Photo: Stephen Leonardi
Drive Time
5h 52m
Distance
374.4 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
The drive from Oakland, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 374.4 miles and takes about 5h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Harrison Street, 11th Street, Madison Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.85 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
187.2 miles from Oakland, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 56m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 52m drive with frequent turns across 374.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Harrison Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 11th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Madison Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 880 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nimitz Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 238 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Castro Valley Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Oakland, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
Start on 14th Street
Turn right onto Harrison Street
Turn left onto 11th Street
Turn right onto Madison Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Take the ramp straight toward I 880 South: San Jose
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 238: Castro Valley, Stockton
Keep slight left to continue on I 238: Stockton Fresno
Continue on Castro Valley Freeway
Continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
Keep slight right
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
Keep slight left
Take the exit slight right toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
Continue on Hollywood Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway
Continue on West Aliso Street
Turn right onto North Spring Street
Turn left onto West 1st Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 82 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 187.2 miles or 2h 56m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Los Angeles, CA than in the middle of the route.
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 374.4 miles and 5h 52m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 187.2 mi from Oakland, CA · 2h 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
187 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.
A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 187.2 miles from Oakland, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Los Angeles, 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 Angeles, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$50.85 one way
$101.71 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $56.75 | $113.50 |
| premium | $4.15 | $61.17 | $122.34 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $55.28 | $110.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 131 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 112.3 | 1 | $39.31 | $17.97 |
| Efficient EV | 93.6 | 1 | $32.76 | $14.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 149.8 | 1 | $52.42 | $23.96 |
Gas CO2
131 kg
EV CO2
44 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Oakland on Saturday
Local time
4:03 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Los Angeles on Saturday
Local time
4:03 AM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
76°F
Fresno, CA
187 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Explore more options from Oakland, CA or browse trips ending in Los Angeles, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Oakland, CA or Los Angeles, CA on MapSof.net.