How far is Los Angeles, CA from Palo Alto, CA?
The driving distance from Los Angeles, CA to Palo Alto, CA is about 355.9 miles (572.7 km), with a travel time of about 06h 45m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 320.3 miles (515.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 31m 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 06h 45m.
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.
Census-designated place in Kings County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Los Angeles and Palo Alto.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles and Palo Alto.
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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
182.5 mi · 3 hr 16 min · Westside Freeway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
1038 ft · 27 sec
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14
Continue straight
28.7 mi · 33 min
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15
Keep slight right
11.9 mi · 17 min
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16
Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North: San Jose
2466 ft · 1 min
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17
Merge slight left onto South Valley Freeway
19.9 mi · 23 min · South Valley Freeway
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18
Keep slight left
21.9 mi · 25 min
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19
Keep slight left
3.7 mi · 4 min
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20
Take the exit slight right toward Embarcadero Road, Oregon Expressway, Stanford University
1343 ft · 38 sec
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Stanford University, Embarcadero Road
994 ft · 24 sec
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22
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 North: Stanford University, Embarcadero Road West, San Francisco
877 ft · 21 sec
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23
Keep slight right to continue on Stanford University, Embarcadero Road West
832 ft · 21 sec
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24
Continue on Embarcadero Road
1.2 mi · 4 min · Embarcadero Road
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25
Turn sharp left onto Middlefield Road
30 m · 3 sec · Middlefield Road
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Middlefield Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Angeles and Palo Alto.
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
183 mi · 03h 16m
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 Mostly Sunny leaving Los Angeles and Mostly Sunny near Palo Alto.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to Palo Alto?
The road trip is about 355.9 miles (572.7 km) and usually takes 06h 45m 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?
Kettleman City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 178 miles from Los Angeles and 177.9 miles from Palo Alto.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 320.3 miles (515.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.6 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 $72.46 one way or $144.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 111.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny around Los Angeles and Mostly Sunny near Palo Alto.
Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City
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 Kettleman City.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Corcoran station
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Los Angeles and Palo Alto. Straight-line distance: 320.35 mi (515.55 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 Palo Alto
The most populous city in Santa Clara County, California.
| Population | 67,008 |
| Coordinates | 37.4418800, -122.1430200 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
End: Palo Alto (-122.14302, 37.44188)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 573 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 51m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 53m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 07m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 55m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 05m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 26m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $72.46 | $144.92 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $76.19 | $152.38 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $78.41 | $156.82 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $95.04 | $190.08 |
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 07, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.