How far is Los Angeles, CA from Chowchilla, CA?

The driving distance from Los Angeles, CA to Chowchilla, CA is about 255.8 miles (411.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 240.5 miles (387.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
255.76 mi
04h 47m
Flight
240.51 mi
387.07 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Los Angeles.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
240.51 mi
Kilometers
387.07 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
255.76 mi
Kilometers
411.6 km
Drive Time
04h 47m

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 04h 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chowchilla
Sun, May 31, 2:28 PM PDT
Return by in Los Angeles
Sun, May 31, 7:16 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Los Angeles
2026-05-31T09:40
Arrive Chowchilla
Sun, May 31, 2:28 PM PDT
Route Timing
04h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:48 AM to 12:48 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:24 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Los Angeles
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
Shafter
CA

City in Kern County, California, United States

From Los Angeles
128 mi
02h 23m
To Chowchilla
127.8 mi
02h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Sunday

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S
Destination
88°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Los Angeles and Chowchilla.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles and Chowchilla.

  1. 1

    Start on West 1st Street

    761 ft · 32 sec · West 1st Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Broadway

    1959 ft · 49 sec · North Broadway

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right toward US 101 North, CA 110

    1234 ft · 30 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    1.1 km · 55 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

  5. 5

    Continue on Hollywood Freeway

    15.5 mi · 20 min · Hollywood Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    1.4 km · 59 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway

    4.5 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    36.1 mi · 42 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    6 mi · 7 min · Golden State Freeway

  14. 14

    Continue on Golden State Highway

    111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7

    2522 ft · 31 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    21.4 mi · 24 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99

    3.7 mi · 4 min · Northbound California State Route 99

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 233 West, Avenue 26

    1361 ft · 39 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Avenue 26

    978 ft · 17 sec · Avenue 26

  20. 20

    Continue on East Robertson Boulevard

    2672 ft · 49 sec · East Robertson Boulevard

  21. 21

    Turn right onto North 2nd Street

    19 m · 3 sec · North 2nd Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 2nd Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Angeles and Chowchilla.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Golden State Highway
111 mi · 44%
Golden State Freeway
62.4 mi · 24%
I 5 Truck North
37.7 mi · 15%
Avenue 7
21.9 mi · 9%
Hollywood Freeway
16.3 mi · 6%
Northbound California State Route 99
3.71 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Golden State Highway

Continue on Golden State Highway

111 mi · 02h 00m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 47m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15.3 mi
240.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Shafter
02h 23m from Los Angeles
Leave By
7:24 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny leaving Los Angeles and Sunny near Chowchilla.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to Chowchilla?

The road trip is about 255.8 miles (411.6 km) and usually takes 04h 47m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Shafter is a useful midpoint, sitting about 128 miles from Los Angeles and 127.8 miles from Chowchilla.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 240.5 miles (387.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.3 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:24 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $52.04 one way or $104.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny around Los Angeles and Sunny near Chowchilla.

Stop Ideas Near Shafter

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Shafter, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Shafter.

RAIL

Wasco station

12 mi away
700 G Street
RAIL

Bakersfield

27 mi away
601 Truxtun Ave
RAIL

Corcoran station

71 mi away
1099 Otis Ave.
BUS

Kettleman City, California

82 mi away
3300 Hubert Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Los Angeles and Chowchilla. Straight-line distance: 240.51 mi (387.07 km).

Los Angeles

#1 Los Angeles

The second most populous city in the United States and the center of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Population3,970,219
Coordinates34.0522300, -118.2436800
Altitude89
CountryUnited States
Chowchilla

#2 Chowchilla

City in Madera County, California, United States

Population18,153
Coordinates37.1230000, -120.2601800
Altitude73
CountryUnited States
Start: Los Angeles (-118.24368, 34.05223)
End: Chowchilla (-120.26018, 37.123)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 412 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.02 gal
34.16 L · about $52.04
Round trip
$104.07
18.04 gal · 68.32 L
Estimated CO2
80.2 kg one way
Round trip: 160.3 kg / 353 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $52.04 $104.07
Mid-grade $6.07 $54.72 $109.43
Premium $6.24 $56.31 $112.62
Diesel $7.57 $68.25 $136.51

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Los Angeles and Chowchilla. The current time is 09:40:53.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.