Freight shipping from Los Angeles to Seattle
Lane details
Los Angeles to Seattle freight at a glance
| Lane | Los Angeles, CA to Seattle, WA |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 1,135 highway miles |
| Drive time | About 18 hours by car without stops |
| Typical transit | Typically 3 days by truck, confirmed with every quote |
| Main route | I-5 north through the Central Valley, Sacramento and Portland |
| Major stops | Stockton, CA; Sacramento, CA; Redding, CA; Medford, OR; Eugene, OR; Portland, OR; Tacoma, WA |
| Common freight | Imports from the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports headed up the West Coast, along with aerospace parts and supplies bound for the Puget Sound. |
| Equipment | Full truckload, dry van, LTL, refrigerated and flatbed, matched to the load |
| Return lane | Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, CA: the same route in reverse, about the same distance |
What to know about this lane
- I-5 carries almost the entire trip, about 1,057 of the 1,135 miles, passing Sacramento and Portland on the way to Seattle.
- Two mountain crossings sit on I-5: Tejon Pass, the Grapevine, just north of Los Angeles, and the Siskiyou Pass in southern Oregon, where the summit sits at 4,310 feet and the road drops about 2,300 feet in six miles at a 6 percent grade.
- At the north end, Washington's aerospace industry is a $71 billion sector with more than 1,500 suppliers, centered on the Puget Sound.
Industries on this lane
Sources: Washington State Department of Commerce, Choose Washington: Aerospace (opens in a new tab); Oregon Department of Transportation, Siskiyou Pass: Respect the Pass (truckers guide) (opens in a new tab); Caltrans District 7, I-5 Tejon Pass full closure for snow (January 2025) (opens in a new tab).
Distance
Los Angeles to Seattle drive time and distance
Los Angeles to Seattle is about 1,135 miles by road, mostly on I-5, or about 18 hours of driving for a car without stops.
That is more than one truck driver may legally drive in a day. Federal hours-of-service rules allow up to 11 hours of driving in a 14-hour window, then 10 hours off duty. At about 500 miles per driver day, the planning pace that leaves room for fuel stops, traffic and appointments, 1,135 miles works out to typically 3 days, confirmed with every quote.
Both directions
Seattle to Los Angeles: the return direction
The Seattle to Los Angeles drive is the same I-5 run south, about the same 18 hours by car. Southbound loads cross the same two passes, and a delivery in Southern California still needs a CARB-compliant truck. Summit Link quotes that direction per shipment.
Sources: Distance-Cities, road distance, drive time and route (opens in a new tab); Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Summary of Hours of Service Regulations (opens in a new tab).
Rates
What affects freight rates from Los Angeles to Seattle
California pickups
The carrier's truck has to meet CARB's Truck and Bus Regulation and Clean Truck Check, even if it is registered in another state, so only compliant carriers can take the load.
Winter at the passes
Snow can close I-5 at Tejon Pass and bring chain requirements on the Siskiyou Pass, so winter loads are quoted with room in the schedule.
Aerospace handling
Parts and tooling bound for the Puget Sound's aerospace industry often come with handling requirements that shape the equipment and the quote.
Sources: Caltrans District 7, I-5 Tejon Pass full closure for snow (January 2025) (opens in a new tab); California Air Resources Board, Clean Truck Check overview (opens in a new tab); California Air Resources Board, Truck and Bus Regulation (opens in a new tab).
How it works
How Summit Link handles Los Angeles to Seattle freight
- 1
Quote the load
Tell us what is moving from Los Angeles, when it is ready and what the Seattle dock needs.
- 2
Match the carrier
Operations selects a carrier partner with the right equipment for this lane and your freight.
- 3
Stay on it
Proactive updates from pickup to delivery, and a call the moment plans change.
- 4
Close it out
Delivery paperwork, invoicing and carrier payment, handled by the same team.
FAQ
Los Angeles to Seattle freight questions
How far is Los Angeles from Seattle by truck?
The Los Angeles to Seattle distance is about 1,135 highway miles, mostly on I-5, and the return trip is about the same.
How long is the drive from Los Angeles to Seattle?
Los Angeles to Seattle driving time is about 18 hours for a car without stops. A loaded truck typically takes 3 days, because federal hours-of-service rules cap a driver at 11 hours of driving per shift.
What equipment can you arrange on this lane?
We arrange full truckload, dry van, LTL, refrigerated and flatbed freight on this lane through carrier partners, matched to your load.
How do I get a freight quote for this lane?
Request a quote online or call us. Tell us what you are shipping, how much it weighs, when it is ready and how often the lane moves, and a real person will follow up.
Can winter weather close I‑5 on this lane?
Yes. Caltrans fully closes I-5 at Tejon Pass during snow events, as it did in January 2025, so winter loads on this lane are best planned with some room in the schedule.
Do trucks need chains on the Siskiyou Pass?
Sometimes. Oregon law requires trucks to carry and use tire chains on the pass when conditions warrant or signs are posted, and fog, snow and black ice are common there between October and April.
Freight Moves. Relationships Endure.
Quote a load from Los Angeles to Seattle.
A real person reviews every request. Call us at 502-463-3192 or email operations@summitlink.biz.