Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Hayfork, CA to Los Angeles, CA

Drive Time

11h 15m

Distance

604.4 mi

973 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$140

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
11h 5m ★
6 AM
11h 15m
8 AM
11h 35m
10 AM
11h 22m
12 PM
11h 20m
3 PM
11h 23m
5 PM
11h 34m
8 PM
11h 9m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown los-angeles-ca

Los Angeles, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from Hayfork, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 604.4 miles and takes about 11h 15m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, CA 299 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 424.9 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $139.96 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

3 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

302.2 miles from Hayfork, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 41m into the drive .

Drive Character

At 604.4 miles and 11h 15m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 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 424.9 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 61.9 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 604.4 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 61.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 581.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 587.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

7
61.9 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in

Take the exit toward I 5 South: Sacramento

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 2A Toward I 5 South: Sacramento
8
581.6 mi into trip | ~10h 46m 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
587.1 mi into trip | ~10h 52m 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
603.8 mi into trip | ~11h 13m 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
604 mi into trip | ~11h 14m 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 424.9 mi 7h 38m
I 5 Truck 63.9 mi 1h 13m
CA 299 36.5 mi 42m
Cascade Wonderland Highway 31.8 mi 34m
CA 3 23.7 mi 35m
Hollywood Freeway 16.2 mi 20m
Golden State Freeway 4.1 mi 4m
Tehama Street 1.6 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 424.9 mi, about 7h 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on CA 3

24 mi · 35 min · CA 3
2

At end of road, turn right onto CA 299

36 mi · 42 min · CA 299
3

Turn right onto Court Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Court Street
4

Turn left onto Tehama Street

1.6 mi · 2 min · Tehama Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 55 sec
Exit 2A Toward I 5 South: Sacramento Use the slight right lane.
6

Merge onto I 5

32 mi · 34 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
7

Continue on I 5

93 mi · 1 hr 39 min · Westside Freeway
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

16 mi · 16 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

79 mi · 1 hr 27 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

0.8 mi · 48 sec · Westside Freeway
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

237 mi · 4 hr 13 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

4.1 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

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.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

5.3 mi · 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 32 sec
Exit 153B Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on CA 170

16 mi · 20 min · Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Exit 2C Toward Broadway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on West Aliso Street

409 ft · 18 sec · West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
20

Turn right onto North Spring Street

0.3 mi · 35 sec · North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
21

Turn left onto West 1st Street

354 ft · 12 sec · West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
22

Arrive at destination

West 1st Street

Trip Plan

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 302.2 miles from Hayfork, CA, or about 5h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 424.9 miles.

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 133 miles or 2h 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 302.2 miles or 5h 41m 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 302.2 miles or 5h 41m

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 10h 3m

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 Hayfork, 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 Hayfork, CA

Aim for roughly 302 miles and 5.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Los Angeles, CA

Aim for roughly 302 miles and 5.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 133 miles from Hayfork, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 424.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 302.2 mi from Hayfork, CA · 5h 41m into the drive

Downtown Red Bluff, CA, CA

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Red Bluff, CA

199 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Popular next leg

Red Bluff, CA to Los Angeles, CA

513.3 mi · 9h 23m

Downtown Manteca, CA, CA

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Manteca, CA

399 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 Manteca, CA

Popular next leg

Manteca, CA to Los Angeles, CA

330.2 mi · 6h 5m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Davis, CA

302 mi · about 5.6h in

A practical overnight split lands near Davis, CA after about 302 miles or 5.6 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Chico, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 133 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lathrop, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 302.2 miles from Hayfork, 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 424.9 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 302 miles or 5.6 hours on the road.

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.

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Whiskeytown Lake’s crystal-clear waters are iconic, but this 42,000-acre National Recreation Area offers much more. Explore waterfalls, hike rugged trails, uncover Gold Rush history, and witness the r...

6 mi from route ~15 min detour $15 near mile 41.7
Caution: Winter Hazards on Trails - Downed Trees and High Water
View on nps.gov
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 583.5
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour Free near mile 521
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$139.96 one way

$279.93 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 212 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $144.34 $288.68
premium $6.24 $148.55 $297.11
diesel $5.64 $134.28 $268.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$140

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$270–$380

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 211.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $63 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 181.3 2 $63.46 $29.01
Efficient EV 151.1 1 $52.89 $24.18
EV Truck/SUV 241.8 3 $84.62 $38.68

Gas CO2

211 kg

EV CO2

71 kg (66% less)

Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Hayfork, CA

Morning in Hayfork on Monday

Local time

8:26 AM

PDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Los Angeles, CA

Morning in Los Angeles on Monday

Local time

8:26 AM

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.

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

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

11h 15m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Hayfork, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 604.4 miles and takes about 11h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, CA 299. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 302 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 302.2 miles from Hayfork, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $139.96 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 3 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 18 significant decision points across 604.4 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 61.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 581.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 587.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Hayfork, CA to Los Angeles, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Los Angeles, CA

Washington, DC 2671.2 mi · 46h 51m Houston, TX 1547.5 mi · 26h 22m San Antonio, TX 1353.9 mi · 22h 57m McKinleyville, CA 683.6 mi · 12h 45m

More from Hayfork, CA

San Diego, CA 725.4 mi · 13h 38m Sacramento, CA 222 mi · 4h 15m

More trips to Los Angeles, CA

Washington, DC 2672.4 mi Cincinnati, OH 2173.8 mi Houston, TX 1545.8 mi Crescent City, CA 755.3 mi McKinleyville, CA 683.1 mi Murray Field, CA 646.4 mi

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.

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