How far is Thermalito, CA from Los Angeles, CA?

The driving distance from Thermalito, CA to Los Angeles, CA is about 454 miles (730.7 km), with a travel time of about 07h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 420 miles (676 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
454.07 mi
07h 29m
Flight
420.03 mi
675.97 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Thermalito.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
420.03 mi
Kilometers
675.97 km
Flight Time
00h 50m

Driving Distance

Road route
454.07 mi
Kilometers
730.75 km
Drive Time
07h 29m

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 07h 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Los Angeles
Wed, May 13, 1:28 AM PDT
Return by in Thermalito
Wed, May 13, 8:58 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Thermalito
2026-05-12T17:59
Arrive Los Angeles
Wed, May 13, 1:28 AM PDT
Route Timing
07h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:30 PM to 3:00 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
9:00 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Thermalito
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

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
Mendota
CA

City in Illinois, United States

From Thermalito
225.9 mi
03h 44m
To Los Angeles
228.1 mi
03h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
93°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 12 mph SSE
Destination
71°F
Tuesday

Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Thermalito and Los Angeles.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Thermalito and Los Angeles.

  1. 1

    Start on 10th Street

    934 ft · 41 sec · 10th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Grand Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · Grand Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right

    1058 ft · 14 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    14.2 mi · 16 min

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    11.1 mi · 13 min

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    1.5 mi · 3 min

  7. 7

    Turn right onto 5th Street

    1272 ft · 31 sec · 5th Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto E Street

    4.2 mi · 5 min · E Street

  9. 9

    Keep slight right

    17.5 mi · 20 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Bernie Richter Memorial Highway

    4.9 mi · 6 min · Bernie Richter Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Golden State Highway

    7.7 mi · 9 min · Golden State Highway

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    66.3 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway

    1.2 km · 49 sec · Westside Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway

    236.6 mi · 4 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway

  15. 15

    Keep slight right

    58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South

    1354 ft · 18 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    5.3 mi · 6 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 170 South: Hollywood

    2508 ft · 33 sec

  20. 20

    Continue on Hollywood Freeway

    16.2 mi · 21 min · Hollywood Freeway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward Broadway

    636 ft · 17 sec

  22. 22

    Continue on West Aliso Street

    125 m · 18 sec · West Aliso Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto North Spring Street

    1455 ft · 36 sec · North Spring Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto West 1st Street

    108 m · 12 sec · West 1st Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 1st Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Thermalito and Los Angeles.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
25 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
362 mi · 80%
Grand Avenue
27.8 mi · 6%
E Street
21.8 mi · 5%
Hollywood Freeway
16.2 mi · 4%
Golden State Highway
7.74 mi · 2%
I 405 South
5.56 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

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.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
07h 29m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
15h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34 mi
420 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mendota
03h 44m from Thermalito
Leave By
9:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Thermalito and Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny near Los Angeles.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Thermalito to Los Angeles?

The road trip is about 454 miles (730.7 km) and usually takes 07h 29m 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?

Mendota is a useful midpoint, sitting about 225.9 miles from Thermalito and 228.1 miles from Los Angeles.

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

The direct path is about 420 miles (676 km), while the road route adds roughly 34 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 $92.42 one way or $184.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 142.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Thermalito and Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny near Los Angeles.

Stop Ideas Near Mendota

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Mendota, 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 Mendota.

RAIL

Madera

41 mi away
Avenue 15 1/2 at 29th Road
RAIL

Fresno station

53 mi away
2650 Tulare St.
BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

60 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198
RAIL

Merced station

62 mi away
324 West 24th St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Thermalito and Los Angeles. Straight-line distance: 420.03 mi (675.97 km).

Thermalito

#1 Thermalito

Census-designated place in Butte County, California

Population6,646
Coordinates39.5112800, -121.5869200
Altitude68
CountryUnited States
Los Angeles

#2 Los Angeles

The second most populous city in the United States and the center of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Population3,970,219
Coordinates34.0522300, -118.2436800
Altitude89
CountryUnited States
Start: 10th Street (-121.587202, 39.511281)
End: West 1st Street (-118.24357, 34.05234)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 731 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)15h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)11h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
16.02 gal
60.65 L · about $92.42
Round trip
$184.84
32.04 gal · 121.3 L
Estimated CO2
142.4 kg one way
Round trip: 284.7 kg / 628 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $92.42 $184.84
Mid-grade $6.07 $97.18 $194.35
Premium $6.24 $100.01 $200.03
Diesel $7.57 $121.22 $242.45

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 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Thermalito and Los Angeles. The current time is 17:59:19.

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.