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Trip from South Taft, CA to Los Angeles, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 27m

Distance

118.6 mi

191 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

38 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 18m ★
6 AM
2h 28m
8 AM
2h 48m
10 AM
2h 35m
12 PM
2h 33m
3 PM
2h 36m
5 PM
2h 47m
8 PM
2h 22m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown los-angeles-ca

Los Angeles, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from South Taft, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 118.6 miles and takes about 2h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 5 Truck, Maricopa Highway, Hollywood Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 63.9 miles on I 5 Truck. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.26 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

59.3 miles from South Taft, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 118.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 27m highway drive covering 118.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 Truck and Maricopa Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 63.9 miles on I 5 Truck.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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 63.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 Truck and Maricopa Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 95.8 miles in near I 5 Truck.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 118.6 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 95.8 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 118 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
95.8 mi into trip | ~1h 58m 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
7
101.4 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in

Take the exit toward CA 170 South: Hollywood

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 153B Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
7
118 mi into trip | ~2h 26m in

Take the exit toward Broadway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 2C Toward Broadway
7
118.2 mi into trip | ~2h 27m in | North Spring Street

Turn right onto North Spring Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
118.5 mi into trip | ~2h 27m in | West 1st Street

Turn left onto West 1st Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 5 Truck 63.9 mi 1h 13m
Maricopa Highway 22.1 mi 30m
Hollywood Freeway 16.2 mi 20m
West Side Highway 5.9 mi 8m
Golden State Freeway 4.1 mi 4m
Westside Freeway 3.4 mi 3m
Poso Street 0.5 mi <1m
Main Street 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 5 Truck — 63.9 mi, about 1h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Taft, CA and Los Angeles, CA.

1

Start on Olive Avenue

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Olive Avenue
2

Continue on 2nd Street

462 ft · 22 sec · 2nd Street
3

Turn right onto Main Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Main Street
4

Turn right onto CA 33

5.9 mi · 8 min · West Side Highway
5

Continue on CA 33

0.4 mi · 58 sec · California Street
6

At end of road, turn left onto CA 166

0.5 mi · 50 sec · Poso Street
7

Continue on CA 166

22 mi · 30 min · Maricopa Highway
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
9

Merge onto I 5

3.4 mi · 3 min · Westside Freeway
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

4.1 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

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.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

5.3 mi · 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 32 sec
Exit 153B Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on CA 170

16 mi · 20 min · Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Exit 2C Toward Broadway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on West Aliso Street

409 ft · 18 sec · West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
18

Turn right onto North Spring Street

0.3 mi · 35 sec · North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
19

Turn left onto West 1st Street

354 ft · 12 sec · West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
20

Arrive at destination

West 1st Street

Trip Plan

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 59.3 miles from South Taft, CA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.9 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 26 miles or 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 59.3 miles or 1h 16m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h

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 South Taft, 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 South Taft, CA

This is one driving day of about 118.6 miles and 2h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from South Taft, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 Truck for about 63.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 59.3 mi from South Taft, CA · 1h 16m into the drive

census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Val Verde, CA

59 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

Val Verde, CA to Los Angeles, CA

40.2 mi · 53m

Pacing Suggestions

Greenfield, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Castaic, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 59.3 miles from South Taft, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 5 Truck if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.9 miles.

Arriving in Los Angeles, CA

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

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...

22 mi from route ~54 min detour Free near mile 89.9
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour Free near mile 32.7
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$27.26 one way

$54.52 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $28.09 $56.18
premium $6.18 $28.84 $57.68
diesel $5.61 $26.19 $52.37

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 41.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

38 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

ChargePoint Charging Station

Burbank, California

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Burbank, California

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Valencia, California

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Valencia, California

Tesla

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Burbank, California

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Burbank, California

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

EVgo Charging Station

Valencia, California

EVgo

1 DCFC

EVgo Charging Station

Valencia, California

EVgo

1 DCFC

ChargePoint: 17 Tesla: 10 Electrify America: 4 EVgo: 3 Other: 3 EV Connect: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 35.6 0 $12.45 $5.69
Efficient EV 29.7 0 $10.38 $4.74
EV Truck/SUV 47.4 0 $16.60 $7.59

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (66% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

South Taft, CA

Morning in South Taft on Thursday

Local time

9:14 AM

PDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Los Angeles, CA

Morning in Los Angeles on Thursday

Local time

9:14 AM

PDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Val Verde, CA

59 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

13 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

2h 27m 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 South Taft, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 118.6 miles and takes about 2h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5 Truck, Maricopa Highway, Hollywood 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 59.3 miles from South Taft, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.26 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 14 significant decision points across 118.6 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 95.8 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 118 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from South Taft, CA to Los Angeles, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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