Next 7 departures
- TueOct 13
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 45–70°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Sunny55°F Tejon Pass8:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny47°F Kettleman City9:45 AM PDT Sunny55°F Patterson11:30 AM PDT Sunny65°F Stockton12:15 PM PDT Sunny67°F Elk Grove12:45 PM PDT Sunny69°F Cameron Park1:15 PM PDT Sunny70°F Echo Summit2:30 PM PDT Sunny52°F South Lake Tahoe2:45 PM PDT Sunny45°F - WedOct 14
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 52–73°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Sunny59°F Tejon Pass8:15 AM PDT Sunny52°F Kettleman City9:45 AM PDT Sunny56°F Patterson11:30 AM PDT Sunny68°F Stockton12:15 PM PDT Sunny68°F Elk Grove12:45 PM PDT Sunny70°F Cameron Park1:15 PM PDT Sunny73°F Echo Summit2:30 PM PDT Sunny62°F South Lake Tahoe2:45 PM PDT Sunny58°F - ThuOct 15
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 49–78°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Sunny59°F Tejon Pass8:15 AM PDT Sunny49°F Kettleman City9:45 AM PDT Sunny59°F Patterson11:30 AM PDT Sunny70°F Stockton12:15 PM PDT Sunny72°F Elk Grove12:45 PM PDT Sunny74°F Cameron Park1:15 PM PDT Sunny78°F Echo Summit2:30 PM PDT Sunny63°F South Lake Tahoe2:45 PM PDT Sunny60°F - FriOct 16
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 57–82°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Sunny66°F Tejon Pass8:15 AM PDT Sunny57°F Kettleman City9:45 AM PDT Sunny63°F Patterson11:30 AM PDT Sunny76°F Stockton12:15 PM PDT Sunny78°F Elk Grove12:45 PM PDT Sunny79°F Cameron Park1:15 PM PDT Sunny82°F Echo Summit2:30 PM PDT Sunny69°F South Lake Tahoe2:45 PM PDT Sunny61°F - SatOct 17
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 57–85°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Mostly sunny69°F Tejon Pass8:15 AM PDT Sunny57°F Kettleman City9:45 AM PDT Sunny68°F Patterson11:30 AM PDT Sunny78°F Stockton12:15 PM PDT Sunny79°F Elk Grove12:45 PM PDT Sunny80°F Cameron Park1:15 PM PDT Sunny85°F Echo Summit2:30 PM PDT Sunny68°F South Lake Tahoe2:45 PM PDT Sunny63°F - SunOct 18
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 58–80°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Sunny68°F Tejon Pass8:15 AM PDT Sunny58°F Kettleman City9:45 AM PDT Sunny67°F Patterson11:30 AM PDT Sunny77°F Stockton12:15 PM PDT Sunny77°F Elk Grove12:45 PM PDT Sunny78°F Cameron Park1:15 PM PDT Sunny80°F Echo Summit2:30 PM PDT Sunny67°F South Lake Tahoe2:45 PM PDT Sunny62°F - MonOct 19
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 56–73°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Mostly sunny67°F Tejon Pass8:15 AM PDT Sunny56°F Kettleman City9:45 AM PDT Sunny67°F Patterson11:30 AM PDT Sunny72°F Stockton12:15 PM PDT Sunny73°F Elk Grove12:45 PM PDT Sunny73°F Cameron Park1:15 PM PDT Sunny73°F Echo Summit2:30 PM PDT Mostly sunny62°F South Lake Tahoe2:45 PM PDT Mostly sunny57°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Los Angeles (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Los Angeles, CAStart 284 ftelevation
- Tejon Pass, CAMountain pass · Mile 68 · 1 h 9 min 4,160 ftelevation
- Kettleman City, CAMile 175 · 2 h 46 min 249 ftelevation
- Patterson, CAMile 297 · 4 h 36 min 100 ftelevation
- Stockton, CAMile 337 · 5 h 13 min 12 ftelevation
- Elk Grove, CAMile 371 · 5 h 47 min 49 ftelevation
- Cameron Park, CAMile 400 · 6 h 22 min 1,319 ftelevation
- Echo Summit, CAMountain pass · Mile 461 · 7 h 29 min 7,377 ftelevation
- South Lake Tahoe, CAMile 472 · 7 h 43 min 6,242 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Los Angeles, Echo Summit and South Lake Tahoe.
| Month | Los Angeles 230 ft | Echo Summit Daggett Pass station · 7,334 ft | South Lake Tahoe South Lake Tahoe Airport station · 6,314 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | High / low °F | High / low °F | |
| Jan | 68° / 49° | 36° / 23° | 43° / 18° |
| Feb | 68° / 50° | 37° / 23° | 43° / 19° |
| Mar | 70° / 52° | 42° / 26° | 48° / 24° |
| Apr | 72° / 55° | 48° / 29° | 53° / 28° |
| May | 74° / 58° | 56° / 35° | 62° / 33° |
| Jun | 77° / 61° | 67° / 42° | 72° / 38° |
| Jul | 82° / 65° | 75° / 49° | 80° / 43° |
| Aug | 84° / 65° | 74° / 49° | 80° / 41° |
| Sep | 83° / 64° | 67° / 44° | 73° / 35° |
| Oct | 79° / 60° | 55° / 36° | 62° / 29° |
| Nov | 73° / 53° | 43° / 28° | 51° / 23° |
| Dec | 67° / 48° | 35° / 23° | 43° / 18° |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: LOS ANGELES DWTN USC CAMPUS (USW00093134, 230 ft); DAGGET PASS (USC00262119, 7,334 ft); SOUTH LAKE TAHOE AP (USW00093230, 6,314 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for California rather than repeat them.
- For this passCaltrans I-5 highway conditions
- For this passCaltrans US-50 highway conditions
- California · CaltransQuickMap conditions and cameras
- California · winter rulesChain controls
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Los Angeles to South Lake Tahoe with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Los Angeles to South Lake Tahoe?
472 miles, about 7½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-5 and US-50. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Echo Summit, at 7,377 ft. It comes at mile 461, about 7 h 29 min of driving after you leave Los Angeles.
How cold is Echo Summit in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Daggett Pass (7,334 ft), averages a high of 36°F and a low of 23°F in January (1991–2020 normals).
How cold is South Lake Tahoe in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, South Lake Tahoe Airport (6,314 ft), averages a high of 43°F and a low of 18°F in January (1991–2020 normals).