How far is Portola, CA from Los Angeles, CA?
The driving distance from Portola, CA to Los Angeles, CA is about 518.9 miles (835.1 km), with a travel time of about 08h 54m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 416.4 miles (670.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 48m 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 08h 54m.
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
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Portola and Los Angeles.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portola and Los Angeles.
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1
Start on the route
21 m · 7 sec
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2
Turn right onto East Sierra Avenue
2774 ft · 59 sec · East Sierra Avenue
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3
Continue on Feather River Highway
3.8 mi · 5 min · Feather River Highway
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4
Turn right onto Beckwourth Calpine Road
8.6 mi · 10 min · Beckwourth Calpine Road
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5
Continue on Westside Road
6.8 mi · 8 min · Westside Road
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6
At the end of the road, turn left
4 mi · 6 min
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7
Turn right onto South Lincoln Street
22.5 mi · 32 min · South Lincoln Street
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8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
42 m · 2 sec
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9
Exit the roundabout
1494 ft · 24 sec
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10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Truckee Way
9 m · 1 sec · Truckee Way
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11
Exit the roundabout onto Truckee Way
797 ft · 15 sec · Truckee Way
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12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Truckee Way
31 m · 2 sec · Truckee Way
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13
Exit the roundabout onto Truckee Way
617 ft · 12 sec · Truckee Way
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14
Take the ramp right
1 km · 1 min
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15
Merge slight left onto Alan S. Hart Freeway
84.2 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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16
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7.1 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway
4.9 mi · 5 min · Capital City Freeway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Capital City Freeway
3.7 mi · 4 min · Capital City Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway
1.9 mi · 2 min · Capital City Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles, Redding
803 ft · 15 sec
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21
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South: Los Angeles
1.3 km · 2 min
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22
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
59 mi · 1 hr 5 min · Westside Freeway
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23
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Westside Freeway
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24
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
236.6 mi · 4 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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25
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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26
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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27
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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28
Keep slight left
5.3 mi · 6 min
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29
Take the exit slight right toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
2508 ft · 33 sec
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30
Continue on Hollywood Freeway
16.2 mi · 21 min · Hollywood Freeway
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31
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway
636 ft · 17 sec
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32
Continue on West Aliso Street
125 m · 18 sec · West Aliso Street
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33
Turn right onto North Spring Street
1455 ft · 36 sec · North Spring Street
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34
Turn left onto West 1st Street
108 m · 12 sec · West 1st Street
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35
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Portola and Los Angeles.
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 left to continue on Westside Freeway
237 mi · 04h 14m
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.
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Portola and Sunny near Los Angeles.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Portola to Los Angeles?
The road trip is about 518.9 miles (835.1 km) and usually takes 08h 54m 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 miles from Portola and 252.9 miles from Los Angeles.
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 102.5 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 $105.63 one way or $211.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 162.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Portola and Sunny near Los Angeles.
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 Portola and Los Angeles. Straight-line distance: 416.37 mi (670.08 km).
#1 Portola
City in Plumas County, California, United States
| Population | 1,913 |
| Coordinates | 39.8104600, -120.4691000 |
| Altitude | 1480 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: West 1st Street (-118.243569, 34.052341)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 835 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 17h 17m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 58m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 22m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 38m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 24m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 28m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $105.63 | $211.26 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $111.07 | $222.14 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $114.31 | $228.62 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $138.55 | $277.10 |
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.