Origin
Folsom, CA
Afternoon in Folsom on Sunday
Local time
2:55 PM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Folsom, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Drive Time
7h 27m
Distance
395.8 mi
637 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$92
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 18m
★
6 AM
7h 28m
8 AM
7h 48m
10 AM
7h 35m
12 PM
7h 33m
3 PM
7h 36m
5 PM
7h 47m
8 PM
7h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Folsom, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Driving from Folsom to Los Angeles covers 395.8 miles and typically takes about 7 hours and 27 minutes. This route relies heavily on major arteries like the Westside Freeway, the I-5 Truck route, and the South Sacramento Freeway. Because it is a highway-focused drive, you can realistically complete the journey in one day, though it will be a full day behind the wheel. Budget approximately $54 for fuel to make the trip between these two Pacific Coast locations. It is a straightforward, functional transit route rather than a leisurely sightseeing tour, perfect for those prioritizing efficiency over scenic detours.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
197.9 miles from Folsom, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 46m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a high-speed, interstate-heavy experience with 95% of your travel occurring on major highways. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Westside Freeway, which features the route's longest uninterrupted stretch of 250.2 miles. The road’s personality is defined by its consistency, offering a steady, utilitarian drive rather than technical or winding terrain. As you navigate the transition from the Sacramento area down toward Southern California, the landscape remains largely defined by the freeway environment. Be prepared for a long, focused stint on the road where maintaining a steady pace is the primary challenge.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 33 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 250.2 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 12.3 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 395.8 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 12.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 373 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 378.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 29 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
12.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward Bradshaw Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13
Toward Bradshaw Road
8
373 mi into trip
|
~6h 58m 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
378.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 4m 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
395.2 mi into trip
|
~7h 26m 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
395.4 mi into trip
|
~7h 26m in
|
North Spring Street
Turn right onto North Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 250.2 mi | 4h 28m |
| I 5 Truck | 63.9 mi | 1h 13m |
| South Sacramento Freeway | 29.7 mi | 34m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 16.2 mi | 20m |
| Bradshaw Road | 11.6 mi | 16m |
| El Dorado Freeway | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| Golden State Freeway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Folsom Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 250.2 mi, about 4h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Folsom, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on Sutter Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Sutter Street
2
Turn right onto Wool Street
366 ft
·
18 sec
·
Wool Street
3
Turn left onto Leidesdorff Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Leidesdorff Street
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
5
Turn straight onto Folsom Boulevard
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Folsom Boulevard
Use the none lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 50 West: Sacramento
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto US 50
8.6 mi
·
9 min
·
El Dorado Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 13
Toward Bradshaw Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto Bradshaw Road
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Bradshaw Road
Use the left lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto Bradshaw Road
81 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bradshaw Road
11
Continue on Bradshaw Road
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Bradshaw Road
Use the left / uturn / none lanes.
12
Turn right onto E2
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Grant Line Road
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on E2
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Kammerer Road
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
15
Merge onto CA 99
30 mi
·
34 min
·
South Sacramento Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 4
17
Merge onto CA 4
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Crosstown Freeway
18
Take the exit onto CA 4
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
CA 4
Toward I 5: Sacramento
19
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 4
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 4
Toward I 5 South
20
Merge onto I 5; CA 4
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Westside Freeway
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
48 sec
·
Westside Freeway
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi
·
4 hr 13 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
23
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.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the none lane.
25
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.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 153B
Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on CA 170
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the none lane.
29
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on West Aliso Street
409 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
31
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
32
Turn left onto West 1st Street
354 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
33
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
To manage the 7.5-hour duration effectively, plan for at least two strategic stops to stretch your legs and reset. Given the length of the 250.2-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, ensure your fuel tank is topped off before entering the more isolated portions of the interstate. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid mid-day fatigue and potential traffic congestion upon reaching the Los Angeles area. Since this is a one-day trip, keep your itinerary flexible so you can adjust your pace if you encounter heavy traffic. Always check your tire pressure before departing, as the sustained highway speeds will demand a well-maintained vehicle for the duration of the 395.8-mile trek.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 197.9 miles from Folsom, CA, or about 3h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 250.2 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 87 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 197.9 miles or 3h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 15m
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 Folsom, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Folsom, CA
This is one driving day of about 395.8 miles and 7h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Folsom, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 250.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 197.9 mi from Folsom, CA · 3h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
198 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 87 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 197.9 miles from Folsom, 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 250.2 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
$91.66 one way
$183.31 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
139 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $94.52 | $189.05 |
| premium | $6.24 | $97.28 | $194.57 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $87.93 | $175.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$92
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$117–$142
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 138.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 118.7 | 1 | $41.56 | $19.00 |
| Efficient EV | 99 | 1 | $34.63 | $15.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 158.3 | 1 | $55.41 | $25.33 |
Gas CO2
138 kg
EV CO2
46 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.
Destination
Los Angeles, CA
Afternoon in Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
2:55 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
3 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
7h 27m 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 Folsom, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 395.8 miles and takes about 7h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, South Sacramento Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 197.9 miles from Folsom, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $91.66 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 29 significant decision points across 395.8 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 12.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 373 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 378.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Folsom, CA to Los Angeles, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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