Burbank to Fresno is 208.9 miles and takes about 3h 52m via Golden State Highway/Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within California's Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward path north. It's a practical route for getting from Southern California to the Central Valley without significant detours. You'll spend a good portion on major highways, making it a relatively quick trip if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
104.4 miles from Burbank, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Golden State Highway
98.2 mi
1h 45m
Golden State Freeway
69.9 mi
1h 18m
I 5 Truck
37.7 mi
43m
Yosemite Freeway
1.1 mi
1m
North First Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East Tulare Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway
0.2 mi
<1m
East Olive Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Golden State Highway
— 98.2 mi, about 1h 45m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 55 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,770 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,589
Quietest
2 AM
~577 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 44 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 Burbank, CA and Fresno, CA.
1
Start on East Olive Avenue
517 ft·13 sec·East Olive Avenue
2
Turn right onto North First Street
408 ft·14 sec·North First Street
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto East Orange Grove Avenue
301 ft·6 sec·East Orange Grove Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
519 ft·10 sec
Toward I 5 North: Golden State Freeway, Bakersfield
5
Merge onto I 5
12 mi·13 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi·2 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161AToward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 TruckUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi·41 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
27 mi·30 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
6.0 mi·6 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on CA 99
98 mi·1 hr 45 min·Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 131Toward CA 41 North: YosemiteUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto CA 41
1.1 mi·1 min·Yosemite Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on CA 41
0.2 mi·13 sec·Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 127Toward Tulare StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto East Tulare Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·East Tulare Avenue
18
Turn left onto North 1st Street
390 ft·15 sec·North 1st Street
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on North First Street
0.3 mi·32 sec·North First Street
20
Turn right onto East Washington Avenue
28 ft·1 sec·East Washington Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
East Washington Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 52m estimated drive time, leaving Burbank in the morning should allow you to reach Fresno with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can be flexible with your timing, but consider fueling up before you leave Burbank to ensure you have a full tank. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is nearly 100 miles, so plan accordingly for any necessary breaks. The $48 fuel cost is an estimate, so always check current prices and your vehicle's MPG.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 104.4 miles from Burbank, CA, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.2 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 46 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.4 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fresno, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burbank, 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 Burbank, CA
This is one driving day of about 208.9 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Burbank, 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 Golden State Highway for about 98.2 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 208.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North First Street
Turn right onto North First Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|East Orange Grove Avenue
Turn left onto East Orange Grove Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
9
14.6 mi into trip|~17m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
7
206.1 mi into trip|~3h 47m in
Take the exit toward CA 41 North: Yosemite
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 131
Toward CA 41 North: Yosemite
8
208.1 mi into trip|~3h 50m in
Take the exit toward Tulare Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 127
Toward Tulare Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.35 one way
$94.70 round trip
$5.76/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.96
$48.98
$97.97
premium
$6.09
$50.10
$100.21
diesel
$5.40
$44.44
$88.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
EV Charging Along Route
4 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
The Americana at Brand - Tesla Supercharger
Glendale, CA
Tesla
20 DCFC
Vons 2598 (La Crescenta, CA)
La Crescenta, CA
Electrify America
3 DCFC
BoA Gateway CA8-113 (Glendale, CA)
Glendale, CA
Electrify America
3 DCFC
The Americana at Brand
Glendale, CA
eVgo Network
2 DCFC
Electrify America: 2
Tesla: 1
eVgo Network: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.7
0
$21.93
$10.03
Efficient EV
52.2
0
$18.28
$8.36
EV Truck/SUV
83.6
1
$29.25
$13.37
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Burbank, CA
Night
in Burbank on Saturday
Local time
9:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Rain Showers Likely
SW 5 to 10 mph58% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 25 at 6:51PM PDT until April 27 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 25 at 1:57PM PDT until April 26 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Destination
Fresno, CA
Night
in Fresno on Saturday
Local time
9:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Showers And Thunderstorms then Light Rain Likely
NW 0 to 5 mph85% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 25 at 6:51PM PDT until April 27 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 25 at 1:57PM PDT until April 26 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
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
3 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
3h 52m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 14.4
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 86.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 52% highway, meaning you'll experience a mix of high-speed travel and surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 98.2 miles along the Golden State Highway. You'll notice the transition from more urban freeway driving to potentially more open cruising as you head north. Expect a steady flow of traffic typical for this stretch of California highway.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.2 mi on Golden State Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North First Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 208.9 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 0.1 miles (North First Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (East Orange Grove Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The self-declared "Media Capital of the World", Burbank is a small city in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California, in the Los Angeles area. It is the home of the headquarters and primary studios of Warner Bros. and Disney, and of the animation studios of Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon.
Top landmarks
•Walt Disney Studios — film studio in Burbank, California, United States
•Warner Bros. Water Tower — Historic water tower on the Warner Bros. Studios lot in Burbank, California; als...
•Burbank City Hall — City hall in California, United States
Fresno is in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Many visitors find themselves stopping in Fresno on the way to Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, or other destinations in the Sierras.
Top landmarks
•Holy Trinity Church, Fresno — church building in Fresno, United States of America
•Fresno station — train station in Fresno, California
•Kearney Park — park in Fresno County, California, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 208.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.2 miles on Golden State Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Fresno, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North First Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (East Orange Grove Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Fresno, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
