How far is Shasta Lake, CA from Los Angeles, CA?
The driving distance from Shasta Lake, CA to Los Angeles, CA is about 552.6 miles (889.4 km), with a travel time of about 08h 39m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 510.8 miles (822.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 18m 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 39m.
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.
City in Merced County, California, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Shasta Lake and Los Angeles.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shasta Lake and Los Angeles.
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1
Start on the route
28 m · 12 sec
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2
Turn left
18 m · 10 sec
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3
Turn left onto Montana Avenue
70 m · 14 sec · Montana Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Shasta Dam Boulevard
1.1 mi · 2 min · Shasta Dam Boulevard
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5
Take the ramp straight
26 m · 2 sec
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6
Keep slight right
1311 ft · 32 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway
35.5 mi · 39 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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9
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
15.7 mi · 17 min · Westside Freeway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
78.8 mi · 1 hr 28 min · Westside Freeway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Westside Freeway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
236.6 mi · 4 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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14
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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17
Keep slight left
5.3 mi · 6 min
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18
Take the exit slight right toward CA 170 South: Hollywood
2508 ft · 33 sec
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19
Continue on Hollywood Freeway
16.2 mi · 21 min · Hollywood Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway
636 ft · 17 sec
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21
Continue on West Aliso Street
125 m · 18 sec · West Aliso Street
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22
Turn right onto North Spring Street
1455 ft · 36 sec · North Spring Street
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23
Turn left onto West 1st Street
108 m · 12 sec · West 1st Street
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Shasta Lake 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.
Sunny leaving Shasta Lake 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 Shasta Lake to Los Angeles?
The road trip is about 552.6 miles (889.4 km) and usually takes 08h 39m 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?
Gustine is a useful midpoint, sitting about 275.3 miles from Shasta Lake and 277.4 miles from Los Angeles.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 510.8 miles (822.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.8 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 $112.50 one way or $224.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 173.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Shasta Lake and Sunny near Los Angeles.
Stop Ideas Near Gustine
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 Gustine.
Denair station
Modesto station
Merced station
Gilroy, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Shasta Lake and Los Angeles. Straight-line distance: 510.81 mi (822.07 km).
#1 Shasta Lake
City located in Shasta County, California
| Population | 10,379 |
| Coordinates | 40.6804300, -122.3708400 |
| Altitude | 246 |
| 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: 889 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 18h 24m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 49m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 03m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 12m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 53m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 53m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $112.50 | $224.99 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $118.29 | $236.57 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $121.74 | $243.48 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $147.56 | $295.11 |
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 · May 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.