Origin
Topanga Oaks, CA
Evening in Topanga Oaks on Tuesday
Local time
6:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Topanga Oaks, CA to Glendale, CA
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
38m
Distance
28.3 mi
45 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Topanga Oaks, CA
Robert So
Glendale, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 28.3-mile drive from Topanga Oaks to Glendale, California, is a quick trip, taking about 38 minutes to complete. It's a straightforward, single-day adventure with a modest estimated fuel cost of $7. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 70% of the journey on freeways, making it an efficient way to travel between these Pacific Coast communities. You won't need to break this up into multiple days; it's perfectly suited for a single, easy excursion. The drive offers a practical link between two points within the same state and region.
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
14.1 miles from Topanga Oaks, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 21m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this drive, with about 70% of the 28.3 miles on freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 18.7 miles on the Ventura Freeway, allowing for consistent travel. You'll navigate using roads like North Topanga Canyon Boulevard and West Colorado Street, which likely offer a change of pace from the freeway segments. This blend suggests a drive that begins and ends with more local road engagement, punctuated by a substantial period of faster, highway travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ventura Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 18.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Ventura Freeway and North Topanga Canyon Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20.1 miles in near CA 134 / Ventura Freeway.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 28.3 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 20.1 miles (CA 134 / Ventura Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21 miles (CA 134 / Ventura Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles (CA 134 / Ventura Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
20.1 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
CA 134 / Ventura Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 134 / Ventura Freeway toward CA 134 East: Pasadena
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward CA 134 East: Pasadena
6
21 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
CA 134 / Ventura Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 134 / Ventura Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
22.4 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
CA 134 / Ventura Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 134 / Ventura Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
23.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
CA 134 / Ventura Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 134 / Ventura Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
26.6 mi into trip
|
~36m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ventura Freeway | 18.7 mi | 21m |
| North Topanga Canyon Boulevard | 6.7 mi | 12m |
| West Colorado Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Colorado Street Freeway Extension | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Golden State Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Fontaine Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Brand Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ventura Freeway
— 18.7 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Topanga Oaks, CA and Glendale, CA.
1
Start on Fontaine Road
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Fontaine Road
2
Turn straight onto CA 27
6.7 mi
·
12 min
·
North Topanga Canyon Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
4
Merge onto US 101
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 134
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Toward CA 134 East: Pasadena
Use the slight left lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 134
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 134
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 134
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 134
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 5
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
Golden State Freeway
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 142
Toward Colorado Street, South Pacific Avenue, San Fernando Road
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on Colorado Street Freeway Extension
0.6 mi
·
37 sec
·
Colorado Street Freeway Extension
Toward Colorado Street, South Pacific Avenue, San Fernando Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn slight right onto West Colorado Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Colorado Street
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto South Brand Boulevard
31 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Brand Boulevard
16
Arrive at destination
South Brand Boulevard
Trip Plan
With a duration of only 38 minutes, this 28.3-mile route offers a lot of flexibility. There's no need to rush, and you can easily plan your departure time to avoid any significant traffic. Since it's a short drive with a low fuel cost of around $7, you can depart whenever it's most convenient. Given the longest stretch is 18.7 miles on the Ventura Freeway, consider that you'll have a solid period of highway driving where rest stops are less critical. The main roads include the Ventura Freeway, North Topanga Canyon Boulevard, and West Colorado Street, so be mindful of potential local traffic patterns as you approach your destination in 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 14.1 miles from Topanga Oaks, CA, or about 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.7 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 28.3 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.1 miles or 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 33m
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 Topanga Oaks, 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 Topanga Oaks, CA
This is one driving day of about 28.3 miles and 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Topanga Oaks, 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 Ventura Freeway for about 18.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.1 mi from Topanga Oaks, CA · 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 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 28.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14.1 miles from Topanga Oaks, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.50 one way
$13.01 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $6.70 | $13.41 |
| premium | $6.18 | $6.88 | $13.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.25 | $12.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Glendale, CA
Evening in Glendale on Tuesday
Local time
6:26 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
4 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
38m 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 Topanga Oaks, CA to Glendale, CA covers 28.3 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ventura Freeway, North Topanga Canyon Boulevard, West Colorado Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.1 miles from Topanga Oaks, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.50 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 13 significant decision points across 28.3 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 20.1 miles (CA 134 / Ventura Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21 miles (CA 134 / Ventura Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles (CA 134 / Ventura Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Topanga Oaks, CA to Glendale, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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