Origin
Cupertino, CA
Afternoon in Cupertino on Sunday
Local time
3:32 PM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cupertino, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Drive Time
5h 34m
Distance
347.9 mi
560 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$81
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 21m
★
6 AM
5h 34m
8 AM
6h 1m
10 AM
5h 44m
12 PM
5h 41m
3 PM
5h 45m
5 PM
6h 0m
8 PM
5h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cupertino, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Cupertino, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 347.9 miles and takes about 5h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Stevens Creek Boulevard, South De Anza Boulevard, CA 85 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $80.56 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
173.9 miles from Cupertino, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 34m drive with frequent turns across 347.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Stevens Creek Boulevard is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 34m 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 Cupertino, CA to Los Angeles, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Stevens Creek Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South De Anza Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 85 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Valley Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 101 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 152 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 10th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pacheco Pass Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Stevens Creek Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cupertino, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on North De Anza Boulevard
125 ft
·
5 sec
·
North De Anza Boulevard
2
Turn right
243 ft
·
20 sec
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto Stevens Creek Boulevard
148 ft
·
6 sec
·
Stevens Creek Boulevard
4
Turn left onto South De Anza Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South De Anza Boulevard
5
Turn left onto CA 85 South
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
CA 85 South
6
Merge slight left onto West Valley Freeway
16 mi
·
17 min
·
West Valley Freeway
7
Continue on US 101 South
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 101 South
8
Continue straight
20 mi
·
23 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
10
Turn left onto East 10th Street
354 ft
·
13 sec
·
East 10th Street
11
Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway
41 mi
·
50 min
·
Pacheco Pass Highway
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5: Los Angeles
13
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
·
Westside Freeway
14
Keep slight right
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
15
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
16
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 405 South
17
Keep slight left
5.3 mi
·
6 min
18
Take the exit slight right toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
CA 170 South: Hollywood
19
Continue on Hollywood Freeway
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
20
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Broadway
21
Continue on West Aliso Street
410 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Aliso Street
22
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
North Spring Street
23
Turn left onto West 1st Street
354 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 1st Street
24
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 173.9 miles from Cupertino, CA, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.9 miles or 2h 47m 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 36m
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 Cupertino, 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 Cupertino, CA
This is one driving day of about 347.9 miles and 5h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cupertino, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 173.9 mi from Cupertino, CA · 2h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
174 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 173.9 miles from Cupertino, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$80.56 one way
$161.13 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
122 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $83.09 | $166.17 |
| premium | $6.24 | $85.51 | $171.02 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $77.29 | $154.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$81
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$106–$131
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 104.4 | 1 | $36.53 | $16.70 |
| Efficient EV | 87 | 0 | $30.44 | $13.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 139.2 | 1 | $48.71 | $22.27 |
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 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
3:32 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.
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
11 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
5h 34m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cupertino, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 347.9 miles and takes about 5h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Stevens Creek Boulevard, South De Anza Boulevard, CA 85 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 173.9 miles from Cupertino, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $80.56 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 straightforward 5h 34m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cupertino, CA to Los Angeles, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cupertino, CA to Los Angeles, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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