mi · 49 sec · North Broadway

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Toward US 101 North, CA 110

Merge onto US 101

0.7 mi · 55 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

Continue on US 101

15 mi · 19 min · Hollywood Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 59 sec

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 5

4.5 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

2.2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

36 mi · 41 min · I 5 Truck

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

22 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

226 mi · 4 hr 1 min · Westside Freeway

Toward I 5 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

26 mi · 27 min · Westside Freeway

Keep left at fork onto I 5

54 mi · 59 min · Westside Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

121 mi · 2 hr 10 min · Westside Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 5

32 mi · 34 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 15 sec

Exit 678 Toward CA 44: Eureka, Susanville

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min

Exit 678 Toward CA 44 West: Eureka, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Merge onto CA 44

1.2 mi · 1 min · CA 44

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto CA 44; CA 273; US 99 Hist

489 ft · 17 sec · Pine Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto CA 44; CA 273; US 99 Hist

25 mi · 29 min · Eureka Way

Use the left lane.

Continue on CA 299

18 mi · 20 min · CA 299

Turn left onto CR 225

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Oregon Street

Turn right onto Paulson Street

128 ft · 5 sec · Paulson Street

Arrive at destination

Paulson Street

Trip Plan

For this 10-hour drive, departing early in the morning is your best bet, especially if you plan to complete it in one day. However, with a recommended 2 days for this trip, you can comfortably split the 587.9 miles. Consider stopping around the halfway point to break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $141, and plan your fill-ups accordingly, particularly before embarking on the longest stretch of 425.9 miles on the Westside Freeway. You'll want to ensure you have ample time for rest stops to stay alert.

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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 293.9 miles from Los Angeles, CA, or about 5h 24m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 425.9 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 129 miles or 2h 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 293.9 miles or 5h 24m 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 293.9 miles or 5h 24m

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 9h 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Weaverville, 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 294 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Weaverville, CA

Aim for roughly 294 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 129 miles from Los Angeles, CA.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 425.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Mendota, CA

194 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

Orland, CA

388 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 Orland, CA

Overnight Options

Night 1

Sacramento, CA

294 mi · about 5.4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Sacramento, CA after about 294 miles or 5.4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Bakersfield, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 129 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Modesto, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 293.9 miles from Los Angeles, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 425.9 miles.

Overnight split

1.6 mi from route

Rest Area

1.8 mi from route

Petro Stopping Centers

2 mi from route

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 16.9 and 542.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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.

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.

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

84.5 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in | I 5 / Westside Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 5 North

542.1 mi into trip | ~9h 54m in

Keep slight left at fork toward CA 44 West: Eureka, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 678 Toward CA 44 West: Eureka, Whiskeytown National...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$123.00 one way

$245.99 round trip

$5.31/gal 25.4 MPG avg 206 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.52	$127.74	$255.48
premium	$5.67	$131.12	$262.24
diesel	$4.80	$111.01	$222.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$123

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$253–$363

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 205.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $62 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	176.4	2	$61.73	$28.22
Efficient EV	147	1	$51.44	$23.52
EV Truck/SUV	235.2	2	$82.31	$37.63

Gas CO2

206 kg

EV CO2

69 kg (67% less)

Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 16, 2026

Origin

Los Angeles, CA

Late night in Los Angeles on Sunday

Local time

1:15 AM

PDT

Current temp

92°F

Sunny

SSW 5 to 10 mph 1% chance Live 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

Weaverville, CA

Late night in Weaverville on Sunday

Local time

1:15 AM

PDT

Current temp

92°F

Sunny

WNW 9 to 18 mph 0% chance Live 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

10h 48m 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.

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Whiskeytown Lake’s crystal-clear waters are iconic, but this 42,000-acre National Recreation Area offers much more. Explore waterfalls, hike rugged trails, uncover Gold Rush history, and witness the r...

7 mi from route ~19 min detour $15 near mile 567.6

View on nps.gov

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 20.3

View on nps.gov

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

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 ~70 min detour Free near mile 81.1

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This trip involves extensive highway driving, with 90% of your travel on major roads like the Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 425.9 miles on the Westside Freeway, indicating a long period of consistent cruising. Expect to transition from highway to surface roads after this long segment. The profile suggests this is a long-haul drive, so be prepared for extended periods of higher speeds and potentially dense traffic merging, especially in the initial stages.

90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 425.9 mi on Westside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

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 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 20 significant decision points across 587.9 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 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.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

2,077 ft 11 ft

Total Climb

3,383 ft

Total Descent

1,591 ft

Highest Point

2,077 ft

~587.9 mi in

Elevation Range

2,066 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 Weaverville, CA, road signs point toward Susanville and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.

Susanville

541.9 mi in | ~9h 53m

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

542.1 mi in | ~9h 54m

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

Arriving in Weaverville, CA

Full guide →

Weaverville is in Trinity County, which is an inland part of California's North Coast region. It sits at 2188 feet of elevation.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 425.9 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 294 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 60 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 Weaverville, 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 3 meaningful breaks. There are 60 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, 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 10.8 hours each way, a round trip means 21.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Weaverville, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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