How far is Los Angeles, CA from Waterford, CA?
The driving distance from Los Angeles, CA to Waterford, CA is about 305.1 miles (491 km), with a travel time of about 05h 56m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 285.2 miles (459 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 53m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 05h 56m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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 Tulare County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Los Angeles and Waterford.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles and Waterford.
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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 left to continue on Golden State Freeway
27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
6 mi · 7 min · Golden State Freeway
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14
Continue on Golden State Highway
111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7
2522 ft · 31 sec
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16
Merge slight left
21.4 mi · 24 min
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17
Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99
28.2 mi · 33 min · Northbound California State Route 99
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18
Take the exit slight right toward Atwater Boulevard
1940 ft · 47 sec
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19
Turn straight onto Atwater Boulevard
63 m · 7 sec · Atwater Boulevard
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20
Turn right onto Shaffer Road
2.3 mi · 4 min · Shaffer Road
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21
Turn left onto Santa Fe Drive
12.1 mi · 18 min · Santa Fe Drive
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22
Continue on Santa Fe Avenue
1701 ft · 35 sec · Santa Fe Avenue
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23
Turn sharp right onto East Avenue
1254 ft · 27 sec · East Avenue
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24
Turn left onto North Hickman Road
10.1 mi · 18 min · North Hickman Road
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25
Continue on F Street
970 ft · 20 sec · F Street
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26
Keep slight right to continue on F Street
14 m · 2 sec · F Street
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27
Turn right onto E Street
130 m · 24 sec · E Street
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · E Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Angeles and Waterford.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Golden State Highway
Continue on Golden State Highway
111 mi · 02h 00m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Mostly Sunny leaving Los Angeles and Mostly Sunny near Waterford.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to Waterford?
The road trip is about 305.1 miles (491 km) and usually takes 05h 56m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Earlimart is a useful midpoint, sitting about 152.7 miles from Los Angeles and 152.4 miles from Waterford.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 285.2 miles (459 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.9 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:06 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $62.13 one way or $124.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Los Angeles and Mostly Sunny near Waterford.
Stop Ideas Near Earlimart
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 Earlimart.
Wasco station
Corcoran station
Visalia, California
Goshen Junction, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Los Angeles and Waterford. Straight-line distance: 285.21 mi (459 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 Waterford
City in Stanislaus County, California, United States
| Population | 8,944 |
| Coordinates | 37.6413200, -120.7604800 |
| Altitude | 52 |
| Country | United States |
End: Waterford (-120.76048, 37.64132)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 491 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 09m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 37m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 06m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 05m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 21m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 48m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $62.13 | $124.26 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $65.33 | $130.66 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $67.24 | $134.47 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $81.50 | $162.99 |
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.