Origin
Thousand Oaks, CA
Morning in Thousand Oaks on Tuesday
Local time
7:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thousand Oaks, CA to Stockton, 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
6h 22m
Distance
347.3 mi
559 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$80
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 10m
★
6 AM
6h 23m
8 AM
6h 48m
10 AM
6h 32m
12 PM
6h 29m
3 PM
6h 33m
5 PM
6h 47m
8 PM
6h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thousand Oaks, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Stockton, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Thousand Oaks to Stockton is 347.3 miles and takes about 6h 22m via Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, and Golden State Freeway, with a fuel budget near $80 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within California, traversing the Pacific Coast region from south to north. Expect a predominantly highway experience, making it a straightforward drive for those looking to cover ground efficiently. Given its duration and highway nature, it’s a solid option for a single-day road trip.
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
173.6 miles from Thousand Oaks, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 250.5 mi | 4h 28m |
| I 5 Truck | 39.3 mi | 45m |
| Golden State Freeway | 22.3 mi | 25m |
| Ventura Freeway | 22.1 mi | 25m |
| San Diego Freeway | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| South El Dorado Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Charter Way | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North El Dorado Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 250.5 mi, about 4h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thousand Oaks, CA and Stockton, CA.
1
Start on this road
63 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto East Thousand Oaks Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Thousand Oaks Boulevard
3
Turn right onto Hampshire Road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Hampshire Road
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward US 101 South, CA 23 South
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto US 101; CA 23
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Santa Monica
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 405 North: Sacramento
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 405
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / sharp right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
25 mi
·
26 min
·
Westside Freeway
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 471
Toward CA 4 West
16
Keep slight right at fork
407 ft
·
5 sec
17
Turn straight onto West Charter Way
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Charter Way
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
Turn left onto South El Dorado Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South El Dorado Street
19
Continue on North El Dorado Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
North El Dorado Street
20
Turn right onto East Fremont Street
117 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Fremont Street
21
Arrive at destination
East Fremont Street
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, leaving Thousand Oaks in the morning is ideal to avoid the worst of any potential traffic. Since it’s a one-day trip, you have flexibility, but consider breaking it up with a stop around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a major change in road type is over 250 miles. Plan for a fuel stop before you hit that long segment on the Westside Freeway to ensure a smooth continuation.
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 173.6 miles from Thousand Oaks, CA, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 250.5 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 76 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.6 miles or 3h 14m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stockton, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Thousand Oaks, 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 Thousand Oaks, CA
This is one driving day of about 347.3 miles and 6h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Thousand Oaks, 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 250.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
174 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 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 173.6 miles from Thousand Oaks, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 250.5 miles.
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 185 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 94.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left toward US 101 South, CA 23 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 101 South, CA 23 South
7
22.8 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Santa Monica
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.
Toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Sa...
7
23 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 405 North: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 405 North: Sacramento
9
34.6 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
7
94.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$79.82 one way
$159.65 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
122 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $82.26 | $164.52 |
| premium | $6.18 | $84.46 | $168.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $76.68 | $153.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$80
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$105–$130
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 104.2 | 1 | $36.47 | $16.67 |
| Efficient EV | 86.8 | 0 | $30.39 | $13.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 138.9 | 1 | $48.62 | $22.23 |
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Stockton, CA
Morning in Stockton on Tuesday
Local time
7:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°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
16 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 22m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 99% of this 347.3-mile drive, with the longest continuous stretch covering 250.5 miles on the Westside Freeway. This means you'll experience mostly freeway cruising with frequent exits and merges, typical of major California arteries. Expect a consistent driving pace for the bulk of the trip before transitioning to surface roads closer to your destination.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 250.5 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 0.4 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 18 significant decision points across 347.3 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 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Thousand Oaks, CA to Stockton, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Monica along the way.
Santa Monica
22.8 mi in
|
~27m
About the Cities
Starting in Thousand Oaks, CA
Full guide →Founded 1964
Thousand Oaks is a city in Ventura County in Southern California. It is the largest city in the Conejo Valley, which it shares with Agoura Hills and Westlake Village, nestled within the Santa Monica Mountains. Newbury Park on the west and Oak Park on the east are districts of Thousand Oaks.
Arriving in Stockton, CA
Full guide →Founded 1849
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
- • USCGC Fir — Lighthouse tender
- • USS Lucid — 1953 Aggressive-class minesweeper
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 6h 22m. Total distance: 347.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 22m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 250.5 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 Stockton, 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 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Stockton, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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