How far is Oakland, CA from Los Altos, CA?

The driving distance from Oakland, CA to Los Altos, CA is about 38.8 miles (62.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 30.2 miles (48.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
38.82 mi
00h 54m
Flight
30.2 mi
48.61 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Oakland.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
30.2 mi
Kilometers
48.61 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
38.82 mi
Kilometers
62.48 km
Drive Time
00h 54m

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 00h 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Los Altos
Thu, Apr 23, 4:38 AM PDT
Return by in Oakland
Thu, Apr 23, 5:32 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Oakland
2026-04-23T03:43
Arrive Los Altos
Thu, Apr 23, 4:38 AM PDT
Route Timing
00h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:54 AM to 10:54 AM PDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:42 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Oakland
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

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.

Mid-route stop
Union City
CA

A city in Placer County, California.

From Oakland
19.4 mi
00h 27m
To Los Altos
19.4 mi
00h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Thursday

Patchy Fog then Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 8 mph W
Destination
65°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Oakland and Los Altos.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oakland and Los Altos.

  1. 1

    Start on 14th Street

    1058 ft · 53 sec · 14th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Harrison Street

    842 ft · 35 sec · Harrison Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 11th Street

    1141 ft · 26 sec · 11th Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Madison Street

    1673 ft · 49 sec · Madison Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto 5th Street

    116 m · 9 sec · 5th Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp straight toward I 880 South: San Jose

    1146 ft · 30 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway

    9.9 mi · 12 min · Nimitz Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    2.4 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Nimitz Freeway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 84 West

    1221 ft · 30 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on CA 84 West: Dumbarton Bridge

    1092 ft · 27 sec

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    1.3 km · 56 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right

    7.4 mi · 10 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Willow Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Willow Road

  16. 16

    Take the ramp right toward US 101 South: San Jose

    1127 ft · 30 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Bayshore Freeway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward San Antonio Road South

    1743 ft · 43 sec

  19. 19

    Turn straight onto San Antonio Road

    1.9 mi · 4 min · San Antonio Road

  20. 20

    Continue on North San Antonio Road

    1.3 mi · 3 min · North San Antonio Road

  21. 21

    Continue on North San Antonio Road

    743 ft · 21 sec · North San Antonio Road

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North San Antonio Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Oakland and Los Altos.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
56.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Nimitz Freeway
20.3 mi · 52%
CA 84 West
8.66 mi · 22%
Bayshore Freeway
3.79 mi · 10%
San Antonio Road
1.9 mi · 5%
North San Antonio Road
1.4 mi · 4%
Willow Road
1.02 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Nimitz Freeway

Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway

9.85 mi · 00h 12m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 54m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.6 mi
30.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Union City
00h 27m from Oakland
Leave By
4:42 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog then Sunny leaving Oakland and Sunny near Los Altos.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Oakland to Los Altos?

The road trip is about 38.8 miles (62.5 km) and usually takes 00h 54m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Union City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 19.4 miles from Oakland and 19.4 miles from Los Altos.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 30.2 miles (48.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:42 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.90 one way or $15.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Sunny around Oakland and Sunny near Los Altos.

Stop Ideas Near Union City

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Union City, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Union City.

RAIL

Fremont station

8 mi away
37260 Fremont Blvd.
RAIL

Hayward station

8 mi away
22555 Meekland Avenue
BUS

Fremont (San Joaquin Buses), California

15 mi away
999 Upper Mission Blvd
RAIL

Pleasanton, CA

19 mi away
4950 Pleasanton Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Oakland and Los Altos. Straight-line distance: 30.2 mi (48.61 km).

Oakland

#1 Oakland

The third most populous city in California, Oakland is a major center for business, manufacturing, and culture.

Population424,891
Coordinates37.8043700, -122.2708000
Altitude13
CountryUnited States
Los Altos

#2 Los Altos

City in Santa Clara County, California, United States

Population30,281
Coordinates37.3852200, -122.1141300
Altitude48
CountryUnited States
Start: Oakland (-122.2708, 37.80437)
End: Los Altos (-122.11413, 37.38522)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 62 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.37 gal
5.19 L · about $7.90
Round trip
$15.81
2.74 gal · 10.38 L
Estimated CO2
12.2 kg one way
Round trip: 24.4 kg / 54 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $7.90 $15.81
Mid-grade $6.07 $8.31 $16.62
Premium $6.24 $8.55 $17.11
Diesel $7.57 $10.37 $20.73

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Oakland and Los Altos. The current time is 03:43:56.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.