Origin
Palmdale, CA
Afternoon in Palmdale on Thursday
Local time
3:10 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palmdale, CA to Topanga Oaks, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
63.2 mi
102 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palmdale, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Topanga Oaks, CA
Robert So
Trip Overview
The drive from Palmdale, CA to Topanga Oaks, CA covers 63.2 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Antelope Valley Freeway, I 405 Truck, Ventura Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.6 miles on Antelope Valley Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.53 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 63.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 18m highway drive covering 63.2 miles, with most of the trip on Antelope Valley Freeway and I 405 Truck. The longest continuous stretch is about 29.6 miles on Antelope Valley Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Antelope Valley Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 29.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Antelope Valley Freeway and I 405 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in near US 6 Hist / Sierra Highway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.2 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles (US 6 Hist / Sierra Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 38.7 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
4.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 6 Hist / Sierra Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 6 Hist / Sierra Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
38.7 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
8
47.9 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward US 101 South, US 101 North: Los Angeles, Ventura
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 63B
Toward US 101 South, US 101 North: Los Angeles,...
7
48 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 101 North: Ventura, Ventura Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 101 North: Ventura, Ventura Freeway
7
56.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward CA 27 South: Topanga Canyon Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 27B
Toward CA 27 South: Topanga Canyon Boulevard
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 Palmdale, CA to Topanga Oaks, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura along the way.
Ventura
47.9 mi in
|
~54m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Antelope Valley Freeway | 29.6 mi | 32m |
| I 405 Truck | 9 mi | 10m |
| Ventura Freeway | 7.9 mi | 9m |
| Topanga Canyon Boulevard | 6.8 mi | 12m |
| Sierra Highway | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| Golden State Freeway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| East Palmdale Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I 5 Truck | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Antelope Valley Freeway
— 29.6 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmdale, CA and Topanga Oaks, CA.
1
Start on CA 138
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
East Palmdale Boulevard
2
Continue on CA 138
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Palmdale Boulevard
3
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Sierra Highway
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 6 Hist
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Sierra Highway
Use the right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 14 South: Los Angeles
6
Merge onto CA 14
29 mi
·
31 min
·
Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 5
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Exit 63B
Toward US 101 South, US 101 North: Los Angeles, Ventura
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward US 101 North: Ventura, Ventura Freeway
14
Merge onto US 101
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
409 ft
·
10 sec
Exit 27B
Toward CA 27 South: Topanga Canyon Boulevard
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
this road
Exit 27B
Toward CA 27 South: Topenga Canyon Boulevard
17
Turn straight onto CA 27
6.8 mi
·
12 min
·
Topanga Canyon Boulevard
Use the left lane.
18
Turn straight onto Fontaine Road
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Fontaine Road
19
Arrive at destination
Fontaine Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.6 mi from Palmdale, CA · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.6 miles from Palmdale, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Topanga Oaks, CA
The final approach into Topanga Oaks, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.53 one way
$29.05 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $14.97 | $29.94 |
| premium | $6.18 | $15.37 | $30.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.95 | $27.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19 | 0 | $6.64 | $3.03 |
| Efficient EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.53 | $2.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.85 | $4.04 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Topanga Oaks, CA
Afternoon in Topanga Oaks on Thursday
Local time
3:10 PM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
19 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
1h 18m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Palmdale, CA to Topanga Oaks, CA covers 63.2 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Antelope Valley Freeway, I 405 Truck, Ventura 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 31.6 miles from Palmdale, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.53 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.2 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles (US 6 Hist / Sierra Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 38.7 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Palmdale, CA to Topanga Oaks, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura along the way.
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