Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Afternoon in Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
1:37 PM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Los Angeles, CA to Gridley, CA
Drive Time
8h 14m
Distance
440.1 mi
708 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$102
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 6m
★
6 AM
8h 14m
8 AM
8h 30m
10 AM
8h 20m
12 PM
8h 18m
3 PM
8h 20m
5 PM
8h 29m
8 PM
8h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Traveling from Los Angeles to Gridley covers 440.1 miles, a journey that typically takes about 8 hours and 14 minutes of pure driving time. Because of the length, you should plan for at least two days to complete the trip comfortably rather than rushing through in one exhausting sitting. Expect a fuel budget of approximately $60 to cover the distance. This route stays entirely within California, transitioning from the Southern California coast toward the northern interior. Since you will be spending 97% of your time on highways, it is a straightforward, functional transit route rather than a leisurely backroads tour.
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
220.1 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 5m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a high-speed, highway-focused experience as you navigate primarily via the Westside Freeway, CA 99, and I-5 Truck routes. The drive features a significant 304.9-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, which makes up the bulk of your time behind the wheel. Because 97% of this trip is on major highways, you will encounter a consistent, fast-paced rhythm that favors efficiency over technical maneuvering. The character of the road is steady and monotonous, requiring you to maintain focus during long, uninterrupted segments. You will find that the landscape feels expansive and utilitarian as you transition between these major arterial roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 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 304.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and CA 99. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Broadway.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 440.1 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 0.1 miles (North Broadway): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Broadway
Turn right onto North Broadway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
16.9 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
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
7
84.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
|
I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North
8
389.4 mi into trip
|
~7h 9m in
|
CA 99 / Golden State Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99 / Golden State Highway toward CA 99 North, CA 70: Yuba City, Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 99 North, CA 70: Yuba City, Marysvill...
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Los Angeles, CA to Gridley, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Marysville along the way.
Marysville
389.4 mi in
|
~7h 9m
|
via CA 99
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 304.9 mi | 5h 29m |
| CA 99 | 37.9 mi | 49m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.7 mi | 43m |
| Golden State Freeway | 29 mi | 33m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 15.5 mi | 19m |
| Golden State Highway | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| Bernie Richter Memorial Highway | 5 mi | 5m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 304.9 mi, about 5h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Gridley, CA.
1
Start on West 1st Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the none lane.
2
Turn right onto North Broadway
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Broadway
Use the none lane.
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
Use the none lane.
5
Continue on US 101
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
59 sec
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 5
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North
Use the none / 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
54 mi
·
59 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Golden State Highway
Toward CA 99 North, CA 70: Yuba City, Marysville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on CA 99
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
CA 99
18
Continue on CA 99
35 mi
·
45 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn left onto Sycamore Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Sycamore Street
20
Turn left
159 ft
·
11 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To manage the 440.1-mile distance, aim to split your travel over two days to avoid fatigue. With two recommended stops built into the itinerary, you can easily break up the longest 304.9-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway to refuel or stretch your legs. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, keeping in mind the $60 cost estimate, and plan your stops accordingly to ensure you never run low on major highway segments. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to bypass potential traffic congestion near Los Angeles before you hit the open highway. Since the route is so heavily reliant on major interstates, check real-time traffic alerts specifically for the Westside Freeway before you depart to stay ahead of any unexpected highway delays.
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 220.1 miles from Los Angeles, CA, or about 4h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 304.9 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 97 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 220.1 miles or 4h 5m 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 220.1 miles or 4h 5m
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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gridley, 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 220 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Gridley, CA
Aim for roughly 220 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 97 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 304.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 220.1 mi from Los Angeles, CA · 4h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
220 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 Turlock, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
220 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Turlock, CA after about 220 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 97 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 220.1 miles from Los Angeles, 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 304.9 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 220 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
Arriving in Gridley, CA
The final approach into Gridley, 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 Gridley, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Gridley, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$101.92 one way
$203.83 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
154 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $105.10 | $210.21 |
| premium | $6.24 | $108.17 | $216.34 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $97.77 | $195.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$102
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$232–$342
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 154 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 132 | 1 | $46.21 | $21.12 |
| Efficient EV | 110 | 1 | $38.51 | $17.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 176 | 2 | $61.61 | $28.17 |
Gas CO2
154 kg
EV CO2
51 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
Gridley, CA
Afternoon in Gridley on Sunday
Local time
1:37 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°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
27 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 14m 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 Gridley, CA covers 440.1 miles and takes about 8h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, CA 99, I 5 Truck. 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 220 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 220.1 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 $101.92 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 17 significant decision points across 440.1 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 0.1 miles (North Broadway): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Los Angeles, CA to Gridley, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Marysville along the way.
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