Stockton to Loma Linda is 394.3 miles and takes about 7h 18m via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $86 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California, traversing the Pacific Coast region on its way south. Expect a very direct route that is almost entirely highway driving, making it a straightforward trip for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. With only one recommended day of travel, it's a solid option for a single-day haul.
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
197.1 miles from Stockton, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
250.2 mi
4h 28m
I 5 Truck
58.4 mi
1h 6m
Foothill Freeway
44 mi
50m
San Bernardino Freeway
20.1 mi
23m
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
9 mi
9m
Orange Freeway
3.4 mi
3m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
2.2 mi
2m
Golden State Freeway
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 250.2 mi, about 4h 28m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 178 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,824 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,650
Quietest
2 AM
~367 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 89 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 Stockton, CA and Loma Linda, CA.
1
Start on East Fremont Street
501 ft·31 sec·East Fremont Street
2
Turn left onto North Center Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Center Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 4
0.7 mi·1 min·CA 4
Toward I 5 South
5
Merge onto I 5; CA 4
13 mi·14 min·Westside Freeway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi·48 sec·Westside Freeway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi·4 hr 13 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.0 mi·2 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·17 sec
Exit 161AToward I 210 East: PasadenaUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 210
24 mi·28 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
19 mi·22 min·Foothill Freeway
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, VenturaUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
0.5 mi·32 sec·Foothill Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 44AToward CA 57 South: Santa AnaUse the slight right lane.
15
Continue on CA 57
3.4 mi·3 min·Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 22A; 22BToward I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Los AngelesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 22BToward I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San BernardinoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 10
1.9 mi·2 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
4.0 mi·4 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR
9.0 mi·9 min·I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the slight left lane.
21
Merge onto I 10
14 mi·16 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
22
Continue on I 10
2.2 mi·2 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Toward Redlands, Palm SpringsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 74Toward Tippecanoe Avenue, Anderson StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn right onto Anderson Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Anderson Street
Use the right lane.
25
Continue on Anderson Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·Anderson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Arrive at destination
Anderson Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, aim for an early morning departure from Stockton to avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only two recommended stops, you can plan for one mid-morning break and another for lunch. The longest stretch of 250.2 miles on the Westside Freeway means you'll want to ensure you have adequate fuel before starting that segment, as services might be less frequent. Given it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but planning your fuel stops around the 250-mile mark will be key.
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 197.1 miles from Stockton, CA, or about 3h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 250.2 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 87 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 197.1 miles or 3h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Loma Linda, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Stockton, 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 Stockton, CA
This is one driving day of about 394.3 miles and 7h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Stockton, 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 Westside Freeway for about 250.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 312.1 and 392.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
312.1 mi into trip|~5h 41m in
Take the exit toward I 210 East: Pasadena
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161A
Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
8
336.8 mi into trip|~6h 9m in|I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino,...
8
360.6 mi into trip|~6h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
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 22A; 22B
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Lo...
9
360.8 mi into trip|~6h 38m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San Bernardino
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 22B
Toward I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San B...
8
392.8 mi into trip|~7h 15m in
Take the exit toward Tippecanoe Avenue, Anderson Street
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 74
Toward Tippecanoe Avenue, Anderson Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$96.49 one way
$192.99 round trip
$6.22/gal25.4 MPG avg138 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.40
$99.37
$198.73
premium
$6.57
$101.93
$203.86
diesel
$6.18
$95.92
$191.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$96
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$121–$146
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 138 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
118.3
1
$41.40
$18.93
Efficient EV
98.6
1
$34.50
$15.77
EV Truck/SUV
157.7
1
$55.20
$25.24
Gas CO2
138 kg
EV CO2
46 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Stockton, CA
Afternoon
in Stockton on Monday
Local time
3:04 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
N 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 19 at 1:23AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:31PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Loma Linda, CA
Afternoon
in Loma Linda on Monday
Local time
3:04 PM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Clear
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 19 at 1:23AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:31PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard 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.
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
8 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
7h 18m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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 312.7
Park Closure: Solstice Canyon Trail Weekday Closure for Repairs
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
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 244.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly highway, with a 98% highway share. You'll experience a longest stretch of 250.2 miles on the Westside Freeway, meaning you'll be in highway cruising mode for a significant portion of the trip. The transition to surface roads will be minimal, likely occurring only in the immediate vicinity of your start and end points. Expect consistent freeway speeds with frequent exits and merges.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 250.2 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 312.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 22 significant decision points across 394.3 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 312.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 336.8 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 360.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,737 ft12 ft
Total Climb
3,322 ft
Total Descent
2,168 ft
Highest Point
2,737 ft
~281.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,725 ft
Notable High Points
2,737 ft at ~281.6 miles+957 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Stockton, CA and Loma Linda, CA, road signs point toward Ventura, Los Angeles and San Bernardino.
Stockton is a city in the San Joaquin Valley in northern California. Sitting on the San Joaquin Delta, Stockton is the world's most inland natural port and used to be a major port city. One of the larger cities along I-5 through the Central Valley, it is a convenient stop and offers a variety of restaurants and accommodations for road-trippers. There are several shopping centers and movie theaters and one art museum but few major attractions.
Top landmarks
•Haggin Museum — art museum in Stockton, California
Loma Linda is a small city in San Bernardino County, Southern California. It has approximately 25,000 people and is adjacent to San Bernardino and Redlands.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 18m. Total distance: 394.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 18m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 250.2 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 40 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 Loma Linda, 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. There are 40 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 312.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 336.8 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 360.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — 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 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Loma Linda, CA before the return drive.
