How far is Arcata, CA from Los Angeles, CA?
The driving distance from Arcata, CA to Los Angeles, CA is about 654.7 miles (1053.6 km), with a travel time of about 10h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 569.1 miles (915.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 21h 07m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 10h 33m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
The most populous city in San Joaquin County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Scattered Rain Showers
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Arcata and Los Angeles.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arcata and Los Angeles.
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1
Start on the route
90 m · 7 sec
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2
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
701 ft · 9 sec · Redwood Highway
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3
Take the exit slight right toward 14th Street
1152 ft · 34 sec
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4
Turn left onto 14th Street
144 m · 20 sec · 14th Street
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5
Take the ramp sharp left
1066 ft · 26 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
6.7 mi · 9 min · Redwood Highway
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7
Continue on 4th Street
1.5 mi · 4 min · 4th Street
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8
Turn left onto Broadway Street
3 mi · 6 min · Broadway Street
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9
Continue on Redwood Highway
128.9 mi · 2 hr 38 min · Redwood Highway
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10
Continue on Willits Bypass
5.4 mi · 6 min · Willits Bypass
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11
Continue on Redwood Highway
116.2 mi · 2 hr 18 min · Redwood Highway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
13.6 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway
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13
Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway
3.8 mi · 5 min · Eastshore Freeway
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80
1321 ft · 21 sec · Interstate Highway 80
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15
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
16.4 mi · 19 min · MacArthur Freeway
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16
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.5 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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18
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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19
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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20
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224.4 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway
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21
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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22
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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24
Keep slight left
5.3 mi · 6 min
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25
Take the exit slight right toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
2508 ft · 33 sec
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26
Continue on Hollywood Freeway
16.2 mi · 21 min · Hollywood Freeway
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27
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway
636 ft · 17 sec
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28
Continue on West Aliso Street
125 m · 18 sec · West Aliso Street
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29
Turn right onto North Spring Street
1455 ft · 36 sec · North Spring Street
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30
Turn left onto West 1st Street
108 m · 12 sec · West 1st Street
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31
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Arcata and Los Angeles.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224 mi · 04h 00m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Scattered Rain Showers leaving Arcata and Mostly Sunny near Los Angeles.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Arcata to Los Angeles?
The road trip is about 654.7 miles (1053.6 km) and usually takes 10h 33m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Tracy is a useful midpoint, sitting about 326.2 miles from Arcata and 328.5 miles from Los Angeles.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 569.1 miles (915.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 85.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $133.26 one way or $266.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 205.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Scattered Rain Showers around Arcata and Mostly Sunny near Los Angeles.
Stop Ideas Near Tracy
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Tracy.
Tracy, California
Tracy, CA
Manteca, CA
Stockton – San Joaquin Street
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Arcata and Los Angeles. Straight-line distance: 569.1 mi (915.87 km).
#1 Arcata
City in California
| Population | 18,044 |
| Coordinates | 40.8665200, -124.0828400 |
| Altitude | 7 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Los Angeles
The second most populous city in the United States and the center of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
| Population | 3,970,219 |
| Coordinates | 34.0522300, -118.2436800 |
| Altitude | 89 |
| Country | United States |
End: West 1st Street (-118.243569, 34.052341)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1054 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 21h 48m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 16h 22m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 13h 05m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 10h 54m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 09h 21m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 08h 10m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $133.26 | $266.53 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $140.12 | $280.25 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $144.21 | $288.43 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $174.80 | $349.60 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in California · Apr 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.