Skip to main content

Trip from Felton, CA to Los Angeles, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

6h 43m

Distance

348.6 mi

561 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$80

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
6h 32m ★
6 AM
6h 44m
8 AM
7h 8m
10 AM
6h 52m
12 PM
6h 50m
3 PM
6h 53m
5 PM
7h 6m
8 PM
6h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Felton, CA, CA

Felton, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Downtown los-angeles-ca

Los Angeles, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

This 348.6-mile drive from Felton, CA, to Los Angeles, CA, is a solid day trip, estimated to take about 6 hours and 43 minutes of driving time. With a highway share of 77%, you'll be on a highway-focused route for the majority of your journey, making it an efficient way to cover the distance. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $80. Given its manageable length and straightforward path, you can comfortably complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stop, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. This route efficiently connects two points along the Pacific Coast.

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

174.3 miles from Felton, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 27m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 43m. Total distance: 348.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 43m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Drive Character

Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 77% of the route utilizing major roads. The journey includes stretches on Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, and Pacheco Pass Highway. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch at 181.1 miles on Westside Freeway, indicating significant time spent on high-speed, limited-access roads. This profile suggests a focus on making good time rather than extensive sightseeing, with the character of the road remaining consistent for large portions of the trip.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 37 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 181.1 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 325.8 miles in near I 5 Truck.

Driving Effort 10/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 348.6 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 325.8 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 331.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 348.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 24 key points

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

8
325.8 mi into trip | ~6h 14m 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
331.4 mi into trip | ~6h 21m 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
348.1 mi into trip | ~6h 42m 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
348.3 mi into trip | ~6h 43m in | North Spring Street

Turn right onto North Spring Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
348.5 mi into trip | ~6h 43m in | West 1st Street

Turn left onto West 1st Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Felton, CA to Los Angeles, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Gilroy along the way.

Gilroy

20.4 mi in | ~28m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 181.1 mi 3h 14m
I 5 Truck 63.9 mi 1h 13m
Pacheco Pass Highway 35.8 mi 42m
Hollywood Freeway 16.2 mi 20m
Cabrillo Highway 14 mi 16m
Riverside Road 9.5 mi 13m
Graham Hill Road 5.7 mi 10m
Golden State Freeway 4.1 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 181.1 mi, about 3h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on CA 9

414 ft · 14 sec · Highway 9
2

Turn straight

193 ft · 8 sec
3

Turn slight right onto Graham Hill Road

5.7 mi · 10 min · Graham Hill Road
4

Continue on Ocean Street

0.4 mi · 49 sec · Ocean Street
5

Continue on Plymouth Street

283 ft · 5 sec · Plymouth Street
6

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 11 sec
7

Merge onto CA 1

14 mi · 16 min · Cabrillo Highway
8

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward CA 152: Watsonville, Gilroy
9

Continue on CA 152

1.4 mi · 2 min · Main Street
10

Continue on CA 152

0.4 mi · 52 sec · Main Street
11

Turn left onto CA 152

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Beach Street
12

Turn right onto Blackburn Street

0.3 mi · 52 sec · Blackburn Street
13

Turn left onto CA 129

222 ft · 7 sec · East Riverside Drive
14

Continue on CA 129

0.8 mi · 1 min · Riverside Road
15

Enter roundabout onto Riverside Road

92 ft · 1 sec · Riverside Road
16

Continue on Riverside Road

8.6 mi · 11 min · Riverside Road
17

Continue on CA 129

2.6 mi · 3 min · Chittenden Road
18

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 31 sec
19

Merge onto US 101

2.4 mi · 2 min · El Camino Real
20

Continue on US 101

3.1 mi · 3 min · South Valley Freeway
21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 353 Toward CA 25 East
22

At end of road, turn left onto CA 25

0.7 mi · 58 sec · Bloomfield Avenue
23

Continue on CR G7

3.2 mi · 4 min · Bloomfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
24

Turn right onto CA 152

36 mi · 42 min · Pacheco Pass Highway
25

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 5: Los Angeles
26

Merge onto I 5

181 mi · 3 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

4.1 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

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.
30

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

5.3 mi · 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

Take the exit

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

Continue on CA 170

16 mi · 20 min · Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Exit 2C Toward Broadway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34

Continue on West Aliso Street

409 ft · 18 sec · West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
35

Turn right onto North Spring Street

0.3 mi · 35 sec · North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
36

Turn left onto West 1st Street

354 ft · 12 sec · West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
37

Arrive at destination

West 1st Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 6-hour, 43-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Felton to bypass potential traffic as you approach Los Angeles. With only one recommended stop, you have ample flexibility to decide when and where to refuel or stretch your legs. The longest stretch without a planned stop is over 181 miles, so ensure you have a full tank before embarking on that segment. Planning your single stop around the halfway point or closer to the 181-mile mark on Westside Freeway would be a practical approach.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 174.3 miles from Felton, CA, or about 3h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.1 miles.

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 77 miles or 1h 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 174.3 miles or 3h 27m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 31m

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 Felton, 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 Felton, CA

This is one driving day of about 348.6 miles and 6h 43m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Felton, 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.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 181.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 174.3 mi from Felton, CA · 3h 27m into the drive

city in Stanislaus County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Turlock, CA

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.

Popular next leg

Turlock, CA to Los Angeles, CA

298.4 mi · 5h 37m

Pacing Suggestions

Turlock, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 77 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Coalinga, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 174.3 miles from Felton, 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 181.1 miles.

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.

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

$80.12 one way

$160.25 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 122 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $82.57 $165.13
premium $6.18 $84.78 $169.55
diesel $5.61 $76.97 $153.93

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$80

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$105–$130

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 122 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 104.6 1 $36.60 $16.73
Efficient EV 87.2 0 $30.50 $13.94
EV Truck/SUV 139.4 1 $48.80 $22.31

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Felton, CA

Afternoon in Felton on Thursday

Local time

1:25 PM

PDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Los Angeles, CA

Afternoon in Los Angeles on Thursday

Local time

1:25 PM

PDT

Current temp

54°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

4 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

6h 43m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Felton, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 348.6 miles and takes about 6h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, Pacheco Pass Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 174.3 miles from Felton, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $80.12 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 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 demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 348.6 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 325.8 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 331.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 348.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Felton, CA to Los Angeles, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Gilroy along the way.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Felton, CA or browse trips ending in Los Angeles, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.

Explore maps for Felton, CA or Los Angeles, CA on MapSof.net.