Origin
Stanford, CA
Late night in Stanford on Tuesday
Local time
5:00 AM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stanford, CA to Laguna, 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
2h 31m
Distance
120.5 mi
194 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 22m
★
6 AM
2h 32m
8 AM
2h 52m
10 AM
2h 39m
12 PM
2h 37m
3 PM
2h 40m
5 PM
2h 51m
8 PM
2h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stanford, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Laguna, CA
Tori Pezzulla❤️
Trip Overview
This 120.5-mile drive from Stanford, CA to Laguna, CA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 31 minutes. With 89% of the route on major highways, it’s a streamlined trip perfect for a single day. The estimated fuel cost is around $28, making it an economical option. This drive primarily utilizes the Westside Freeway, Robert T. Monagan Freeway, and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, offering a consistent driving experience. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is well-suited for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
60.3 miles from Stanford, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 46.8 mi | 51m |
| Robert T. Monagan Freeway | 14.6 mi | 16m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 12.9 mi | 14m |
| I 680 | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| Southbay Freeway | 6.9 mi | 7m |
| Bayshore Freeway | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| CA 84 | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| Isabel Avenue | 4.3 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 46.8 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stanford, CA and Laguna, CA.
1
Start on Bowdoin Lane
323 ft
·
19 sec
·
Bowdoin Lane
2
Turn right onto Arguello Mall
226 ft
·
12 sec
·
Arguello Mall
3
Turn left onto Campus Drive East
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Campus Drive East
4
Enter roundabout onto Campus Drive East
89 ft
·
2 sec
·
Campus Drive East
5
Continue on Campus Drive East
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Campus Drive East
6
Enter roundabout onto Campus Drive East
91 ft
·
2 sec
·
Campus Drive East
7
Continue on Campus Drive East
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Campus Drive East
8
Enter roundabout onto Serra Street
60 ft
·
1 sec
·
Serra Street
9
Continue on Serra Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Serra Street
10
Turn right onto CA 82
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
El Camino Real
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto CR G3
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Oregon Expressway
Use the left / uturn lanes.
12
Take the ramp
370 ft
·
10 sec
Toward US 101: San Francisco, San Jose
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward US 101 South: San Jose
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto US 101
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
Toward US 101 South: San Jose, Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
Toward US 101 South: San Jose, Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 396B
Toward CA 237 East: Milpitas
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Merge onto CA 237
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Southbay Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 880 North: Oakland
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 880
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
Nimitz Freeway
21
Take the exit onto CA 262
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
CA 262
Exit 12A
Toward Sacramento
Use the slight right lane.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 680 North: Sacramento
Use the straight lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 680 North: Sacramento
Use the straight lane.
24
Merge onto I 680
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
I 680
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit onto CA 84
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
CA 84
Exit 21B
Toward CA 84 East: Livermore, Vallecitos Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto CA 84
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Isabel Avenue
Use the straight lane.
27
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 580 East: Stockton
Use the right lane.
28
Merge onto I 580
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 205
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
Toward I 205 East: Tracy, Stockton
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 205
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
31
Merge onto I 5
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Westside Freeway
32
Keep left at fork onto I 5
35 mi
·
37 min
·
Westside Freeway
33
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 506
Toward Elk Grove Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Turn right onto E12
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Elk Grove Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
35
Turn left onto Foulks Ranch Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Foulks Ranch Drive
Use the left lane.
36
At end of road, turn right onto Laguna Park Drive
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Laguna Park Drive
37
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Seasons Drive
38
Turn left onto November Drive
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
November Drive
39
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way
155 ft
·
12 sec
·
Mapleview Way
40
Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court
183 ft
·
8 sec
·
Fall Breeze Court
41
Arrive at destination
Fall Breeze Court
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 120.5-mile drive, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Leaving Stanford, CA, perhaps mid-morning, should allow you to avoid the heaviest commuter traffic. With a total duration of around 2 hours and 31 minutes and only one suggested stop, you can easily manage this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $28, and plan for a fuel stop before you hit that longest 46.8-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway if needed. This efficient route makes it easy to get on the road and arrive at Laguna, CA with time to spare.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 60.3 miles from Stanford, CA, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.8 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 27 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.3 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laguna, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Stanford, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Stanford, CA
This is one driving day of about 120.5 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Stanford, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 46.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.3 miles from Stanford, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 365 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 31.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 101 South: San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 101 South: San Jose
7
4.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 101 / Bayshore Freeway
Merge onto US 101 / Bayshore Freeway toward US 101 South: San Jose, Los Angeles
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 101 South: San Jose, Los Angeles
8
7.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 101 / Bayshore Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101 / Bayshore Freeway toward US 101 South: San Jose, Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 101 South: San Jose, Los Angeles
8
22.5 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 680 North: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 680 North: Sacramento
8
31.3 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
CA 84
Take the exit onto CA 84 toward CA 84 East: Livermore, Vallecitos Road
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 21B
Toward CA 84 East: Livermore, Vallecitos Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.70 one way
$55.39 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $28.54 | $57.08 |
| premium | $6.18 | $29.30 | $58.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.60 | $53.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.2 | 0 | $12.65 | $5.78 |
| Efficient EV | 30.1 | 0 | $10.54 | $4.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.2 | 0 | $16.87 | $7.71 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Laguna, CA
Late night in Laguna on Tuesday
Local time
5:00 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°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
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 31m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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.
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 41.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 120.5-mile route, with 89% of your travel time spent on major freeways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 46.8 miles along the Westside Freeway, so you'll have ample opportunity to settle into a steady pace. While the main roads like the Robert T. Monagan Freeway and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway provide efficient travel, the character remains largely consistent throughout the 2-hour and 31-minute journey. This isn't a winding, scenic byway, but rather a direct and predictable path to your destination.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.8 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Robert T. Monagan Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 36 significant decision points across 120.5 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 3.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (US 101 / Bayshore Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.4 miles (US 101 / Bayshore Freeway): 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.
Between Stanford, CA and Laguna, CA, road signs point toward Los Angeles, Sacramento and Stockton.
Los Angeles
7.4 mi in
|
~14m
|
via US 101
Sacramento
20.7 mi in
|
~30m
|
via CA 262
Stockton
54.5 mi in
|
~1h 14m
|
via I 205
About the Cities
Starting in Stanford, CA
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Lou Henry and Herbert Hoover House — historic house in Stanford, California
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 2h 31m. Total distance: 120.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.8 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Laguna, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (US 101 / Bayshore Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.4 miles (US 101 / Bayshore Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Laguna, CA before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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