Origin
Universal City, CA
Evening in Universal City on Thursday
Local time
7:46 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Universal City, CA to Laguna, CA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
6h 47m
Distance
365.6 mi
588 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$84
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 36m
★
6 AM
6h 47m
8 AM
7h 11m
10 AM
6h 56m
12 PM
6h 53m
3 PM
6h 57m
5 PM
7h 10m
8 PM
6h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Universal City, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Laguna, CA
Tori Pezzulla❤️
Trip Overview
The drive from Universal City, CA to Laguna, CA covers 365.6 miles and takes about 6h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, Golden State Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 285.8 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $84.03 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
182.8 miles from Universal City, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 25m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 47m. Total distance: 365.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 47m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 47m highway drive covering 365.6 miles, with most of the trip on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. The longest continuous stretch is about 285.8 miles on Westside Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 285.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside 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 0.7 miles in near Campo de Cahuenga.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 365.6 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 0.7 miles (Campo de Cahuenga): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Campo de Cahuenga
Turn right onto Campo de Cahuenga
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
0.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward US 101 North: Hollywood Freeway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 101 North: Hollywood Freeway
9
15.3 mi into trip
|
~21m 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
7
75.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
|
I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North
7
361 mi into trip
|
~6h 37m in
Take the exit toward Elk Grove Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 506
Toward Elk Grove Boulevard
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 285.8 mi | 5h 7m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.7 mi | 43m |
| Golden State Freeway | 29 mi | 33m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Elk Grove Boulevard | 3 mi | 5m |
| Foulks Ranch Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Kirk Douglas Drive | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Seasons Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 285.8 mi, about 5h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Universal City, CA and Laguna, CA.
1
Start on this road
83 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Cylon Drive
525 ft
·
38 sec
·
Cylon Drive
3
Turn right onto Kirk Douglas Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Kirk Douglas Drive
4
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
5
Turn left onto Lankershim Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Lankershim Boulevard
6
Turn right onto Campo de Cahuenga
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Campo de Cahuenga
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 101 North: Hollywood Freeway
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto US 101
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
59 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 5
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi
·
27 min
·
Westside Freeway
17
Keep left at fork onto I 5
35 mi
·
37 min
·
Westside Freeway
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 506
Toward Elk Grove Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto E12
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Elk Grove Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
20
Turn left onto Foulks Ranch Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Foulks Ranch Drive
Use the left lane.
21
At end of road, turn right onto Laguna Park Drive
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Laguna Park Drive
22
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Seasons Drive
23
Turn left onto November Drive
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
November Drive
24
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way
155 ft
·
12 sec
·
Mapleview Way
25
Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court
183 ft
·
8 sec
·
Fall Breeze Court
26
Arrive at destination
Fall Breeze Court
Trip Plan
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 182.8 miles from Universal City, CA, or about 3h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 285.8 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 182.8 miles or 3h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 37m
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 Universal City, 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 Universal City, CA
This is one driving day of about 365.6 miles and 6h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Universal City, 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.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 285.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 182.8 mi from Universal City, CA · 3h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
183 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 182.8 miles from Universal City, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 285.8 miles.
Arriving in Laguna, CA
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$84.03 one way
$168.06 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
128 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $86.59 | $173.19 |
| premium | $6.18 | $88.91 | $177.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $80.72 | $161.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$84
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$109–$134
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 109.7 | 1 | $38.39 | $17.55 |
| Efficient EV | 91.4 | 1 | $31.99 | $14.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 146.2 | 1 | $51.18 | $23.40 |
Gas CO2
128 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Laguna, CA
Evening in Laguna on Thursday
Local time
7:46 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°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
14 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 47m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Universal City, CA to Laguna, CA covers 365.6 miles and takes about 6h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, Golden State 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 182.8 miles from Universal City, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $84.03 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 365.6 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 0.7 miles (Campo de Cahuenga): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Universal City, CA to Laguna, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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