Trip from Windsor, CA to Los Angeles, CA

Drive Time

8h 10m

Distance

436.9 mi

703 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$101

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

8h 2m ★

6 AM

8h 10m

8 AM

8h 26m

10 AM

8h 16m

12 PM

8h 14m

3 PM

8h 17m

5 PM

8h 25m

8 PM

8h 5m

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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Windsor, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Los Angeles, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

Spanning 436.9 miles from the heart of Windsor to Los Angeles, this drive typically takes about 8 hours and 10 minutes behind the wheel. While it is technically possible to complete this journey in a single long day, splitting the trip over two days is highly recommended to keep the experience enjoyable. You will primarily navigate via the Redwood Highway, I-5 Truck, and the Westside Freeway as you transition through the Pacific Coast region. Budgeting approximately $59 for fuel ensures you have enough to cover the distance comfortably. Ultimately, this highway-focused route is designed for efficiency, prioritizing steady progress over winding detours.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

218.4 miles from Windsor, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 6m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a straightforward, highway-focused experience, as 89% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Westside Freeway, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 224.4 miles. Because the road relies heavily on major interstates, the personality of this drive is functional and direct rather than technical. As you move between your origin and destination, the transition between these major arteries provides a consistent, predictable pace for your vehicle. Prepare for a steady, focused drive that favors time-saving efficiency over varied terrain.

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

There are about 24 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 224.4 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 47 miles in near I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway.

Route Complexity 9/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 436.9 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 47 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.3 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.6 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

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

47 mi into trip | ~55m in | I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 451B Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland

64.3 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in | I 580 / Interstate Highway 80

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / Interstate Highway 80 toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oaklan...

64.6 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in | I 580 / MacArthur Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockt...

414.1 mi into trip | ~7h 40m 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

419.7 mi into trip | ~7h 47m 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

Towns Along This Route

Between Windsor, CA and Los Angeles, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda and San Jose.

Oakland

47 mi in | ~55m | via I 580

Hayward

64.3 mi in | ~1h 17m | via I 580

Stockton

64.3 mi in | ~1h 17m | via I 580

Alameda

64.3 mi in | ~1h 17m | via I 580

San Jose

64.3 mi in | ~1h 17m | via I 580

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Westside Freeway	224.4 mi	4h
I 5 Truck	63.9 mi	1h 13m
Redwood Highway	46.2 mi	53m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway	29.3 mi	33m
William Elton Brown Freeway	17 mi	18m
MacArthur Freeway	16.4 mi	18m
Hollywood Freeway	16.2 mi	20m
John T. Knox Freeway	13.6 mi	17m

Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 224.4 mi, about 4h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Windsor River Road

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Windsor River Road

Continue on Old Redwood Highway

0.1 mi · 12 sec · Old Redwood Highway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Toward US 101 South

Merge onto US 101

46 mi · 53 min · Redwood Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

14 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway

Exit 451B Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 80; I 580

3.8 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

0.3 mi · 21 sec · Interstate Highway 80

Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

16 mi · 18 min · MacArthur Freeway

Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 580

12 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

11 mi · 11 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

Merge onto I 5

224 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

4.1 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the none lane.

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.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

5.3 mi · 6 min · I 5 Truck

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 32 sec

Exit 153B Toward CA 170 South: Hollywood Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on CA 170

16 mi · 20 min · Hollywood Freeway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec

Exit 2C Toward Broadway Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on West Aliso Street

409 ft · 18 sec · West Aliso Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto North Spring Street

0.3 mi · 35 sec · North Spring Street

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto West 1st Street

354 ft · 12 sec · West 1st Street

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

West 1st Street

Trip Plan

To manage the 8-hour and 10-minute duration effectively, plan for at least two well-timed stops to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the route is heavily reliant on major freeways, checking traffic conditions before departure is essential to avoid potential congestion on the I-5 corridor. If you choose to turn this into a two-day excursion, look for accommodation options near the midpoint to break up the long stretches of highway. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the 224.4-mile Westside Freeway segment, as consistent highway speeds can deplete your tank faster than expected. Starting your drive early in the day will help you navigate the final approach into Los Angeles with greater ease.

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 218.4 miles from Windsor, CA, or about 4h 6m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.4 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 96 miles or 1h 53m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 218.4 miles or 4h 6m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 218.4 miles or 4h 6m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 58m

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 Windsor, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Windsor, CA

Aim for roughly 218 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Los Angeles, CA

Aim for roughly 218 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 96 miles from Windsor, CA.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 224.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 218.4 mi from Windsor, CA · 4h 6m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Dublin, CA

218 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Dublin, CA

Popular next leg

Dublin, CA to Los Angeles, CA

347.6 mi · 6h 24m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Dublin, CA

218 mi · about 4.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Dublin, CA after about 218 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Dublin, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 96 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Turlock, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 218.4 miles from Windsor, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 224.4 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 218 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.

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.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Los Angeles, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.

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

$101.18 one way

$202.35 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 153 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.07	$104.34	$208.68
premium	$6.24	$107.38	$214.77
diesel	$5.64	$97.06	$194.13

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$101

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$231–$341

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 152.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	131.1	1	$45.87	$20.97
Efficient EV	109.2	1	$38.23	$17.48
EV Truck/SUV	174.8	2	$61.17	$27.96

Gas CO2

153 kg

EV CO2

51 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Windsor, CA

Afternoon in Windsor on Sunday

Local time

12:58 PM

PDT

Current temp

Unavailable

Destination

Los Angeles, CA

Afternoon in Los Angeles on Sunday

Local time

12:58 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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

Time zone

Same local time

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

Road read

8h 10m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Windsor, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 436.9 miles and takes about 8h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, Redwood Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 218 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 218.4 miles from Windsor, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $101.18 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Windsor, CA and Los Angeles, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda and San Jose.

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Return Trip

Los Angeles, CA to Windsor, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

437.4 mi 8h 11m

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Trip from Windsor, CA to Los Angeles, CA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Los Angeles, CA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Windsor, CA

Los Angeles, CA

Same local time

8h 10m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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