Drive Time
8h
Distance
433.1 mi
697 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$59
one way
Photo: Stephen Leonardi
Spanning 433.1 miles from Colfax to Los Angeles, this drive typically takes about 8 hours of pure transit time. Because of the significant distance, splitting the journey over 2 days is highly recommended to keep the experience manageable. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major arterial roads, specifically utilizing the Alan S. Hart Freeway, I-5 Truck route, and the Westside Freeway. With a fuel budget of approximately $59, it is a straightforward trip across the Pacific Coast region. While technically possible as a long day trip, planning for 2 stops will ensure you arrive in Southern California without excessive fatigue.
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
216.5 miles from Colfax, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 59m into the drive .
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused drive, as 98% of this route consists of high-speed transit. The personality of the road is defined by its uniformity, prioritizing speed and directness over scenic detours. You will encounter a substantial, uninterrupted stretch of 296.3 miles along the Westside Freeway, which dominates the mid-section of your journey. Transitioning from the mountain foothills near Colfax onto these primary interstates shifts the driving experience from technical navigation to long-distance cruising. Be prepared for a consistent pace where the rhythm of the road remains steady for the duration of the trip.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 296.3 mi | 5h 19m |
| I 5 Truck | 63.9 mi | 1h 13m |
| Alan S. Hart Freeway | 32.3 mi | 37m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 16.2 mi | 20m |
| Capital City Freeway | 10.6 mi | 11m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Golden State Freeway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| South Auburn Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Colfax, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
To make the most of this 8-hour trek, prioritize an early departure to avoid the worst of the congestion as you approach the Los Angeles area. Since the route relies so heavily on major freeways, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the long 296.3-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, as service options can be spaced out. Planning for 2 deliberate stops will help break up the monotony of the interstate segments and keep you alert behind the wheel. If you have the flexibility, an overnight split will transform this from a grueling haul into a much more comfortable transit. Always verify local traffic reports for the I-5 corridor before leaving, as highway-heavy routes are particularly sensitive to unexpected delays.
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.
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 95 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 216.5 miles or 3h 59m 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 216.5 miles or 3h 59m
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 6h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Los Angeles, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Colfax, 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 Colfax, CA
Aim for roughly 217 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Los Angeles, CA
Aim for roughly 217 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 216.5 mi from Colfax, CA · 3h 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
217 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, CANight 1
217 mi · about 4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Turlock, CA after about 217 miles or 4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 95 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 216.5 miles from Colfax, 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 296.3 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 217 miles or 4 hours on the road.
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.
Regular Gas
$58.83 one way
$117.65 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $65.65 | $131.29 |
| premium | $4.15 | $70.76 | $141.52 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $63.94 | $127.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$189–$299
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 151.5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 129.9 | 1 | $45.48 | $20.79 |
| Efficient EV | 108.3 | 1 | $37.90 | $17.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 173.2 | 2 | $60.63 | $27.72 |
Gas CO2
152 kg
EV CO2
51 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Colfax on Saturday
Local time
9:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Los Angeles on Saturday
Local time
9:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
74°F
Turlock, CA
217 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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