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Trip from Los Angeles, CA to Seacliff, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

6h 25m

Distance

336.6 mi

542 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$77

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
6h 13m ★
6 AM
6h 26m
8 AM
6h 50m
10 AM
6h 34m
12 PM
6h 32m
3 PM
6h 36m
5 PM
6h 49m
8 PM
6h 18m

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

Downtown los-angeles-ca

Los Angeles, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Downtown Seacliff, CA, CA

Seacliff, CA

Michael Darnall

Trip Overview

Embark on a substantial 336.6-mile journey from Los Angeles to Seacliff, California, a trip that will take approximately 6 hours and 25 minutes of pure driving time. This route is primarily highway-focused, with 90% of the drive utilizing major roads like the Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. Given the duration and distance, it's feasible as a single-day trip, though you might appreciate the flexibility to split it if you prefer a more relaxed pace. Expect a fuel cost around $77 for this adventure. This drive takes you across California's diverse Pacific Coast regions, connecting urban landscapes to coastal communities.

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

168.3 miles from Los Angeles, 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 25m. Total distance: 336.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 25m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Drive Character

This is a highway-focused drive, meaning you'll spend the majority of your time on high-speed freeways. The profile suggests a predominantly fast-paced experience, ideal for covering ground efficiently. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch at 182.5 miles on the Westside Freeway, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While the route is mostly highway, the transition between roads like the Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, and CA 152 will offer slight variations in the driving environment, though the overall character remains one of swift transit.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 37 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 182.5 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 16.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 27 significant decision points across 336.6 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 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): 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 27 key points

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

6
16.9 mi into trip | ~22m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
22.3 mi into trip | ~28m in | I 5 / Golden State Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the 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
6
26.1 mi into trip | ~33m in | I 5 Truck

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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

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 Seacliff, CA, road signs point toward Hollister, San Jose and Santa Cruz.

Hollister

267 mi in | ~4h 55m

San Jose

267 mi in | ~4h 55m

Santa Cruz

312.8 mi in | ~5h 51m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 182.5 mi 3h 15m
I 5 Truck 37.7 mi 43m
CA 152 36.1 mi 43m
Golden State Freeway 29 mi 33m
Hollywood Freeway 15.5 mi 19m
Riverside Road 9.5 mi 13m
Cabrillo Highway 7.6 mi 8m
Bloomfield Avenue 4.1 mi 6m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 182.5 mi, about 3h 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

183 mi · 3 hr 15 min · Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 403B Toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
14

Continue on CA 152; CA33

29 mi · 33 min · CA 152; CA33
Use the straight lane.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 152

7.4 mi · 10 min · CA 152
16

Turn left onto CR G7

3.2 mi · 4 min · Bloomfield Avenue
17

At end of road, turn right onto CA 25

0.9 mi · 1 min · Bloomfield Avenue
18

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 15 sec
19

Merge onto US 101

2.9 mi · 3 min · South Valley Freeway
20

Continue on US 101

2.3 mi · 2 min · El Camino Real
21

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 18 sec
Exit 347 Toward CA 129 West: Watsonville, Santa Cruz
22

Turn right onto CA 129

2.5 mi · 3 min · Chittenden Road
23

Continue on CA 129

8.6 mi · 11 min · Riverside Road
24

Enter roundabout onto CA 129

144 ft · 2 sec · Riverside Road
25

Continue on CA 129

0.9 mi · 1 min · Riverside Road
26

Turn right onto Blackburn Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Blackburn Street
27

At end of road, turn left onto CA 152

0.5 mi · 54 sec · East Lake Avenue
28

Turn right onto CA 152

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Main Street
29

Turn left onto CA 152

1.6 mi · 2 min · Main Street
30

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec
31

Merge onto CA 1

7.6 mi · 8 min · Cabrillo Highway
32

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 38 sec
Toward State Park Beach
33

Turn left onto State Park Drive

0.4 mi · 42 sec · State Park Drive
34

Turn right onto Seacliff Drive

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Seacliff Drive
35

Turn left onto Beachgate Way

268 ft · 12 sec · Beachgate Way
36

At end of road, turn right onto Coates Drive

75 ft · 3 sec · Coates Drive
37

Arrive at destination

Coates Drive

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 6-hour, 25-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Los Angeles to bypass potential traffic. With 90% of the route being highway, you'll want to plan for one significant stop to break up the 336.6 miles, perhaps around the halfway point. The longest stretch without a major road change is 182.5 miles, so ensure you're fueled up before embarking on that segment. The estimated fuel cost is $77, so factor that into your budget. Keep an eye on CA 152 as you approach your destination; it can become more trafficked as you near the coast.

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 168.3 miles from Los Angeles, CA, or about 3h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.5 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 74 miles or 1h 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 168.3 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 7m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seacliff, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Los Angeles, CA

This is one driving day of about 336.6 miles and 6h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Los Angeles, 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 182.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 168.3 mi from Los Angeles, CA · 3h 9m into the drive

Downtown Firebaugh, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Firebaugh, CA

168 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

Bakersfield, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 74 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Avenal, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 168.3 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 182.5 miles.

Arriving in Seacliff, CA

The final approach into Seacliff, 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 Seacliff, 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

$77.36 one way

$154.73 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 118 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $79.72 $159.45
premium $6.18 $81.86 $163.71
diesel $5.61 $74.32 $148.63

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$77

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$102–$127

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 117.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 101 1 $35.34 $16.16
Efficient EV 84.2 0 $29.45 $13.46
EV Truck/SUV 134.6 1 $47.12 $21.54

Gas CO2

118 kg

EV CO2

39 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

Afternoon in Los Angeles on Thursday

Local time

2:53 PM

PDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Seacliff, CA

Afternoon in Seacliff on Thursday

Local time

2:53 PM

PDT

Current temp

47°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

7 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

6h 25m 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 Seacliff, CA covers 336.6 miles and takes about 6h 25m 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 152. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 168.3 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 $77.36 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 27 significant decision points across 336.6 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 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): 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.
Between Los Angeles, CA and Seacliff, CA, road signs point toward Hollister, San Jose and Santa Cruz.

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