Madera, CA Road Trips
Drivers starting from Madera, CA have 6 mapped routes to choose from, making it a small but connected base in the Pacific Coast. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 147-mile quick runs to 367-mile cross-state drives. Routes from Madera, CA spread mainly south and west, covering a wide geographic range.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
9
Longest Drive
367.4 mi
Chula Vista, CA
Quickest Drive
2h 39m
Laguna, CA
Plan Around Madera, CA
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Madera, CA is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Madera, CA
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Madera, CA
Driving from Madera, CA
Expect an average of 244 miles and about 4h 41m behind the wheel when leaving Madera, CA. There is a healthy spread of short hops, medium drives, and longer road trips to pick from. The longest mapped route runs 367 miles (7h), while the shortest is just 147 miles.
Popular Destinations
Top road trip destinations from Madera, CA are Chula Vista, CA (367.4 mi, 7h), San Diego, CA (360.3 mi, 6h 51m), Santa Ana, CA (271.4 mi, 5h 5m), San Francisco, CA (164.2 mi, 3h 15m), and Oakland, CA (152.6 mi, 3h). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
For the average 244-mile drive from Madera, CA, expect to burn about 9.6 gallons of fuel one way at 25 MPG. Check local pump prices before you go to lock in your budget.
Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring. The majority of destinations are to the south. Morning starts help you avoid the midday heat on longer drives.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 6 mapped routes leaving Madera, CA and 3 routes heading into Madera, CA, covering 9 total connections. Distances range from 147 to 367 miles.
The longest mapped route from Madera, CA covers 367 miles and takes approximately 7h. Shorter options start at just 147 miles.
The average route from Madera, CA runs about 244 miles with a drive time of roughly 4h 41m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
The most popular road trip destinations from Madera, CA include Chula Vista, CA, San Diego, CA, Santa Ana, CA and San Francisco, CA. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Madera, CA by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
67,133
Median Income
$63,619
Median Home Value
$335,900
Median Age
30.4
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Notable People from Madera, CA
A sampling of people born in Madera, CA.
Lee Evans
1947–2021
American track and field athlete (1947–2021)
Wally O'Connor
1903–1950
American swimmer and water polo player (1903-1950)
Jeannine Riley
1940
American actress
Tony Romano
1915–2005
American musician (1915–2005)
City data from Wikidata (Q851000), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Madera, CA
Madera is a city in Madera County in California's San Joaquin Valley.
Madera is often considered the gateway to the Sierras. Boasting a vibrant Latino community, Madera is also home to many factory farms and almond groves. Winters have cool weather, but summer temperatures are quite unbearable for most travelers.
Orchards (In the countryside around town). When the orchards are in bloom in late January to early March, take a drive down the country roads into what appears to be a sea of clouds in a pure blue sky: almond orchards as far as the eye can see. (updated Jun 2018)
1 Holiday Inn Express, 2290 Marketplace Dr., ☏ +1 559 661-7400. (updated Jun 2018) Americas Best Value Inn & Suites Madera, 22683 Avenue 18 1/2, ☏ +1 559 675-8697, fax: +1 559 662-8938. SpringHill Suites Madera, 1219 E Almond Ave (Right off The 99 To your Left), ☏ +1 559 664-9800. 99.00 (USD).
Getting in via a car, Amtrak or Greyhound are your options for getting to Madera. Take Highway 99 from either North or South until you are halfway between Fresno and Merced (both of which are in the State of California). Take Amtrak to Madera, but do it in the daylight for your health. That way, you can enjoy a scenic trip through the Delta and beyond, and just when you think you can't go any farther, don't fall asleep, you will have reached Madera. 1 Amtrak Station (Take Avenue 15 1/2 at 29th Road. Just a warning, though: there is no payphone, no station attendant, and no bathroom; it's basic). (updated Jun 2018)
It's best not to get around the town on foot: the size of the town makes this impractical, and this is probably not safest, especially at night. Most drivers in Madera don't have car insurance. This means that, if their car crashes into yours or your car crashes into theirs, they don't have an insurance company that will pay for the damage. This issue reflects the problems with getting around by foot or car: safety, size of the town, and insurance. Black Executive Car Services, ☏ +1 559-964-7172. Madera Dial A Ride, 1951 Independence Dr, ☏ +1 559-661-7433.
Travel tips adapted from Madera 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.
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