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Trip from Chico, CA to Los Angeles, CA

Drive Time

8h 49m

Distance

471.4 mi

759 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$109

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
8h 41m ★
6 AM
8h 49m
8 AM
9h 5m
10 AM
8h 55m
12 PM
8h 53m
3 PM
8h 56m
5 PM
9h 4m
8 PM
8h 44m

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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Downtown Chico, CA, CA

Chico, CA

Sebastián Casimiro

Downtown los-angeles-ca

Los Angeles, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

Traveling from Chico to Los Angeles covers 471.4 miles, a journey that typically takes 8 hours and 49 minutes of driving time. Because this route is heavily highway-focused, you should anticipate a full day behind the wheel. While it is possible to push through in one long haul, splitting the trip over two recommended days allows for a much more relaxed pace. Budgeting approximately $64 for fuel is a solid starting point for your planning. You will be traveling entirely within the Pacific Coast region, transitioning from the northern interior of California down to the sprawling urban center of Los Angeles.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

235.7 miles from Chico, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 27m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a high-speed, interstate-heavy experience, as 96% of this trip consists of highway travel. You will navigate a mix of CA 70, the I-5 Truck route, and the Westside Freeway, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 303.7 miles. This segment dominates the journey, offering a predictable, efficient path that favors speed over scenic variety. Once you clear the local connections, the drive settles into a consistent rhythm. Be prepared for the monotonous, long-distance nature of the central highway corridors as you transition between these two major California hubs.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 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 303.7 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 10.7 miles in near CA 149.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 471.4 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 10.7 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 448.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 454.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

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

8
10.7 mi into trip | ~15m in | CA 149

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149 toward Oroville, Marysville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward Oroville, Marysville
8
448.6 mi into trip | ~8h 19m 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
454.1 mi into trip | ~8h 26m 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
470.8 mi into trip | ~8h 47m 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
471 mi into trip | ~8h 48m in | North Spring Street

Turn right onto North Spring Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 303.7 mi 5h 28m
I 5 Truck 63.9 mi 1h 13m
CA 70 49.2 mi 58m
Hollywood Freeway 16.2 mi 20m
CA 99 8 mi 9m
Golden State Highway 7.7 mi 8m
CA 149 5.5 mi 6m
Bernie Richter Memorial Highway 4.9 mi 5m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 303.7 mi, about 5h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chico, CA and Los Angeles, CA.

1

Start on East 5th Street

518 ft · 30 sec · East 5th Street
2

Turn left onto Broadway Street

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Broadway Street
3

Turn slight left onto Oroville Avenue

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Oroville Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4

Continue on Park Avenue

1.3 mi · 2 min · Park Avenue
5

Continue on East Park Avenue

0.5 mi · 55 sec · East Park Avenue
6

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 32 sec
7

Merge onto CA 99

8.0 mi · 9 min · CA 99
Use the none lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149

5.5 mi · 6 min · CA 149
Toward Oroville, Marysville Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto CA 70

19 mi · 22 min · CA 70
Use the straight lane.
10

Continue on CA 70

11 mi · 12 min · CA 70
Use the none lane.
11

Continue on CA 70

1.5 mi · 3 min · CA 70
Use the none lane.
12

Turn right onto 5th Street

0.2 mi · 31 sec · 5th Street
13

Turn left onto CA 70

4.2 mi · 5 min · E Street
14

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70

18 mi · 20 min · CA 70
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15

Merge onto CA 99

4.9 mi · 5 min · Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
16

Continue on CA 99

7.7 mi · 8 min · Golden State Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
17

Merge onto I 5

66 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Westside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

0.8 mi · 48 sec · Westside Freeway
19

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

237 mi · 4 hr 13 min · Westside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

4.1 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the none lane.
22

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.
23

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

5.3 mi · 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 32 sec
Exit 153B Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Continue on CA 170

16 mi · 20 min · Hollywood Freeway
Use the none lane.
26

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Exit 2C Toward Broadway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Continue on West Aliso Street

409 ft · 18 sec · West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
28

Turn right onto North Spring Street

0.3 mi · 35 sec · North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
29

Turn left onto West 1st Street

354 ft · 12 sec · West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
30

Arrive at destination

West 1st Street

Trip Plan

To manage the 471.4-mile distance effectively, plan for at least two intentional stops to break up the long stretches of highway. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid peak traffic congestion as you approach the Los Angeles basin. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the 303.7-mile Westside Freeway segment, as finding convenient services can sometimes require exiting the main flow of traffic. If you choose to turn this into a two-day trip, look for accommodations near the midway point to ensure you arrive at your destination refreshed. Prioritizing these breaks will make the nearly nine-hour drive feel significantly more manageable.

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 235.7 miles from Chico, CA, or about 4h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 303.7 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 104 miles or 2h 4m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 235.7 miles or 4h 27m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 235.7 miles or 4h 27m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 37m

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 Chico, 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.

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Chico, CA

Aim for roughly 236 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Los Angeles, CA

Aim for roughly 236 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 104 miles from Chico, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 303.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 235.7 mi from Chico, CA · 4h 27m into the drive

Downtown Turlock, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Turlock, CA

236 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Turlock, CA

Popular next leg

Turlock, CA to Los Angeles, CA

298.4 mi · 5h 37m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Turlock, CA

236 mi · about 4.4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Turlock, CA after about 236 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Sacramento, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 104 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Turlock, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 235.7 miles from Chico, 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 303.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 236 miles or 4.4 hours on the road.

Arriving in Los Angeles, CA

The final approach into Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles, CA.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Los Angeles, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$109.16 one way

$218.33 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 165 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $112.58 $225.16
premium $6.24 $115.86 $231.73
diesel $5.64 $104.73 $209.46

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$109

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$239–$349

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 164.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $50 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 141.4 1 $49.50 $22.63
Efficient EV 117.9 1 $41.25 $18.86
EV Truck/SUV 188.6 2 $66.00 $30.17

Gas CO2

165 kg

EV CO2

55 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 data refreshed 6 hours ago

Origin

Chico, CA

Afternoon in Chico on Sunday

Local time

12:54 PM

PDT

Current temp

57°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 9 to 14 mph 95% chance Live forecast

Winter Storm Warning

Winter Storm Warning issued April 12 at 5:46AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Winter Storm Warning

Winter Storm Warning issued April 12 at 4:42AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Sacramento CA

Destination

Los Angeles, CA

Afternoon in Los Angeles on Sunday

Local time

12:54 PM

PDT

Current temp

65°F

Rain

SW 5 to 10 mph 100% chance Live forecast

Winter Storm Warning

Winter Storm Warning issued April 12 at 5:46AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Winter Storm Warning

Winter Storm Warning issued April 12 at 4:42AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Sacramento 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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

8h 49m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Chico, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 471.4 miles and takes about 8h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, CA 70. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 236 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 235.7 miles from Chico, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $109.16 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 2 meaningful breaks 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 20 significant decision points across 471.4 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 10.7 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 448.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 454.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Chico, CA to Los Angeles, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Los Angeles, CA to Chico, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

471.6 mi 8h 49m

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