This 363.2-mile journey from Sunland, CA to Laguna, CA takes approximately 6 hours and 43 minutes of driving time. It's a substantial drive, best suited for a single, dedicated day trip, though you could comfortably split it if you prefer a more relaxed pace. The route is heavily focused on major freeways, with 98% of it on highways, making it a straightforward drive. Expect a fuel cost of around $83 for this trip. Given that both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, you'll remain in California for the entire duration, experiencing a consistent regional feel throughout.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
181.6 miles from Sunland, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
285.8 mi
5h 7m
I 5 Truck
37.1 mi
42m
Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi
25m
Foothill Freeway
10.9 mi
12m
Elk Grove Boulevard
3 mi
5m
Foothill Boulevard
1.1 mi
2m
Foulks Ranch Drive
0.7 mi
1m
Mount Gleason Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 285.8 mi, about 5h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sunland, CA and Laguna, CA.
1
Start on Wentworth Street
117 ft·10 sec·Wentworth Street
2
Turn left onto Mount Gleason Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Mount Gleason Avenue
3
Turn right onto Summitrose Street
338 ft·9 sec·Summitrose Street
4
Turn straight onto Foothill Boulevard
1.1 mi·2 min·Foothill Boulevard
5
Continue on Sunland Boulevard
0.4 mi·41 sec·Sunland Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 210 West: San Fernando
7
Merge onto I 210
11 mi·12 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.0 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
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 right at fork onto I 5
226 mi·4 hr 1 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi·27 min·Westside Freeway
14
Keep left at fork onto I 5
35 mi·37 min·Westside Freeway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 506Toward Elk Grove BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto E12
3.0 mi·5 min·Elk Grove Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
17
Turn left onto Foulks Ranch Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Foulks Ranch Drive
Use the left lane.
18
At end of road, turn right onto Laguna Park Drive
0.2 mi·29 sec·Laguna Park Drive
19
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
0.2 mi·37 sec·Seasons Drive
20
Turn left onto November Drive
0.1 mi·29 sec·November Drive
21
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way
155 ft·12 sec·Mapleview Way
22
Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court
183 ft·8 sec·Fall Breeze Court
23
Arrive at destination
Fall Breeze Court
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour, 43-minute drive, starting early is recommended to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic. With only one suggested stop on this 363.2-mile route, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the 200-mile mark. The longest stretch is 285.8 miles, so be sure to fuel up before embarking or at a major junction. The $83 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always carry a little extra. Given the highway-centric nature, staying alert and aware of surrounding traffic is 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 181.6 miles from Sunland, CA, or about 3h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 285.8 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.6 miles or 3h 22m 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 33m
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 Sunland, 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 Sunland, CA
This is one driving day of about 363.2 miles and 6h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sunland, 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 285.8 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.3 and 358.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
13.3 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
14.4 mi into trip|~19m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
50.6 mi into trip|~1h 1m 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.
7
72.8 mi into trip|~1h 26m 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
7
358.6 mi into trip|~6h 33m in
Take the exit toward Elk Grove Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 506
Toward Elk Grove Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$83.48 one way
$166.96 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$86.02
$172.05
premium
$6.18
$88.33
$176.65
diesel
$5.61
$80.19
$160.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$83
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$108–$133
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
109
1
$38.14
$17.43
Efficient EV
90.8
1
$31.78
$14.53
EV Truck/SUV
145.3
1
$50.85
$23.24
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Sunland, CA
Late night
in Sunland on Tuesday
Local time
1:46 AM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Laguna, CA
Late night
in Laguna on Tuesday
Local time
1:46 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
19 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
6h 43m 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...
23 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 12.5
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...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 75.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a highway-focused drive, as 98% of this route utilizes major freeways. You'll spend most of your time on the Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, and Golden State Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers an impressive 285.8 miles, primarily on the Westside Freeway, meaning you'll be in a high-speed, consistent driving environment for a significant portion of the trip. This profile suggests a direct and efficient transit rather than a winding, scenic exploration.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 285.8 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 13.3 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 363.2 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 13.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.6 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 43m. Total distance: 363.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 43m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 285.8 miles on Westside Freeway. 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 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 13.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.6 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Laguna, CA before the return drive.
