How far is San Carlos, CA from Los Angeles, CA?
The driving distance from San Carlos, CA to Los Angeles, CA is about 365.5 miles (588.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 50m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 328.1 miles (528 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 40m 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 50m.
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.
City in Kings County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Carlos and Los Angeles.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Carlos and Los Angeles.
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1
Start on San Carlos Avenue
93 m · 10 sec · San Carlos Avenue
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2
Turn right onto Laurel Street
638 ft · 32 sec · Laurel Street
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3
Turn right onto Holly Street
2208 ft · 1 min · Holly Street
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4
Take the ramp slight right toward US 101 South: San Jose
2849 ft · 1 min
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5
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 South: San Jose
993 ft · 26 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
11.8 mi · 14 min · Bayshore Freeway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
42.4 mi · 49 min · Bayshore Freeway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
1539 ft · 40 sec
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9
Turn left onto East 10th Street
108 m · 13 sec · East 10th Street
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10
Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway
40.6 mi · 50 min · Pacheco Pass Highway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles
3148 ft · 1 min
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12
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181.1 mi · 3 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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13
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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15
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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16
Keep slight left
5.3 mi · 6 min
-
17
Take the exit slight right toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
2508 ft · 33 sec
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18
Continue on Hollywood Freeway
16.2 mi · 21 min · Hollywood Freeway
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19
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway
636 ft · 17 sec
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20
Continue on West Aliso Street
125 m · 18 sec · West Aliso Street
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21
Turn right onto North Spring Street
1455 ft · 36 sec · North Spring Street
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22
Turn left onto West 1st Street
108 m · 12 sec · West 1st Street
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23
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Carlos 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
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181 mi · 03h 14m
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.
Chance Light Rain leaving San Carlos and Mostly Sunny near Los Angeles.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Carlos to Los Angeles?
The road trip is about 365.5 miles (588.2 km) and usually takes 05h 50m 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?
Avenal is a useful midpoint, sitting about 181.8 miles from San Carlos and 183.7 miles from Los Angeles.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 328.1 miles (528 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.4 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 5:20 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $74.42 one way or $148.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 114.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around San Carlos and Mostly Sunny near Los Angeles.
Stop Ideas Near Avenal
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 Avenal.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Corcoran station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Carlos and Los Angeles. Straight-line distance: 328.08 mi (527.99 km).
#1 San Carlos
City in San Mateo County, California, USA
| Population | 29,641 |
| Coordinates | 37.5071600, -122.2605200 |
| Altitude | 10 |
| 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: 588 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 10m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 08m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 18m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 05m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 13m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 33m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $74.42 | $148.84 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $78.25 | $156.50 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $80.53 | $161.07 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $97.61 | $195.23 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.