Drive Time
5h 51m
Distance
371.1 mi
597 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$86
one way
Photo: Stephen Leonardi
The drive from Culver City, CA to Oakland, CA covers 371.1 miles and takes about 5h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Culver Boulevard, Venice Boulevard, South Robertson Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $85.94 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
185.6 miles from Culver City, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 55m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 51m drive with frequent turns across 371.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 51m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Culver City, CA to Oakland, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Culver Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Venice Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Robertson Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Santa Monica Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 405 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| San Diego Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Culver City, CA and Oakland, CA.
Start on Duquesne Avenue
Turn right onto Culver Boulevard
Turn right onto Venice Boulevard
Turn left onto South Robertson Boulevard
Take the ramp straight toward I 10 West: Santa Monica
Merge slight left onto Santa Monica Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 405 North: Sacramento
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
Merge slight right
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Keep slight left
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Castro Valley Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on I 880 North
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
Turn right onto Oak Street
Turn left onto 12th Street
Turn right onto Harrison Street
Turn left onto 14th Street
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 82 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 185.6 miles or 2h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakland, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Culver City, 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 Culver City, CA
This is one driving day of about 371.1 miles and 5h 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 185.6 mi from Culver City, CA · 2h 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
186 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.
A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 185.6 miles from Culver City, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Oakland, 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 Oakland, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$85.94 one way
$171.87 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $88.63 | $177.25 |
| premium | $6.24 | $91.21 | $182.42 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $82.45 | $164.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$86
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$111–$136
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 111.3 | 1 | $38.97 | $17.81 |
| Efficient EV | 92.8 | 1 | $32.47 | $14.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 148.4 | 1 | $51.95 | $23.75 |
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
43 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Culver City on Saturday
Local time
2:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Oakland on Saturday
Local time
2:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
76°F
Fresno, CA
186 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.
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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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