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Trip from Altadena, CA to Stockton, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

6h 13m

Distance

337.6 mi

543 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$78

one way

EV Charging

Good

7 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
6h 1m ★
6 AM
6h 14m
8 AM
6h 39m
10 AM
6h 23m
12 PM
6h 20m
3 PM
6h 24m
5 PM
6h 38m
8 PM
6h 6m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States

Altadena, CA

Wikimedia Commons

county seat of San Joaquin County, California, United States

Stockton, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 337.6-mile drive from Altadena, California, to Stockton, California, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can comfortably be completed in about 6 hours and 13 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Westside Freeway and I-5 Truck, this route is best tackled as a single-day trip, especially given its efficient highway share of 98%. With an estimated fuel cost of $78, it's an economical option for covering ground between the Pacific Coast regions. You'll find it's a practical choice for getting from Southern California to the Central Valley without significant detours, making it ideal for those prioritizing speed and directness.

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

168.8 miles from Altadena, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 10m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 13m. Total distance: 337.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 13m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Drive Character

Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 98% of the drive taking place on major freeways like the Westside Freeway and I-5 Truck. The character is largely one of consistent, fast travel, perfect for covering distance efficiently. You'll encounter one significant continuous stretch of 250.5 miles on the Westside Freeway, meaning extended periods of focused driving. While not a route known for its winding roads or dramatic scenery changes, its highway-focused profile ensures a predictable and uninterrupted journey for the majority of its length.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 250.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 1.3 miles in near East Woodbury Road.

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 17 significant decision points across 337.6 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 1.3 miles (East Woodbury Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
1.3 mi into trip | ~3m in | East Woodbury Road

Turn right onto East Woodbury Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
25.4 mi into trip | ~32m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
6
26.5 mi into trip | ~34m 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
62.6 mi into trip | ~1h 15m 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
84.9 mi into trip | ~1h 40m 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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 250.5 mi 4h 28m
I 5 Truck 37.1 mi 42m
Foothill Freeway 22.3 mi 25m
Golden State Freeway 22.3 mi 25m
East Woodbury Road 1.3 mi 2m
South El Dorado Street 1 mi 1m
Marengo Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
East Altadena Drive 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 250.5 mi, about 4h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Altadena, CA and Stockton, CA.

1

Start on North Lake Avenue

154 ft · 5 sec · North Lake Avenue
2

Turn left onto East Altadena Drive

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Altadena Drive
Use the left lane.
3

Turn left onto Marengo Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Marengo Avenue
4

Turn right onto East Woodbury Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · East Woodbury Road
Use the right lane.
5

Turn left onto Windsor Avenue

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Windsor Avenue
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward I 210 West: San Fernando
7

Merge onto I 210

22 mi · 25 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 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

25 mi · 26 min · Westside Freeway
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 14 sec
Exit 471 Toward CA 4 West
15

Keep slight right at fork

407 ft · 5 sec
16

Turn straight onto West Charter Way

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Charter Way
Use the straight / left lanes.
17

Turn left onto South El Dorado Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · South El Dorado Street
18

Continue on North El Dorado Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · North El Dorado Street
19

Turn right onto East Fremont Street

117 ft · 5 sec · East Fremont Street
20

Arrive at destination

East Fremont Street

Trip Plan

For this 6-hour and 13-minute drive, departing early in the morning from Altadena is your best bet to avoid potential traffic and maximize daylight. With a single recommended stop and a fuel cost around $78, you can plan your journey with relative ease. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 250.5 miles on the Westside Freeway, as services can sometimes be spaced out. Since this is a manageable day trip, you have flexibility, but consider a brief stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refresh before continuing north to Stockton.

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 168.8 miles from Altadena, CA, or about 3h 10m 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 74 miles or 1h 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 168.8 miles or 3h 10m 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 7m

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 Altadena, 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 Altadena, CA

This is one driving day of about 337.6 miles and 6h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Altadena, 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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 168.8 mi from Altadena, CA · 3h 10m into the drive

city and county seat of Kern County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bakersfield, CA

169 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

Bakersfield, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 74 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Coalinga, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 168.8 miles from Altadena, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 250.5 miles.

Arriving in Stockton, CA

The final approach into Stockton, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Stockton, CA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

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...

24 mi from route ~59 min detour Free near mile 23.3
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

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 ~70 min detour Free near mile 81.5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$77.59 one way

$155.19 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 118 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $79.96 $159.92
premium $6.18 $82.10 $164.20
diesel $5.61 $74.54 $149.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$78

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$103–$128

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 118.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

7 DC fast chargers · Coverage: good

Tesla Supercharger

Granada Hills, California

Tesla

1 DCFC

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Lebec, California

Other

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Santa Clarita, California

Tesla

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Lebec, California

Tesla

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Santa Clarita, California

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Lebec, California

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Lynkwell Charging Station

Glendale, California

Other

1 DCFC

Tesla: 3 Other: 2 ChargePoint: 2

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 101.3 1 $35.45 $16.20
Efficient EV 84.4 0 $29.54 $13.50
EV Truck/SUV 135 1 $47.26 $21.61

Gas CO2

118 kg

EV CO2

39 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 15, 2026

Origin

Altadena, CA

Afternoon in Altadena on Thursday

Local time

3:56 PM

PDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Stockton, CA

Afternoon in Stockton on Thursday

Local time

3:56 PM

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

4 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 13m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Altadena, CA to Stockton, CA covers 337.6 miles and takes about 6h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, Foothill Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 168.8 miles from Altadena, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $77.59 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 337.6 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (East Woodbury Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Altadena, CA to Stockton, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Stockton, CA to Altadena, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

337.8 mi 6h 14m

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