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Trip from Oakland, CA to Los Alamos, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 17m

Distance

272.7 mi

439 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$63

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
5h 4m ★
6 AM
5h 18m
8 AM
5h 45m
10 AM
5h 27m
12 PM
5h 25m
3 PM
5h 29m
5 PM
5h 44m
8 PM
5h 10m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city and county seat of Alameda County, California, United States

Oakland, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Los Alamos, CA, CA

Los Alamos, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from Oakland, CA to Los Alamos, CA covers 272.7 miles and takes about 5h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on El Camino Real, Bayshore Freeway, I 880 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 181.6 miles on El Camino Real. At current regular gas prices, budget about $62.68 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

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

136.3 miles from Oakland, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 17m. Total distance: 272.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 17m drive with frequent turns across 272.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
El Camino Real is the longest continuous segment at about 181.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near 11th Street.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 272.7 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 0.4 miles (11th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

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

7
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | 11th Street

Turn left onto 11th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
11 mi into trip | ~15m in | I 880

Keep slight left at fork onto I 880

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
6
16.6 mi into trip | ~21m in | I 880

Keep slight left at fork onto I 880

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
6
19 mi into trip | ~24m in | I 880

Keep slight left at fork onto I 880

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
7
38.2 mi into trip | ~46m in

Take the exit toward US 101 South: Los Angeles

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
El Camino Real 181.6 mi 3h 29m
Bayshore Freeway 38.6 mi 44m
I 880 27.2 mi 30m
Cabrillo Highway 11.8 mi 13m
Nimitz Freeway 9.9 mi 12m
Bell Street 1.4 mi 2m
Madison Street 0.3 mi <1m
11th Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: El Camino Real — 181.6 mi, about 3h 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oakland, CA and Los Alamos, CA.

1

Start on 14th Street

0.2 mi · 52 sec · 14th Street
2

Turn right onto Harrison Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Harrison Street
3

Turn left onto 11th Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · 11th Street
Use the straight lane.
4

Turn right onto Madison Street

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Madison Street
5

Turn left onto 5th Street

381 ft · 8 sec · 5th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 880 South: San Jose
7

Merge onto I 880

9.9 mi · 12 min · Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 880

5.6 mi · 6 min · I 880
Use the slight left lane.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 880

2.4 mi · 2 min · I 880
Use the slight left lane.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 880

19 mi · 21 min · I 880
Use the slight left lane.
11

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 34 sec
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Merge onto US 101

39 mi · 44 min · Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Continue on US 101

10 mi · 11 min · El Camino Real
14

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 50 sec
15

Merge onto US 101; CA 156

136 mi · 2 hr 36 min · El Camino Real
Use the straight lane.
16

Continue on US 101

12 mi · 13 min · Cabrillo Highway
17

Continue on US 101

36 mi · 41 min · El Camino Real
18

Turn right onto Cat Canyon Road

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Cat Canyon Road
19

Turn left onto Bell Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Bell Street
20

At end of road, turn left onto CA 135

0.5 mi · 54 sec · Bell Street
21

Turn left onto Helena Street

377 ft · 20 sec · Helena Street
22

Arrive at destination

Leslie Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 136.3 miles from Oakland, CA, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.6 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 60 miles or 1h 11m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 136.3 miles or 2h 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 4h 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Los Alamos, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Oakland, 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 Oakland, CA

This is one driving day of about 272.7 miles and 5h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Oakland, 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 El Camino Real for about 181.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 136.3 mi from Oakland, CA · 2h 39m into the drive

city in Monterey County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Soledad, CA

136 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

Gilroy, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Soledad, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 136.3 miles from Oakland, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Los Alamos, CA

The final approach into Los Alamos, 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 Los Alamos, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...

8 mi from route ~21 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...

9 mi from route ~22 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Pinnacles National Park

Pinnacles National Park

National Park

Around 23 million years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions shaped the landscape that is now Pinnacles National Park. The remnants of these ancient eruptions have formed a striking terrain of rocky sp...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour $30 near mile 122.2
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...

18 mi from route ~46 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods National Monument

National Monument

Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...

18 mi from route ~45 min detour $15
View on nps.gov
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

National Memorial

On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$62.68 one way

$125.36 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 95 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $64.59 $129.18
premium $6.18 $66.32 $132.64
diesel $5.61 $60.21 $120.42

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$63

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$88–$113

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 95.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 81.8 1 $28.63 $13.09
Efficient EV 68.2 0 $23.86 $10.91
EV Truck/SUV 109.1 1 $38.18 $17.45

Gas CO2

95 kg

EV CO2

32 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Oakland, CA

Afternoon in Oakland on Thursday

Local time

2:49 PM

PDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Los Alamos, CA

Afternoon in Los Alamos on Thursday

Local time

2:49 PM

PDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

47°F

Soledad, CA

136 mi in

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

3 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

5h 17m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Oakland, CA to Los Alamos, CA covers 272.7 miles and takes about 5h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are El Camino Real, Bayshore Freeway, I 880. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 136.3 miles from Oakland, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $62.68 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 17 significant decision points across 272.7 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 0.4 miles (11th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Oakland, CA to Los Alamos, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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