Origin
Topanga Oaks, CA
Morning in Topanga Oaks on Wednesday
Local time
10:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Topanga Oaks, CA to Santa Clarita, CA
Data updated 5 hours ago
Drive Time
49m
Distance
35.1 mi
57 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Topanga Oaks, CA
Robert So
Santa Clarita, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Topanga Oaks, CA to Santa Clarita, CA covers 35.1 miles and takes about 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on San Diego Freeway, I 5 Truck, Ventura Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.6 miles on San Diego Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.07 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
17.6 miles from Topanga Oaks, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 49m highway drive covering 35.1 miles, with most of the trip on San Diego Freeway and I 5 Truck. The longest continuous stretch is about 9.6 miles on San Diego Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
San Diego Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 9.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.8 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 35.1 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 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
14.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Santa Monica
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Sa...
7
15 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 405 North: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 405 North: Sacramento
9
26.6 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
8
32.9 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward Lyons Avenue, Pico Canyon Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 167
Toward Lyons Avenue, Pico Canyon Road
7
33.1 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Lyons Avenue, Newhall, William S. Hart Park, The Master's University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Lyons Avenue, Newhall, William S. Hart P...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Topanga Oaks, CA and Santa Clarita, CA, road signs point toward Santa Monica, Newhall, William S. Hart Park and The Master's University.
Santa Monica
14.8 mi in
|
~22m
Newhall
33.1 mi in
|
~44m
William S. Hart Park
33.1 mi in
|
~44m
The Master's University
33.1 mi in
|
~44m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Freeway | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| I 5 Truck | 7.9 mi | 8m |
| Ventura Freeway | 7.8 mi | 8m |
| North Topanga Canyon Boulevard | 6.7 mi | 12m |
| Wiley Canyon Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| 16th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Lyons Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Fontaine Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 9.6 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Topanga Oaks, CA and Santa Clarita, 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
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Santa Monica
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 405 North: Sacramento
Use the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto I 405
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / sharp right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 167
Toward Lyons Avenue, Pico Canyon Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
490 ft
·
11 sec
Toward Lyons Avenue, Newhall, William S. Hart Park, The Master's University
13
Turn straight onto Lyons Avenue
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Lyons Avenue
14
Turn left onto Wiley Canyon Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Wiley Canyon Road
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto Orchard Village Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Orchard Village Road
16
Turn left onto 16th Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
16th Street
17
Turn left onto Newhall Avenue
451 ft
·
19 sec
·
Newhall Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Newhall Avenue
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 17.6 miles from Topanga Oaks, CA, or about 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9.6 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 35.1 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.6 miles or 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Santa Clarita, 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 35.1 miles and 49m.
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 San Diego Freeway for about 9.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.6 mi from Topanga Oaks, CA · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from Topanga Oaks, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Santa Clarita, CA
The final approach into Santa Clarita, 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 Santa Clarita, 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
$8.07 one way
$16.13 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $8.31 | $16.63 |
| premium | $6.18 | $8.54 | $17.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.75 | $15.50 |
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: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Santa Clarita, CA
Morning in Santa Clarita on Wednesday
Local time
10:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°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
17 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
49m 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 Santa Clarita, CA covers 35.1 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are San Diego Freeway, I 5 Truck, Ventura 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 17.6 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 $8.07 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 35.1 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 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Topanga Oaks, CA and Santa Clarita, CA, road signs point toward Santa Monica, Newhall, William S. Hart Park and The Master's University.
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