This 36.8-mile drive from Russ, CA to Glendale, CA is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 45 minutes. Primarily utilizing I 5 Truck and the Antelope Valley Freeway, it's a highway-focused trip with 82% of the route on freeways. With a fuel cost estimated at $8 and no required stops, this is an ideal one-day trip. The drive offers a practical way to connect these two points within California, keeping you on well-maintained roads for the entirety of your travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
18.4 miles from Russ, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 23m into the drive
.
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 82% of the drive taking place on freeways like I 5 Truck and the Antelope Valley Freeway. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 16 miles on I 5 Truck, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. While the exact scenery isn't detailed, the profile suggests a character driven by efficient travel rather than winding backroads. This means you're likely to encounter more of a steady, high-speed transit feel for most of the 36.8 miles.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 5 Truck is the longest continuous segment at about 16 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 Truck and Antelope Valley Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.1 miles in near CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway.
Route Complexity10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 36.8 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 15.1 miles (CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.2 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
15.1 mi into trip|~19m in|CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
16 mi into trip|~20m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
19.2 mi into trip|~24m 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
6
19.4 mi into trip|~24m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
35.1 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the exit toward Colorado Street, South Pacific Avenue, San Fernando Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142
Toward Colorado Street, South Pacific Avenue, S...
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5 Truck
16 mi
18m
Antelope Valley Freeway
10.9 mi
12m
Soledad Canyon Road
5 mi
7m
Golden State Freeway
2.6 mi
3m
West Colorado Street
0.7 mi
1m
Colorado Street Freeway Extension
0.6 mi
<1m
South Brand Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5 Truck
— 16 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Russ, CA and Glendale, CA.
1
Start on Soledad Canyon Road
5.0 mi·7 min·Soledad Canyon Road
2
Turn left
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward CA 14 South: Los Angeles
3
Merge onto CA 14
9.9 mi·11 min·Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·36 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 5
2.6 mi·3 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 5 Truck
Exit 158Toward I 405 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
16 mi·18 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·29 sec
Exit 142Toward Colorado Street, South Pacific Avenue, San Fernando RoadUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on Colorado Street Freeway Extension
0.6 mi·37 sec·Colorado Street Freeway Extension
Toward Colorado Street, South Pacific Avenue, San Fernando RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn slight right onto West Colorado Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West Colorado Street
Use the right lane.
12
Turn right onto South Brand Boulevard
31 ft·1 sec·South Brand Boulevard
13
Arrive at destination
South Brand Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the short 45-minute duration and 36.8-mile distance, this trip offers significant flexibility. You can depart at any time without needing to plan for overnight stays, and the estimated $8 fuel cost is minimal. While there are no mandatory stops, consider the longest stretch of 16 miles on I 5 Truck as a point where you might want to stretch your legs if needed. The route's highway-focused nature means you'll want to be mindful of typical freeway conditions and traffic patterns, especially as you approach Glendale.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 18.4 miles from Russ, CA, or about 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16 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 36.8 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 18.4 miles or 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glendale, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Russ, 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 Russ, CA
This is one driving day of about 36.8 miles and 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Russ, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 5 Truck for about 16 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Russ, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Glendale, CA
The final approach into Glendale, 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 Glendale, CA.
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.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.46 one way
$16.92 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg13 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$8.72
$17.43
premium
$6.18
$8.95
$17.90
diesel
$5.61
$8.12
$16.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
11
0
$3.86
$1.77
Efficient EV
9.2
0
$3.22
$1.47
EV Truck/SUV
14.7
0
$5.15
$2.36
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Forecast data refreshed 4 days ago
Origin
Russ, CA
Evening
in Russ on Tuesday
Local time
5:17 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Glendale, CA
Evening
in Glendale on Tuesday
Local time
5:17 PM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
16 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
45m 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 Russ, CA to Glendale, CA covers 36.8 miles and takes about 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5 Truck, Antelope Valley Freeway, Soledad Canyon Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.4 miles from Russ, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.46 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 is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 36.8 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 15.1 miles (CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.2 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Russ, CA to Glendale, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
