Trip from Los Angeles, CA to Davis, CA

Drive Time

7h 18m

Distance

395.8 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Los Angeles, CA to Davis, CA covers 395.8 miles and takes about 7h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Broadway, US 101 North, Santa Ana Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.76 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

197.9 miles from Los Angeles, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 7h 18m drive with frequent turns across 395.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

North Broadway is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North Broadway	0 mi	0m
US 101 North	0 mi	0m
Santa Ana Freeway	0 mi	0m
Hollywood Freeway	0 mi	0m
Golden State Freeway	0 mi	0m
I 5	0 mi	0m
Westside Freeway	0 mi	0m
US 50	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: North Broadway — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on West 1st Street

2

Turn right onto North Broadway

3

Take the ramp right toward US 101 North, CA 110

4

Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

5

Continue on Hollywood Freeway

6

Keep slight left

7

Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway

8

Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

9

Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

10

Keep slight left

11

Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

12

Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

13

Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

14

Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway

15

Take the exit slight right toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe

16

Keep slight left to continue on US 50 West, I 80 West Business: San Francisco

17

Merge slight left onto Capital City Freeway

18

Continue on Yolo Causeway

19

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

20

Take the exit slight right toward Richards Boulevard North

21

Turn slight right onto Richards Boulevard

22

Turn sharp right onto 1st Street

23

Turn left onto F Street

24

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 197.9 miles from Los Angeles, CA.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 87 miles

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

Halfway reset

Around 197.9 miles

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Last hour of driving

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

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Los Angeles, CA

This is one driving day of about 395.8 miles and 7h 18m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Bakersfield, CA

198 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Davis, 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 Davis, CA.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 197.9 mi from Los Angeles, CA

Santa Clarita, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 87 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bakersfield, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 197.9 miles from Los Angeles, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.45	$53.76	$107.52
midgrade	$3.85	$59.99	$119.99
premium	$4.15	$64.67	$129.34
diesel	$3.75	$58.44	$116.87

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 138.5 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Los Angeles, CA to Davis, CA covers 395.8 miles and takes about 7h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Broadway, US 101 North, Santa Ana Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 197.9 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 $53.76 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.