Trip from Santa Maria, CA to Laguna, CA

Drive Time

6h 8m

Distance

376.8 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Santa Maria, CA to Laguna, CA covers 376.8 miles and takes about 6h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Mulholland Drive, Alhama Drive, Golondrina Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.18 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

188.4 miles from Santa Maria, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 6h 8m drive with frequent turns across 376.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Mulholland Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Mulholland Drive	0 mi	0m
Alhama Drive	0 mi	0m
Golondrina Street	0 mi	0m
Saltillo Street	0 mi	0m
Canoga Avenue	0 mi	0m
US 101 South	0 mi	0m
Ventura Freeway	0 mi	0m
I 405 North	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: Mulholland Drive — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on Santa Maria Road

2

Continue on Mulholland Drive

3

Turn right onto Alhama Drive

4

Turn left onto Golondrina Street

5

Turn right onto Saltillo Street

6

At the end of the road, turn right onto Canoga Avenue

7

Take the ramp right toward US 101 South: Ventura Freeway, Los Angeles

8

Merge slight left onto Ventura Freeway

9

Take the exit slight right toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Santa Monica

10

Keep slight left to continue on I 405 North: Sacramento

11

Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway

12

Merge slight right

13

Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

14

Keep slight left

15

Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

16

Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

17

Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

18

Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway

19

Take the exit slight right toward Elk Grove Boulevard

20

Turn right onto Elk Grove Boulevard

21

Turn left onto Foulks Ranch Drive

22

At the end of the road, turn right onto Laguna Park Drive

23

Turn right onto Seasons Drive

24

Turn left onto November Drive

25

At the end of the road, turn left onto Mapleview Way

26

Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court

27

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 188.4 miles from Santa Maria, CA.

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 83 miles

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

Halfway reset

Around 188.4 miles

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Last hour of driving

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Santa Maria, 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 Santa Maria, CA

This is one driving day of about 376.8 miles and 6h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Santa Maria, 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

Bakersfield, CA

188 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Laguna, 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 Laguna, 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 188.4 mi from Santa Maria, CA

Santa Clarita, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 83 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bakersfield, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 188.4 miles from Santa Maria, 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	$51.18	$102.36
midgrade	$3.85	$57.11	$114.23
premium	$4.15	$61.56	$123.13
diesel	$3.75	$55.63	$111.26

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 131.8 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Santa Maria, CA to Laguna, CA covers 376.8 miles and takes about 6h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Mulholland Drive, Alhama Drive, Golondrina Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 188.4 miles from Santa Maria, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $51.18 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

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.