How far is Los Angeles, CA from Cottonwood, CA?
The driving distance from Los Angeles, CA to Cottonwood, CA is about 527.7 miles (849.3 km), with a travel time of about 09h 39m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 490.6 miles (789.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 19m 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 09h 39m.
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 Los Angeles and Cottonwood.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles and Cottonwood.
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1
Start on West 1st Street
761 ft · 32 sec · West 1st Street
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2
Turn right onto North Broadway
1959 ft · 49 sec · North Broadway
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3
Take the ramp right toward US 101 North, CA 110
1234 ft · 30 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.1 km · 55 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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5
Continue on Hollywood Freeway
15.5 mi · 20 min · Hollywood Freeway
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6
Keep slight left
1.4 km · 59 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
4.5 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
1.5 mi · 2 min
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10
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
25.5 mi · 28 min · Westside Freeway
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14
Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway
53.8 mi · 1 hr · Westside Freeway
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
120.9 mi · 2 hr 10 min · Westside Freeway
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16
Continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway
15.8 mi · 17 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward Bowman Road, Cottonwood
1719 ft · 33 sec
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18
Continue on Main Street
1.2 mi · 2 min · Main Street
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19
Turn right onto 1st Street
19 m · 2 sec · 1st Street
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20
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 1st Street
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.
Sunny leaving Los Angeles and 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 527.7 miles (849.3 km) and usually takes 09h 39m 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 264 miles from Los Angeles and 263.8 miles from Cottonwood.
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 37.1 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 $116.58 one way or $233.16 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 165.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Los Angeles and Sunny near Cottonwood.
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 Los Angeles and Cottonwood. Straight-line distance: 490.6 mi (789.55 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
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 |
End: Cottonwood (-122.28084, 40.38571)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 849 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 17h 35m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 11m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 33m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 47m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 32m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 35m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $116.58 | $233.16 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $121.01 | $242.02 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $124.55 | $249.10 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $156.65 | $313.30 |
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