Alturas, CA Road Trips
With 7 routes heading out and 2 heading in, Alturas, CA works well as a modest departure point in the Pacific Coast. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 486 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from Alturas, CA head south, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Routes
9
Longest Drive
726.6 mi
San Diego, CA
Quickest Drive
5h 51m
Sacramento, CA
Plan Around Alturas, CA
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Alturas, CA is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Alturas, CA
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Alturas, CA
Alturas, CA to San Diego, CA
Alturas, CA to Long Beach, CA
Alturas, CA to Bakersfield, CA
Alturas, CA to Fresno, CA
Alturas, CA to Oakland, CA
Alturas, CA to Laguna, CA
Alturas, CA to Sacramento, CA
Driving from Alturas, CA
On average, trips departing from Alturas, CA run 486 miles with a drive time of roughly 9h 34m. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 727 miles (14h 31m), while the shortest is just 302 miles.
Popular Destinations
Drivers leaving Alturas, CA most often head toward San Diego, CA (726.6 mi, 14h 31m), Long Beach, CA (663.2 mi, 13h 16m), Bakersfield, CA (576 mi, 10h 58m), Fresno, CA (469.1 mi, 9h 4m), and Oakland, CA (351.7 mi, 7h 8m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
For the average 486-mile drive from Alturas, CA, expect to burn about 19.1 gallons of fuel one way at 25 MPG. Check local pump prices before you go to lock in your budget.
The majority of destinations are to the south. Morning starts help you avoid the midday heat on longer drives. These are full-day drives. Start by 7 or 8 AM if you want to arrive at a reasonable hour without rushing.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 7 mapped routes leaving Alturas, CA and 2 routes heading into Alturas, CA, covering 9 total connections. Distances range from 302 to 727 miles.
The longest mapped route from Alturas, CA covers 727 miles and takes approximately 14h 31m. Shorter options start at just 302 miles.
The average route from Alturas, CA runs about 486 miles with a drive time of roughly 9h 34m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
The most popular road trip destinations from Alturas, CA include San Diego, CA, Long Beach, CA, Bakersfield, CA and Fresno, CA. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Alturas, CA by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
2,703
Median Income
$54,634
Median Home Value
$152,600
Median Age
45.2
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Alturas, CA at a Glance
Founded
1901
Elevation
4,370 ft
Area
2 mi²
Notable People from Alturas, CA
A sampling of people born in Alturas, CA.
Ernest S. Brown
1903–1965
American politician (1903-1965)
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Alturas, CA.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
historic church in Alturas, California, USA
City data from Wikidata (Q446281), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Alturas, CA
Alturas is in Modoc County in California.
1 The Modoc County Museum, 600 S Main St, ☏ +1 530 233-2944. A unique museum, noted for their artifacts and photos of the county.
1 Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, ☏ +1 530-233-3572. Over 7,000 acres, consisting of wetland, reservoir, riparian, sagebrush-steppe, and cropland habitats. (updated Nov 2017) 2 Modoc National Forest, 225 West 8th St, ☏ +1 530-233-5811. (updated Nov 2017)
1 Antonio's Cucina Italiana, 220 S Main St, ☏ +1 530-233-5600. 11AM-9PM daily. Pizza with hand-thrown dough and house-made sauce- try a little honey on the left-over crust. Also has many pasta dishes, and a few other choices like burgers, sandwiches and fish 'n chips. (updated Dec 2021)
1 Trailside Inn, 343 N Main St (SW Corner of W 4th St & N Main), ☏ +1 530 233-4111, fax: +1 530 233-3180. 2 Niles Hotel, 304 S Main St (SE corner of S Main & E Modoc St), ☏ +1 530-233-3773. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Dec 2021) 3 Super 8 by Wyndham, 511 N Main St (NW corner of N Main St & W 5th), ☏ +1 530 314-8107. Nearest accommodations to Alturas Sage Stage buses (see 'By bus' in the above) to Klamath Falls, Redding/Canby, Reno/Susanville, and to Canby for travelers transiting through town without a car and need a place to stay. (updated Jan 2025)
Alturas is at the junction of US 395 and CA-299 in northern Shasta Cascades (Mountain) Region of northern California. Being in a remote rural location, travel by private automobile is the most preferable way to get there and around: US 395 goes north-south through town as Main Street to its intersection with 12th St north of town. Main Street divides east from west while 1st St divides north from south. US 395 follows E 12th St (right turn if going north) which continues north towards Lakeview_(Oregon) 54 mi (87 km) (55 min) north. Going south US 395 goes down towards Reno at 171 mi (275 km) (3 hrs) south. CA-299 follows W 12th St from its intersection with Main St (US 395) out towards I-5 in Redding which is 145 mi (233 km) west from Alturas. CA-139 provides a turn-off to go north towards Klamath Falls, Oregon which is 22 mi (35 km) miles west of Alturas past Canby. Southbound CA-139 follows CA-299 for another 21 mi (34 km) from Canby to Adin where CA-139 continues south towards Susanville. CA-299 ends at the intersection of N Main (US 395) and W 12th St which becomes US 395 east of Main (E 12th St). 1 Sage Stage (Modoc Transportation Agency), (main bus stop) Corner of W 5th & Main (US 395) at Rite Aid (bus stop on W 5th at the SE corner of W 5th & Main, next to Rite Aid), ☏ +1 530-233-6410.
Travel tips adapted from Alturas on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
How Much Time Do You Have?
Pick your one-way drive time and see where you can go from Alturas, CA.
No routes in this time range.
destinations from Alturas, CA.
Trips to Alturas, CA
Escape Planner
Where to go from Alturas, CA?
Curated day trips, weekend getaways, and overnight routes — grouped by how much time you have and the kind of trip you want.
Drives from Alturas, CA in your inbox
Monthly note with new routes, weekend drive ideas, and seasonal picks for CA. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Browse more CA road trips or choose a route from Alturas, CA above.