How far is Los Angeles, CA from Santa Cruz, CA?
The driving distance from Los Angeles, CA to Santa Cruz, CA is about 344.1 miles (553.7 km), with a travel time of about 06h 34m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 293.4 miles (472.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 08m 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 34m.
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.
Slight Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Los Angeles and Santa Cruz.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles and Santa Cruz.
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1
Start on West 1st Street
761 ft · 34 sec · West 1st Street
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2
Turn right onto North Broadway
1959 ft · 55 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
7.4 mi · 10 min
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16
Turn left onto Bloomfield Avenue
3.2 mi · 5 min · Bloomfield Avenue
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17
At the end of the road, turn right onto Bloomfield Avenue
1.4 km · 1 min · Bloomfield Avenue
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18
Take the ramp left
1205 ft · 16 sec
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19
Merge slight left onto South Valley Freeway
2.9 mi · 3 min · South Valley Freeway
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20
Continue on El Camino Real
2.3 mi · 3 min · El Camino Real
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21
Take the exit slight right toward CA 129 West: Watsonville, Santa Cruz
1435 ft · 19 sec
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22
Turn right onto Chittenden Road
2.5 mi · 3 min · Chittenden Road
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23
Continue on Riverside Road
8.6 mi · 12 min · Riverside Road
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24
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Riverside Road
44 m · 2 sec · Riverside Road
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25
Exit the roundabout onto Riverside Road
1.4 km · 1 min · Riverside Road
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26
Turn right onto Blackburn Street
2243 ft · 1 min · Blackburn Street
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27
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Lake Avenue
2844 ft · 55 sec · East Lake Avenue
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28
Turn right onto Main Street
1560 ft · 30 sec · Main Street
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29
Turn left onto Main Street
1.6 mi · 3 min · Main Street
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30
Take the ramp straight
1260 ft · 31 sec
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31
Merge slight left onto Cabrillo Highway
14.5 mi · 17 min · Cabrillo Highway
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32
Keep slight right to continue on Cabrillo Highway
1.1 mi · 2 min · Cabrillo Highway
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33
Continue on Chestnut Street Extension
1153 ft · 28 sec · Chestnut Street Extension
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34
Continue on Chestnut Street
37 m · 12 sec · Chestnut Street
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35
Turn right
16 m · 4 sec
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Angeles and Santa Cruz.
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.
Sunny leaving Los Angeles and Slight Chance Light Rain near Santa Cruz.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz?
The road trip is about 344.1 miles (553.7 km) and usually takes 06h 34m 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 172.1 miles from Los Angeles and 172 miles from Santa Cruz.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 293.4 miles (472.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.7 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 $70.04 one way or $140.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 107.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Los Angeles and Slight Chance Light Rain near Santa Cruz.
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 Santa Cruz. Straight-line distance: 293.41 mi (472.2 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 Santa Cruz
The most populous city in Santa Cruz County, California.
| Population | 64,317 |
| Coordinates | 36.9741200, -122.0308000 |
| Altitude | 11 |
| Country | United States |
End: Santa Cruz (-122.0308, 36.97412)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 554 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 27m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 36m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 52m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 44m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 54m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 17m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $70.04 | $140.07 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $73.64 | $147.28 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $75.79 | $151.58 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $91.86 | $183.73 |
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.