How far is Los Angeles, CA from Portola, CA?
The driving distance from Los Angeles, CA to Portola, CA is about 532.3 miles (856.6 km), with a travel time of about 10h 02m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 416.4 miles (670.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 20h 04m 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 10h 02m.
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.
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Los Angeles and Portola.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles and Portola.
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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
46 mi · 51 min · Westside Freeway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe
975 ft · 13 sec
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16
Keep slight right to continue on US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, Broadway
809 ft · 13 sec
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17
Keep slight left to continue on US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe
1.1 km · 1 min
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18
Merge slight left onto Capital City Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Capital City Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway
9.4 mi · 10 min · Capital City Freeway
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20
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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21
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
78 mi · 1 hr 30 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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22
Take the exit slight right toward Donner Lake
2253 ft · 30 sec
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23
Merge slight left onto Alan S. Hart Freeway
6.2 mi · 7 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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24
Take the exit slight right toward Truckee
1435 ft · 41 sec
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25
Turn left onto Truckee Way
1091 ft · 21 sec · Truckee Way
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26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Truckee Way
34 m · 2 sec · Truckee Way
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27
Exit the roundabout onto Truckee Way
789 ft · 16 sec · Truckee Way
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28
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route
82 m · 4 sec
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29
Exit the roundabout
1488 ft · 24 sec
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30
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
40 m · 2 sec
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31
Exit the roundabout
22.5 mi · 32 min
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32
Turn left onto West Main Street
4 mi · 6 min · West Main Street
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33
Turn right onto Westside Road
6.8 mi · 8 min · Westside Road
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34
Continue on Beckwourth Calpine Road
8.6 mi · 10 min · Beckwourth Calpine Road
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35
Turn left onto Feather River Highway
3.8 mi · 5 min · Feather River Highway
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36
Continue on East Sierra Avenue
2774 ft · 1 min · East Sierra Avenue
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37
Turn left
21 m · 5 sec
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38
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Angeles and Portola.
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 Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Portola.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to Portola?
The road trip is about 532.3 miles (856.6 km) and usually takes 10h 02m 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 266.2 miles from Los Angeles and 266 miles from Portola.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 416.4 miles (670.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 115.9 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 $108.34 one way or $216.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 166.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Los Angeles and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Portola.
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 Portola. Straight-line distance: 416.37 mi (670.08 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 Portola
City in Plumas County, California, United States
| Population | 1,913 |
| Coordinates | 39.8104600, -120.4691000 |
| Altitude | 1480 |
| Country | United States |
End: Portola (-120.4691, 39.81046)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 857 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 17h 44m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 18m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 38m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 52m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 36m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 38m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $108.34 | $216.68 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $113.92 | $227.84 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $117.24 | $234.49 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $142.11 | $284.22 |
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.