Willow Pass Community Park
Near the start, right off the route
Concord, California
Hours: 7:30 am–9:30 pm
+19256713423
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 33m
Distance
64.7 mi
104 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Concord, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Laguna, CA
Tori Pezzulla❤️
If you are planning a quick excursion from Concord to Laguna, you can expect a straightforward journey covering 63.8 miles. The drive typically takes about 1 hour and 21 minutes, making it an ideal choice for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via East Street, Grant Street, and CA 242 North to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $9 for fuel should comfortably cover your travel costs. Since both locations are situated within the Pacific Coast region, you will remain in a familiar coastal environment throughout the entire transit. This route is designed for efficiency, serving as a practical connection rather than a long-haul adventure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.4 miles from Concord, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 160 | 18.2 mi | 24m |
| CA 4 | 15 mi | 17m |
| Victory Highway | 8.2 mi | 13m |
| Westside Freeway | 8.1 mi | 8m |
| Twin Cities Road | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| River Road | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Elk Grove Boulevard | 3 mi | 5m |
| CA 242 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, CA and Laguna, CA.
Start on Willow Pass Road
Turn left onto East Street
Continue on Grant Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto CA 242
Merge onto CA 4
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 160
Turn straight onto CA 160
Turn left onto CA 160
Continue on CA 160
Turn right onto J11
Turn left onto E13
Turn right onto E13
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Turn right onto E12
Turn left onto Foulks Ranch Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Laguna Park Drive
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
Turn left onto November Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way
Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court
Arrive at destination
Given the 1 hour and 21 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns. Since there are no scheduled stops required for this 63.8-mile stretch, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to build in lengthy breaks. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route makes it a more active drive, so ensure you are well-rested before heading out. With a fuel budget of just $9, it is a cost-effective trip, but it is always wise to check your levels before leaving Concord. Use the short travel time to your advantage by planning your arrival for when you are most ready to start your day in Laguna.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 14 miles or 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.4 miles or 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laguna, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Concord, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Concord, CA
This is one driving day of about 64.7 miles and 1h 33m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 32.4 miles from Concord, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Near the start, right off the route
Concord, California
Hours: 7:30 am–9:30 pm
+19256713423
Visit websiteNear the start, ~10 min detour
Walnut Creek, California
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+19259435858
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 60.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward CA 242 North
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto CA 242
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 160 toward CA 160: Rio Vista, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Elk Grove Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto E12 / Elk Grove Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$14.87 one way
$29.74 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $15.32 | $30.65 |
| premium | $6.18 | $15.73 | $31.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.28 | $28.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.11 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.06 | $4.14 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Concord on Sunday
Local time
5:05 PM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Laguna on Sunday
Local time
5:05 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
51°F
Rio Vista, CA
32 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Memorial
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
National Historical Park
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate cruise, this route features zero highway miles, meaning you will be navigating local roads for the duration of the 63.8-mile trip. Because the longest stretch on East Street is essentially non-existent, you will find yourself frequently adjusting your speed and direction. The road’s personality is defined by constant transitions rather than long, open stretches. Prepare for a more involved driving experience as you maneuver through these local segments to reach Laguna.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 160 and CA 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.7 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (CA 242): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.5 miles (CA 160): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Concord, CA to Laguna, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Sacramento along the way.
Sacramento
Concord is a residential and business city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the state of California.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 64.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Concord, CA or browse trips ending in Laguna, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.