How far is Los Angeles, CA from Novato, CA?
The driving distance from Los Angeles, CA to Novato, CA is about 401.8 miles (646.6 km), with a travel time of about 07h 30m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 369.8 miles (595.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 01m 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 30m.
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.
Small city in Fresno County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Los Angeles and Novato.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles and Novato.
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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 left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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15
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.6 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway
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19
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
12.9 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway
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21
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 North: San Rafeal
1.1 km · 54 sec
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22
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
10.7 mi · 13 min · Redwood Highway
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23
Take the exit slight right toward De Long Avenue
1102 ft · 29 sec
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24
Turn left onto De Long Avenue
2651 ft · 1 min · De Long Avenue
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25
Turn sharp right onto Redwood Boulevard
875 ft · 26 sec · Redwood Boulevard
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26
Turn right onto Grant Avenue
38 m · 5 sec · Grant Avenue
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27
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Grant Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Angeles and Novato.
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.
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny leaving Los Angeles and Mostly Sunny near Novato.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to Novato?
The road trip is about 401.8 miles (646.6 km) and usually takes 07h 30m 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?
Huron is a useful midpoint, sitting about 201 miles from Los Angeles and 200.8 miles from Novato.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 369.8 miles (595.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 32 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 $81.80 one way or $163.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 126 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny around Los Angeles and Mostly Sunny near Novato.
Stop Ideas Near Huron
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 Huron.
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Hanford station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Los Angeles and Novato. Straight-line distance: 369.85 mi (595.21 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 Novato
A city in Marin County, California.
| Population | 53,351 |
| Coordinates | 38.1074200, -122.5697000 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
End: Novato (-122.5697, 38.10742)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 647 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 13h 23m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 02m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 02m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 41m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 44m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 00m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $81.80 | $163.61 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $86.02 | $172.03 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $88.53 | $177.05 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $107.30 | $214.60 |
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 · May 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.