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Trip from Interlaken, CA to Los Angeles, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

6h 13m

Distance

326 mi

525 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$75

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

10 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
6h 1m ★
6 AM
6h 13m
8 AM
6h 39m
10 AM
6h 22m
12 PM
6h 20m
3 PM
6h 24m
5 PM
6h 37m
8 PM
6h 6m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Interlaken, CA, CA

Interlaken, CA

Abhishek Navlakha

Downtown los-angeles-ca

Los Angeles, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

This 328-mile journey from Interlaken, CA to Los Angeles, CA will take approximately 5 hours and 18 minutes of driving time. Designed as a single-day adventure, this route offers a budget-friendly fuel cost of around $76. You'll navigate primarily using local roads like East Lake Avenue, Carlton Road, and Riverside Road, with no highway driving involved. The overall experience is a turn-heavy local drive, perfect for those who prefer a more engaging route over high-speed travel. Given its manageable duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.

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

163 miles from Interlaken, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 9m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 13m. Total distance: 326 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 13m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Drive Character

Expect a truly local driving experience on this route, as indicated by its 0% highway share. The drive is characterized by frequent turns, making it a 'turn-heavy local drive.' While the data doesn't specify a longest uninterrupted stretch, the nature of local roads suggests you'll be frequently adjusting your course. This means you'll be more involved with the journey, navigating through communities and varying road conditions rather than cruising on a consistent highway. The road's personality is one of constant engagement, requiring your full attention as you make your way from Interlaken to Los Angeles.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 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 303.3 miles in near I 5 Truck.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 21 significant decision points across 326 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 303.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 308.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 325.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

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

8
303.3 mi into trip | ~5h 44m 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
308.8 mi into trip | ~5h 50m 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
325.5 mi into trip | ~6h 11m 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
325.7 mi into trip | ~6h 12m in | North Spring Street

Turn right onto North Spring Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
326 mi into trip | ~6h 13m in | West 1st Street

Turn left onto West 1st Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

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
Riverside Road 6.8 mi 9m
Golden State Freeway 4.1 mi 4m
Bloomfield Avenue 3.9 mi 5m
Carlton Road 3.2 mi 6m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 181.1 mi, about 3h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

91 ft · 6 sec · this road
2

Keep slight right at fork

102 ft · 8 sec
3

At end of road, turn right

0.1 mi · 59 sec
4

At end of road, turn left onto CA 152

0.5 mi · 47 sec · East Lake Avenue
5

Turn right onto Carlton Road

3.2 mi · 6 min · Carlton Road
6

At end of road, turn left onto CA 129

6.8 mi · 9 min · Riverside Road
7

Continue on CA 129

2.6 mi · 3 min · Chittenden Road
8

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 31 sec
9

Merge onto US 101

2.4 mi · 2 min · El Camino Real
10

Continue on US 101

3.1 mi · 3 min · South Valley Freeway
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 353 Toward CA 25 East
12

At end of road, turn left onto CA 25

0.7 mi · 58 sec · Bloomfield Avenue
13

Continue on CR G7

3.2 mi · 4 min · Bloomfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
14

Turn right onto CA 152

36 mi · 42 min · Pacheco Pass Highway
15

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 5: Los Angeles
16

Merge onto I 5

181 mi · 3 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

4.1 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

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.
20

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

5.3 mi · 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 32 sec
Exit 153B Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Continue on CA 170

16 mi · 20 min · Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Exit 2C Toward Broadway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Continue on West Aliso Street

409 ft · 18 sec · West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
25

Turn right onto North Spring Street

0.3 mi · 35 sec · North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
26

Turn left onto West 1st Street

354 ft · 12 sec · West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
27

Arrive at destination

West 1st Street

Trip Plan

With a driving duration of just over 5 hours, this 328-mile trip is comfortably achievable in a single day. Consider departing from Interlaken early in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential local traffic as you approach Los Angeles. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel, as the longest stretch of continuous driving is not specified, and local roads can sometimes be slower than anticipated. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially since the estimated fuel cost is $76, and ensure you have enough to reach your destination or a reliable refueling point along East Lake Avenue, Carlton Road, or Riverside Road.

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 163 miles from Interlaken, CA, or about 3h 9m 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 72 miles or 1h 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 163 miles or 3h 9m 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 2m

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 Interlaken, 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 Interlaken, CA

This is one driving day of about 326 miles and 6h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Interlaken, 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 163 mi from Interlaken, CA · 3h 9m into the drive

Downtown Coalinga, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Coalinga, CA

163 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

Coalinga, CA to Los Angeles, CA

199.7 mi · 3h 50m

Pacing Suggestions

Turlock, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 72 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Avenal, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 163 miles from Interlaken, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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 303.6
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...

28 mi from route ~69 min detour Free near mile 236.1
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$74.93 one way

$149.86 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 114 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $77.21 $154.43
premium $6.18 $79.28 $158.56
diesel $5.61 $71.98 $143.95

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$75

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$100–$125

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 114.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

10 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Rivian Adventure Network

Firebaugh, California

Rivian

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Firebaugh, California

Tesla

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Granada Hills, California

Tesla

1 DCFC

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Lebec, California

Other

1 DCFC

Blink Charging Station

Watsonville, California

Blink

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Santa Clarita, California

Tesla

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Lebec, California

Tesla

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Lebec, California

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Tesla: 4 Rivian: 1 Other: 1 Blink: 1 ChargePoint: 1 Electrify America: 1 EVgo: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 97.8 1 $34.23 $15.65
Efficient EV 81.5 0 $28.53 $13.04
EV Truck/SUV 130.4 1 $45.64 $20.86

Gas CO2

114 kg

EV CO2

38 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Interlaken, CA

Morning in Interlaken on Thursday

Local time

11:22 AM

PDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Los Angeles, CA

Morning in Los Angeles on Thursday

Local time

11:22 AM

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

6 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

6h 13m 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 Interlaken, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 326 miles and takes about 6h 13m 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 163 miles from Interlaken, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $74.93 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 21 significant decision points across 326 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 303.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 308.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 325.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Interlaken, CA to Los Angeles, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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