How far is Cottonwood, CA from Los Angeles, CA?
The driving distance from Cottonwood, CA to Los Angeles, CA is about 530.3 miles (853.5 km), with a travel time of about 08h 36m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 490.6 miles (789.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 13m 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 08h 36m.
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 county seat of Merced County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Cottonwood and Los Angeles.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood and Los Angeles.
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1
Start on 1st Street
19 m · 2 sec · 1st Street
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2
Turn left onto Main Street
1.3 mi · 2 min · Main Street
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3
Continue on Bowman Road
922 ft · 25 sec · Bowman Road
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4
Take the ramp left
1263 ft · 31 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
15.9 mi · 17 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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6
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
15.7 mi · 17 min · Westside Freeway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
78.8 mi · 1 hr 28 min · Westside Freeway
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Westside Freeway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
236.6 mi · 4 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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11
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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14
Keep slight left
5.3 mi · 6 min
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15
Take the exit slight right toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
2508 ft · 33 sec
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16
Continue on Hollywood Freeway
16.2 mi · 21 min · Hollywood Freeway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway
636 ft · 17 sec
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18
Continue on West Aliso Street
125 m · 18 sec · West Aliso Street
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19
Turn right onto North Spring Street
1455 ft · 36 sec · North Spring Street
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20
Turn left onto West 1st Street
108 m · 12 sec · West 1st Street
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21
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Cottonwood 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
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
237 mi · 04h 14m
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.
Sunny leaving Cottonwood and Sunny near Los Angeles.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Cottonwood to Los Angeles?
The road trip is about 530.3 miles (853.5 km) and usually takes 08h 36m 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?
Los Banos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 263.9 miles from Cottonwood and 266.4 miles from Los Angeles.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 490.6 miles (789.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.7 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 $117.14 one way or $234.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 166.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cottonwood and Sunny near Los Angeles.
Stop Ideas Near Los Banos
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 Los Banos.
Merced station
Denair station
Gilroy, California
Modesto station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Cottonwood and Los Angeles. Straight-line distance: 490.6 mi (789.55 km).
#1 Cottonwood
Located in Shasta County at an elevation of 433 feet, this Northern California census-designated place is situated in the northern Sacramento Valley near where Cottonwood Creek meets the Sacramento River.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 40.3857100, -122.2808400 |
| Altitude | 132 |
| 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 (-118.24357, 34.05234)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 853 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 17h 40m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 15m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 36m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 50m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 34m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 36m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $117.14 | $234.29 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $121.60 | $243.19 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $125.15 | $250.30 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $157.41 | $314.81 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026