Origin
Cloverdale, CA
Afternoon in Cloverdale on Sunday
Local time
12:33 PM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Cloverdale, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Drive Time
8h 35m
Distance
459.2 mi
739 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$106
one way
Cloverdale, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Traveling from Cloverdale to Los Angeles covers 459.2 miles and typically requires about 8 hours and 35 minutes of drive time. While you could technically push through in a single long day, splitting this trip over two days makes for a much more manageable experience. You will primarily utilize the Redwood Highway, the Westside Freeway, and I-5 Truck routes to navigate your way south along the Pacific Coast region. Budget approximately $62 for fuel to complete the journey. Because 85% of your travel occurs on highways, this is a highly efficient route focused on getting you to your destination rather than a leisurely backroad tour.
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
229.6 miles from Cloverdale, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding scenic detours. With 85% of the trip spent on major roads, you will spend most of your time maintaining a steady pace on the interstate. The longest uninterrupted section involves 224.4 miles on the Westside Freeway, which demands consistent focus during the heart of your journey. As you transition from the northern part of the Pacific Coast toward Los Angeles, the road personality remains predominantly fast-paced and industrial. Prepare for a straightforward, utilitarian experience that minimizes stop-and-go traffic in favor of long, open stretches of asphalt.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 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 224.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Redwood Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 69.3 miles in near I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 459.2 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 69.3 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.6 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.9 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
69.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 451B
Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
8
86.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
|
I 580 / Interstate Highway 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / Interstate Highway 80 toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oaklan...
8
86.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
|
I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockt...
8
436.4 mi into trip
|
~8h 6m 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
442 mi into trip
|
~8h 13m 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
Towns Along This Route
Between Cloverdale, CA and Los Angeles, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda and San Jose.
Oakland
69.3 mi in
|
~1h 21m
|
via I 580
Hayward
86.6 mi in
|
~1h 43m
|
via I 580
Stockton
86.6 mi in
|
~1h 43m
|
via I 580
Alameda
86.6 mi in
|
~1h 43m
|
via I 580
San Jose
86.6 mi in
|
~1h 43m
|
via I 580
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 224.4 mi | 4h |
| Redwood Highway | 68.6 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 5 Truck | 63.9 mi | 1h 13m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.3 mi | 33m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| MacArthur Freeway | 16.4 mi | 18m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 16.2 mi | 20m |
| John T. Knox Freeway | 13.6 mi | 17m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 224.4 mi, about 4h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cloverdale, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on North Cloverdale Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
North Cloverdale Boulevard
2
Turn left onto Citrus Fair Drive
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Citrus Fair Drive
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward Citrus Fair Drive
4
Merge onto US 101; CA 128
69 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
14 mi
·
17 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 451B
Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 80; I 580
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the none lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Interstate Highway 80
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi
·
18 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 580
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the none lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
11 mi
·
11 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
13
Merge onto I 5
224 mi
·
4 hr
·
Westside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
14
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.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the none lane.
16
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.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 153B
Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on CA 170
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the none lane.
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on West Aliso Street
409 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left onto West 1st Street
354 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
To keep your energy levels high, plan for at least two designated stops during your 8-hour and 35-minute transit. Given the significant distance, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid the brunt of urban traffic as you approach Los Angeles. Since the route relies heavily on the Westside Freeway and I-5, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that 224.4-mile stretch to ensure you don't run low in isolated areas. If you choose to break this into a two-day trip, look for accommodations midway to ensure you arrive at your destination refreshed. Always check local traffic reports for the I-5 corridor before you leave, as highway congestion can fluctuate significantly throughout the day.
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 229.6 miles from Cloverdale, CA, or about 4h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.4 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 101 miles or 1h 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 229.6 miles or 4h 20m 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 229.6 miles or 4h 20m
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 23m
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 Cloverdale, 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 Cloverdale, CA
Aim for roughly 230 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Los Angeles, CA
Aim for roughly 230 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 101 miles from Cloverdale, 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 224.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 229.6 mi from Cloverdale, CA · 4h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
230 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 Dublin, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
230 mi · about 4.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Dublin, CA after about 230 miles or 4.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 101 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 229.6 miles from Cloverdale, 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 224.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 230 miles or 4.3 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
$106.34 one way
$212.68 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
161 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $109.67 | $219.33 |
| premium | $6.24 | $112.87 | $225.73 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $102.02 | $204.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$106
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$236–$346
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 160.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $48 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 137.8 | 1 | $48.22 | $22.04 |
| Efficient EV | 114.8 | 1 | $40.18 | $18.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 183.7 | 2 | $64.29 | $29.39 |
Gas CO2
161 kg
EV CO2
54 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
Los Angeles, CA
Afternoon in Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
12:33 PM
PDT
Current temp
77°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.
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.
Road read
8h 35m 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 Cloverdale, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 459.2 miles and takes about 8h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Redwood Highway, I 5 Truck. 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 230 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 229.6 miles from Cloverdale, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $106.34 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 21 significant decision points across 459.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 69.3 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.6 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.9 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Cloverdale, CA and Los Angeles, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda and San Jose.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Los Angeles, CA
More from Cloverdale, CA
More trips to Los Angeles, CA
Explore more options from Cloverdale, CA or browse trips ending in Los Angeles, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Cloverdale, CA or Los Angeles, CA on MapSof.net.