Trip from Redwood City, CA to Los Angeles, CA

Drive Time

5h 50m

Distance

364.2 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Redwood City, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 364.2 miles and takes about 5h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Broadway, Arch Street, Brewster Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.47 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

182.1 miles from Redwood City, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 55m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 50m drive with frequent turns across 364.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Broadway is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Broadway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Arch Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Brewster Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
Veterans Boulevard	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 101 South	Unavailable	Refreshing
Bayshore Freeway	Unavailable	Refreshing
CA 152 East	Unavailable	Refreshing
East 10th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Broadway — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on the route

2

Turn right onto Broadway

3

Turn sharp left onto Arch Street

4

Turn right onto Brewster Avenue

5

Turn right onto Veterans Boulevard

6

Continue on US 101 South, CA 84 East: San Jose

7

Continue straight

8

Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway

9

Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway

10

Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road

11

Turn left onto East 10th Street

12

Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway

13

Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles

14

Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

15

Keep slight right

16

Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

17

Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South

18

Keep slight left

19

Take the exit slight right toward CA 170 South: Hollywood

20

Continue on Hollywood Freeway

21

Take the exit slight right toward Broadway

22

Continue on West Aliso Street

23

Turn right onto North Spring Street

24

Turn left onto West 1st Street

25

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 182.1 miles from Redwood City, CA, or about 2h 55m into the drive.

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 80 miles or 1h 16m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 182.1 miles or 2h 55m 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 52m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Redwood City, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Redwood City, CA

This is one driving day of about 364.2 miles and 5h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Redwood City, 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.

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

Fresno, CA

182 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.

Popular next leg

Fresno, CA to Los Angeles, CA

220.7 mi · 3h 35m

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

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.

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 182.1 mi from Redwood City, CA

Salinas, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fresno, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 182.1 miles from Redwood City, 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	$49.47	$98.94
midgrade	$3.85	$55.20	$110.41
premium	$4.15	$59.51	$119.01
diesel	$3.75	$53.77	$107.54

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 127.4 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Redwood City, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 364.2 miles and takes about 5h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Broadway, Arch Street, Brewster Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 182.1 miles from Redwood City, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.47 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.