Los Angeles to Auburn Lake Trails is 428.5 miles and takes about 8 hours 9 minutes via Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, and Golden State Freeway, with a fuel budget near $98 and an overnight recommendation. This journey takes you from the bustling Pacific Coast region of Southern California up into the same general region, but with a focus on efficient travel. With a high percentage of highway driving, this route prioritizes covering ground. Planning for an overnight stay is wise given the 8-hour drive time, allowing you to enjoy the journey without feeling rushed. It's a solid option if you need to get from point A to point B within California without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
214.3 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 59m into the drive
.
Frank Lloyd Wright is said to have quipped, "Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles," a quote that has since been repeated both by those who love and hate L.A. The "City of Angels" is home to people who hail from all parts of the globe and an important center of culture, business, media, and international trade. However, it's most famous for being a major center of the world's television, motion picture, and music industry, which forms the base of the city's status and lures visitors for its show business history and celebrity culture. Visitors are also drawn to Los Angeles for its Mediterranean climate and numerous beaches, which gave birth to California's famed surf culture.
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for 95% of this trip. You'll be navigating major freeways, including the Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, and Golden State Freeway for significant portions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a considerable 297.1 miles on the Westside Freeway, meaning you can settle in for some consistent mileage. While primarily an interstate experience, this route is designed for steady progress rather than winding scenic byways. The character remains largely consistent, emphasizing efficient transit across the state.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 34 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 297.1 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 24.5 miles in near I 5 Truck.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 428.5 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 24.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 381.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 381.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 25 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
24.5 mi into trip|~31m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
8
381.6 mi into trip|~7h in
Take the exit toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 518
Toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South L...
10
381.8 mi into trip|~7h in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, Broadway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 518
Toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South La...
9
381.9 mi into trip|~7h in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 518
Toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe
8
383.8 mi into trip|~7h 3m in|I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, F...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Los Angeles, CA and Auburn Lake Trails, CA, road signs point toward Lake Tahoe, Broadway and Fresno.
Lake Tahoe
381.6 mi in|~7h
Broadway
381.8 mi in|~7h
Fresno
383.8 mi in|~7h 3m|via I 80 Business
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
297.1 mi
5h 20m
I 5 Truck
37.7 mi
43m
Golden State Freeway
29 mi
33m
Alan S. Hart Freeway
17.3 mi
20m
Hollywood Freeway
15.5 mi
19m
Capital City Freeway
10.6 mi
11m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7 mi
8m
El Dorado Street
6 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 297.1 mi, about 5h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Auburn Lake Trails, CA.
1
Start on West 1st Street
0.1 mi·32 sec·West 1st Street
2
Turn right onto North Broadway
0.4 mi·49 sec·North Broadway
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 101 North, CA 110
4
Merge onto US 101
0.7 mi·55 sec·Santa Ana Freeway
5
Continue on US 101
15 mi·19 min·Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·59 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 5
4.5 mi·5 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi·2 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161AToward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 TruckUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi·41 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi·4 hr 1 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi·27 min·Westside Freeway
14
Keep left at fork onto I 5
46 mi·50 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·12 sec
Exit 518Toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake TahoeUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·12 sec
Exit 518Toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, BroadwayUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 518Toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake TahoeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto US 50; I 80 Business
1.2 mi·1 min·Capital City Freeway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
9.4 mi·10 min·Capital City Freeway
Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, FresnoUse the slight right lane.
20
Continue on I 80
7.0 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 80
17 mi·20 min·Alan S. Hart Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 119CToward CA 49 South: PlacervilleUse the right lane.
23
Turn left onto CA 49
0.1 mi·34 sec·Elm Avenue
24
Turn left onto CA 49
0.2 mi·29 sec·El Dorado Street
Use the left lane.
25
Enter roundabout onto CA 49
103 ft·3 sec·El Dorado Street
26
Continue on CA 49
2.3 mi·5 min·El Dorado Street
27
Continue on CA 49
3.6 mi·7 min·El Dorado Street
28
Continue on CA 49
102 ft·9 sec·CA 49
Use the left lane.
29
Turn left onto CA 193
2.2 mi·3 min·Georgetown Road
Use the left lane.
30
Turn left onto Sweetwater Trail
1.6 mi·6 min·Sweetwater Trail
31
Turn right onto Hidden Gold Trail
0.1 mi·38 sec·Hidden Gold Trail
32
Turn left onto Brown Bear Trail
0.5 mi·1 min·Brown Bear Trail
33
Turn left onto Cascade Trail
0.2 mi·39 sec·Cascade Trail
34
Arrive at destination
Cascade Trail
Trip Plan
With an estimated 8-hour drive time, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Consider departing Los Angeles early in the morning to maximize your daylight hours for the first leg. You'll have about 297.1 miles of continuous driving on the Westside Freeway, so plan your first stop accordingly. Ensure you have at least two fuel stops budgeted for the $98 estimated cost, as services can sometimes be spaced out on these major arteries. Keep an eye on traffic, especially around the Los Angeles metropolitan area, as it can significantly impact your departure time and overall duration.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 214.3 miles from Los Angeles, CA, or about 3h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 297.1 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 94 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 214.3 miles or 3h 59m 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 214.3 miles or 3h 59m
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 6h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn Lake Trails, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles, CA
Aim for roughly 214 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Auburn Lake Trails, CA
Aim for roughly 214 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 miles from Los Angeles, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 297.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 214.3 mi from Los Angeles, CA
· 3h 59m into the drive
The midpoint is around 214.3 miles from Los Angeles, 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 297.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stop
For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 214 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
Arriving in Auburn Lake Trails, CA
The final approach into Auburn Lake Trails, 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 Auburn Lake Trails, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Auburn Lake Trails, 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.
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 29.6
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 88.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$98.49 one way
$196.98 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg150 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$101.49
$202.98
premium
$6.18
$104.21
$208.41
diesel
$5.61
$94.61
$189.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$98
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$228–$338
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 149.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
128.5
1
$44.99
$20.57
Efficient EV
107.1
1
$37.49
$17.14
EV Truck/SUV
171.4
2
$59.99
$27.42
Gas CO2
150 kg
EV CO2
50 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 14, 2026
Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Evening
in Los Angeles on Friday
Local time
6:34 PM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Auburn Lake Trails, CA
Evening
in Auburn Lake Trails on Friday
Local time
6:34 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°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
9 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
8h 9m 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 Los Angeles, CA to Auburn Lake Trails, CA covers 428.5 miles and takes about 8h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, Golden State Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
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 214 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 214.3 miles from Los Angeles, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $98.49 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 25 significant decision points across 428.5 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 24.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 381.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 381.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Los Angeles, CA and Auburn Lake Trails, CA, road signs point toward Lake Tahoe, Broadway and Fresno.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
