Alturas, CA to Laguna, CA is 313.7 miles and takes about 6h 7m via Route 395 and Alan S. Hart Freeway, with a fuel budget near $71 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within California, starting in the Pacific Coast region and ending in the same area. It's a predominantly highway drive, so expect steady progress. Given the relatively short duration, it's a manageable one-day trip, perfect if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
156.8 miles from Alturas, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Route 395
144.5 mi
2h 45m
Alan S. Hart Freeway
101.9 mi
1h 57m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
21.6 mi
24m
Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway
15.6 mi
17m
Capital City Freeway
9 mi
9m
Standish Buntingville Road
8.5 mi
12m
South Sacramento Freeway
7.8 mi
8m
Bruceville Road
2.7 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Route 395
— 144.5 mi, about 2h 45m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 103 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,529 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~248 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alturas, CA and Laguna, CA.
1
Start on North Howard Street
74 ft·5 sec·North Howard Street
2
Turn right onto West 4th Street
277 ft·9 sec·West 4th Street
3
Turn right onto US 395
0.6 mi·1 min·North Main Street
4
Continue on US 395
89 mi·1 hr 41 min·Route 395
5
Turn left onto CR A3
8.5 mi·12 min·Standish Buntingville Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 395
55 mi·1 hr 3 min·Route 395
7
Continue on US 395
16 mi·17 min·Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·10 sec
Exit 68Toward I 80: Sparks, Elko, Reno, Sacramento
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 80: Reno, Sacramento
10
Merge onto I 80
15 mi·16 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
11
Continue on I 80
102 mi·1 hr 57 min·Alan S. Hart Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on I 80
7.1 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
4.9 mi·5 min·Capital City Freeway
Exit 95Toward I 80 Business West: SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 Business
3.7 mi·4 min·Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto Capital City Freeway
0.3 mi·20 sec·Capital City Freeway
Toward CA 99 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on South Sacramento Freeway
7.8 mi·8 min·South Sacramento Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 289Toward Cosumnes River Boulevard, Calvine RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto Cosumnes River Boulevard
0.3 mi·27 sec·Cosumnes River Boulevard
Use the left / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto Bruceville Road
2.7 mi·5 min·Bruceville Road
Use the left / uturn / straight lanes.
20
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
0.3 mi·50 sec·Seasons Drive
21
Turn right onto November Drive
0.1 mi·29 sec·November Drive
22
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way
155 ft·12 sec·Mapleview Way
23
Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court
183 ft·8 sec·Fall Breeze Court
24
Arrive at destination
Fall Breeze Court
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to ensure you arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 144.5-mile stretch on Route 395, as services might be spaced out. Having a full tank before you begin that segment is a good idea.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 156.8 miles from Alturas, CA, or about 3h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 69 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.8 miles or 3h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laguna, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alturas, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alturas, CA
This is one driving day of about 313.7 miles and 6h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Alturas, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Route 395 for about 144.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 169.1 and 309.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
169.1 mi into trip|~3h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 80: Sparks, Elko, Reno, Sacramento
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 68
Toward I 80: Sparks, Elko, Reno, Sacramento
6
169.3 mi into trip|~3h 17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80: Reno, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80: Reno, Sacramento
8
293.2 mi into trip|~5h 40m in|I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward I 80 Business West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 95
Toward I 80 Business West: Sacramento
7
301.8 mi into trip|~5h 50m in|Capital City Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto Capital City Freeway toward CA 99 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 99 South
8
309.9 mi into trip|~5h 59m in
Take the exit toward Cosumnes River Boulevard, Calvine Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 289
Toward Cosumnes River Boulevard, Calvine Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.63 one way
$131.26 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$68.16
$136.32
premium
$5.67
$69.96
$139.93
diesel
$4.80
$59.23
$118.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.1
1
$32.94
$15.06
Efficient EV
78.4
0
$27.45
$12.55
EV Truck/SUV
125.5
1
$43.92
$20.08
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Alturas, CA
Night
in Alturas on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
WSW 8 to 22 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 1:44AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 1:44AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Destination
Laguna, CA
Night
in Laguna on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
SW 6 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 1:44AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 1:44AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 7m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is an 84% highway experience, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads like Route 395 and the Alan S. Hart Freeway. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 144.5 miles on Route 395, so be prepared for extended periods of cruising. The remaining 16% of the drive will transition you onto surface roads as you approach your destination.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 144.5 mi on Route 395.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Route 395 and Alan S. Hart Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 169.1 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 313.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 169.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 293.2 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,959 ft27 ft
Total Climb
3,057 ft
Total Descent
7,400 ft
Highest Point
5,959 ft
~201.6 mi in
Elevation Range
5,932 ft
Notable High Points
5,304 ft at ~44.8 miles+364 ft prominence
5,109 ft at ~156.8 miles+204 ft prominence
5,959 ft at ~201.6 miles+353 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Alturas, CA and Laguna, CA, road signs point toward Elko, Reno and Sacramento.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 7m. Total distance: 313.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 144.5 miles on Route 395. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Laguna, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 169.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 293.2 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Laguna, CA before the return drive.
