How far is Los Angeles, CA from Cottonwood, CA?
The driving distance from Los Angeles, CA to Cottonwood, CA is about 414.8 miles (667.5 km), with a travel time of about 07h 48m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 379.8 miles (611.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 36m 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 07h 48m.
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.
City in Fresno County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Los Angeles and Cottonwood.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles and Cottonwood.
-
1
Start on West 1st Street
761 ft · 32 sec · West 1st Street
-
2
Turn right onto North Broadway
1959 ft · 49 sec · North Broadway
-
3
Take the ramp right toward US 101 North, CA 110
1234 ft · 30 sec
-
4
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.1 km · 55 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
5
Continue on Hollywood Freeway
15.5 mi · 20 min · Hollywood Freeway
-
6
Keep slight left
1.4 km · 59 sec
-
7
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
4.5 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
-
8
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway
-
9
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
1.5 mi · 2 min
-
10
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
-
11
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
-
12
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
-
13
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
25.5 mi · 28 min · Westside Freeway
-
14
Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway
53.8 mi · 1 hr · Westside Freeway
-
15
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
11.2 mi · 13 min · Westside Freeway
-
16
Take the exit slight right toward CA 113 South: Main Street, Woodland
1457 ft · 40 sec
-
17
Continue on East Main Street
3.1 mi · 8 min · East Main Street
-
18
Continue straight
9.2 mi · 13 min
-
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route
71 m · 4 sec
-
20
Exit the roundabout
48 m · 4 sec
-
21
Continue on County Road 89
1.6 mi · 4 min · County Road 89
-
22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · County Road 89
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Angeles and Cottonwood.
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 right to continue on Westside Freeway
226 mi · 04h 02m
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Los Angeles and Mostly Sunny near Cottonwood.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to Cottonwood?
The road trip is about 414.8 miles (667.5 km) and usually takes 07h 48m 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?
Coalinga is a useful midpoint, sitting about 207.5 miles from Los Angeles and 207.3 miles from Cottonwood.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 379.8 miles (611.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 35 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 $84.46 one way or $168.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 130.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Los Angeles and Mostly Sunny near Cottonwood.
Stop Ideas Near Coalinga
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 Coalinga.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Lemoore, California
Paso Robles station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Los Angeles and Cottonwood. Straight-line distance: 379.78 mi (611.2 km).
#1 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 |
#2 Cottonwood
Ghost town in Yolo County, California
| Population | 3,850 |
| Coordinates | 38.6582400, -121.9710800 |
| Altitude | 50 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cottonwood (-121.97108, 38.65824)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 668 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 13h 49m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 22m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 17m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 54m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 55m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 10m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $84.46 | $168.92 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $88.81 | $177.61 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $91.40 | $182.80 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $110.78 | $221.56 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.