Origin
West Menlo Park, CA
Late night in West Menlo Park on Tuesday
Local time
4:23 AM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Menlo Park, CA to Los Angeles, 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 50m
Distance
359.2 mi
578 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$83
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 39m
★
6 AM
6h 50m
8 AM
7h 14m
10 AM
6h 58m
12 PM
6h 56m
3 PM
7h 0m
5 PM
7h 12m
8 PM
6h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Menlo Park, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
West Menlo Park to Los Angeles is 359.2 miles and takes about 6h 50m via Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, and Pacheco Pass Highway, with a fuel budget near $83 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily traverses the Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward drive for those heading south in California. With 87% of the route on highways, it’s designed for efficient travel, making it a solid choice for a single-day journey. Plan for a relatively quick transit between these two major California hubs.
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
179.6 miles from West Menlo Park, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 181.1 mi | 3h 14m |
| I 5 Truck | 63.9 mi | 1h 13m |
| Pacheco Pass Highway | 40.6 mi | 50m |
| US 101 | 20.3 mi | 23m |
| West Valley Freeway | 18.1 mi | 20m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 16.2 mi | 20m |
| Junipero Serra Freeway | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| Golden State Freeway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 181.1 mi, about 3h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Menlo Park, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on this road
117 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Ashton Avenue
295 ft
·
20 sec
·
Ashton Avenue
3
Turn left onto Alameda de las Pulgas
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Alameda de las Pulgas
4
Turn straight onto Santa Cruz Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Cruz Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on Alpine Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Alpine Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 280 South: San Jose
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 280
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Junipero Serra Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 12B
Toward CA 85 South: Gilroy
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto CA 85
18 mi
·
20 min
·
West Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on CA 85
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
CA 85
Exit 1A
Toward US 101 South
11
Continue on US 101
20 mi
·
23 min
·
US 101
12
Take the exit onto CA 152
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
CA 152
Toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
13
Turn left onto CA 152
353 ft
·
12 sec
·
East 10th Street
14
Continue on CA 152
41 mi
·
50 min
·
Pacheco Pass Highway
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5: Los Angeles
16
Merge onto I 5
181 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 153B
Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on CA 170
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on West Aliso Street
409 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
26
Turn left onto West 1st Street
354 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
27
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6h 50m drive, aim for an early morning departure from West Menlo Park to avoid potential traffic in the Bay Area. Since this route is manageable in a single day, you have flexibility with stops; the suggested one stop is likely sufficient. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of highway, and budget around $83 for gas. With the majority of the route being highway, you can cover significant ground efficiently.
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 179.6 miles from West Menlo Park, CA, or about 3h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.1 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 79 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 179.6 miles or 3h 28m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Los Angeles, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Menlo Park, 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 West Menlo Park, CA
This is one driving day of about 359.2 miles and 6h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from West Menlo Park, 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 181.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
180 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 79 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 179.6 miles from West Menlo Park, 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 181.1 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 205 decision points cluster between mile 12 and 358.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
12 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward CA 85 South: Gilroy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12B
Toward CA 85 South: Gilroy
8
336.4 mi into trip
|
~6h 21m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
7
341.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 27m in
Take the exit toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 153B
Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
7
358.6 mi into trip
|
~6h 48m in
Take the exit toward Broadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
7
358.8 mi into trip
|
~6h 49m in
|
North Spring Street
Turn right onto North Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$82.56 one way
$165.12 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
126 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $85.08 | $170.15 |
| premium | $6.18 | $87.35 | $174.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $79.31 | $158.61 |
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: 125.7 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 | 107.8 | 1 | $37.72 | $17.24 |
| Efficient EV | 89.8 | 1 | $31.43 | $14.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 143.7 | 1 | $50.29 | $22.99 |
Gas CO2
126 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.
Destination
Los Angeles, CA
Late night in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
4:23 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°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
9 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 50m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway cruising, with 87% of the 359.2 miles spent on major freeways. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of highway, 181.1 miles, on the Westside Freeway. Expect the transition from highway to surface roads to occur after this significant freeway segment. The route features substantial highway driving, so be prepared for typical freeway conditions like merging traffic and multiple interchanges.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 181.1 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 12 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 20 significant decision points across 359.2 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 12 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 336.4 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 341.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in West Menlo Park, CA
Full guide →Arriving 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
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 50m. Total distance: 359.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 50m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 181.1 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 Los Angeles, 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 12 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 336.4 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 341.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Los Angeles, 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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