Origin
Ventura, CA
Afternoon in Ventura on Sunday
Local time
4:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ventura, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
67.8 mi
109 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ventura, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Driving the 67.8 miles from Ventura to Los Angeles is a straightforward coastal transit that typically takes about 1 hour and 21 minutes. Because this trip stays entirely within the Pacific Coast region, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You can expect to spend approximately $9 on fuel, making this an economical choice for a quick getaway. Since the route is almost exclusively highway-focused, you will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, this path offers a direct link that requires no overnight stops.
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
33.9 miles from Ventura, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .
Drive Character
This journey is defined by its efficiency, with 98% of the route consisting of highway driving. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Ventura Freeway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 55.8 miles. As you transition from the Ventura Freeway onto the Hollywood Freeway via Route 101, the road maintains a consistent, fast-paced rhythm. Do not expect winding backroads or technical maneuvers here; instead, anticipate a high-speed, interstate-heavy experience. It is a functional drive designed to move you between these two California hubs with minimal deviation.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 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 55.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Ventura Freeway and Hollywood Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 101 BUS / East Thompson Boulevard.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 67.8 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: near the start (US 101 BUS / East Thompson Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 56.3 miles (US 101 / Route 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 101 BUS / East Thompson Boulevard
Turn left onto US 101 BUS / East Thompson Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
56.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
US 101 / Route 101
Keep slight right at fork onto US 101 / Route 101 toward US 101 South: Los Angeles, Tujunga Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none lane.
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles, Tujunga Avenu...
7
67.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m 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
67.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
North Spring Street
Turn right onto North Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
67.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
West 1st Street
Turn left onto West 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ventura Freeway | 55.8 mi | 1h 4m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 10.3 mi | 14m |
| Route 101 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| North Spring Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Aliso Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Thompson Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South California Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ventura Freeway
— 55.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ventura, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on South California Street
27 ft
·
8 sec
·
South California Street
2
Turn left onto US 101 BUS
358 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Thompson Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
4
Merge onto US 101
56 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 101
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
Route 101
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles, Tujunga Avenue
Use the none lane.
6
Merge onto US 101
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the none lane.
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 2C
Toward Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on West Aliso Street
409 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Aliso Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Spring Street
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto West 1st Street
354 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
11
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
Given the heavy reliance on major freeways, your biggest challenge will be managing typical Southern California traffic patterns. Flexibility is your greatest advantage here, so try to avoid peak commuting hours to ensure you stay close to that 1 hour and 21 minute estimate. Since there are zero scheduled stops on this 67.8-mile stretch, make sure your fuel tank is ready before you depart to avoid unnecessary detours. Keep your eyes on the road signs as you merge between the Ventura and Hollywood Freeways to stay on the most direct path. By planning your departure outside of rush hour, you can navigate this highway-intensive route with much less stress.
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 33.9 miles from Ventura, CA, or about 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 67.8 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.9 miles or 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 7m
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 Ventura, 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 Ventura, CA
This is one driving day of about 67.8 miles and 1h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ventura, 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 55.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.9 mi from Ventura, CA · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 67.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.9 miles from Ventura, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.70 one way
$31.40 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $16.19 | $32.38 |
| premium | $6.24 | $16.66 | $33.33 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $15.06 | $30.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.12 | $3.25 |
| Efficient EV | 17 | 0 | $5.93 | $2.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.49 | $4.34 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Los Angeles, CA
Afternoon in Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
4:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
77°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
24 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
1h 21m 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 Ventura, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 67.8 miles and takes about 1h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ventura Freeway, Hollywood Freeway, Route 101. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.9 miles from Ventura, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.70 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 9 significant decision points across 67.8 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: near the start (US 101 BUS / East Thompson Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 56.3 miles (US 101 / Route 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Ventura, CA to Los Angeles, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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