Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Late night in Los Angeles on Wednesday
Local time
3:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Los Angeles, CA to Larkspur, CA
Data updated 4 hours ago
Drive Time
7h 22m
Distance
392 mi
631 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$90
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 12m
★
6 AM
7h 22m
8 AM
7h 43m
10 AM
7h 29m
12 PM
7h 27m
3 PM
7h 30m
5 PM
7h 42m
8 PM
7h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Larkspur, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Los Angeles, CA to Larkspur, CA covers 392 miles and takes about 7h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 225.6 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $90.10 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
196 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 39m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 7h 22m highway drive covering 392 miles, with most of the trip on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. The longest continuous stretch is about 225.6 miles on Westside Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 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 225.6 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.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 392 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 84.5 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 356.6 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 26 key pointsThese 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
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 straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North
8
356.6 mi into trip
|
~6h 34m in
|
I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Oakland, San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580: Oakland, San Francisco
9
376.6 mi into trip
|
~6h 57m in
|
I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13B
Toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael
8
390.5 mi into trip
|
~7h 17m in
Take the exit toward Lucky Drive, Doherty Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Lucky Drive, Doherty Drive
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Los Angeles, CA to Larkspur, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco along the way.
San Francisco
310 mi in
|
~5h 41m
|
via I 580
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 225.6 mi | 4h 1m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.7 mi | 43m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.6 mi | 34m |
| Golden State Freeway | 29 mi | 33m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| MacArthur Freeway | 16.7 mi | 19m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 15.5 mi | 19m |
| John T. Knox Freeway | 11.6 mi | 15m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Larkspur, 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 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 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 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
15
Merge onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Oakland, San Francisco
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 80; I 580
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi
·
15 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 13B
Toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 2A
Toward Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard East
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Sir Francis Drake Boulevard East
Use the straight lane.
23
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 101 South: San Francisco
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Merge onto US 101
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Redwood Highway
25
Take the exit
423 ft
·
24 sec
Toward Lucky Drive, Doherty Drive
Use the slight right lane.
26
Continue on Fifer Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Fifer Avenue
Toward Lucky Drive, Doherty Drive, Tamal Vista Boulevard
27
At end of road, turn left onto Lucky Drive
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Lucky Drive
28
Turn right onto Doherty Drive
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Doherty Drive
29
At end of road, turn left onto Magnolia Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Magnolia Avenue
30
Turn left onto King Street
141 ft
·
3 sec
·
King Street
31
Arrive at destination
King 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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 196 miles from Los Angeles, CA, or about 3h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 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 86 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 196 miles or 3h 39m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Larkspur, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Los Angeles, CA
This is one driving day of about 392 miles and 7h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Los Angeles, 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 225.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 196 mi from Los Angeles, CA · 3h 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
196 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 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 196 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 225.6 miles.
Arriving in Larkspur, CA
The final approach into Larkspur, 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 Larkspur, 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
$90.10 one way
$180.20 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
137 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $92.85 | $185.69 |
| premium | $6.18 | $95.33 | $190.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $86.55 | $173.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$90
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$115–$140
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 137.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 117.6 | 1 | $41.16 | $18.82 |
| Efficient EV | 98 | 1 | $34.30 | $15.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 156.8 | 1 | $54.88 | $25.09 |
Gas CO2
137 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (66% 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
Larkspur, CA
Late night in Larkspur on Wednesday
Local time
3:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
64°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
10 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 22m 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 Los Angeles, CA to Larkspur, CA covers 392 miles and takes about 7h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, Arthur H. Breed Junior 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 196 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 $90.10 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 26 significant decision points across 392 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 84.5 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 356.6 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Los Angeles, CA to Larkspur, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco along the way.
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