Crescent City, CA to Laguna, CA is 387 miles and takes about 7h 33m via CA 299, Westside Freeway, and Redwood Highway, with a fuel budget near $88 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within California, traversing the Pacific Coast region for both its start and end points. It's a mostly highway drive, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. Plan for a full day of driving, with most of your time spent on well-traveled roads.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
193.5 miles from Crescent City, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 299
136.3 mi
2h 40m
Westside Freeway
127.4 mi
2h 17m
Redwood Highway
73.7 mi
1h 34m
Cascade Wonderland Highway
31.8 mi
34m
South Sacramento Freeway
7.4 mi
8m
Bruceville Road
2.7 mi
5m
Tehama Street
1.6 mi
2m
Capital City Freeway
1.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
CA 299
— 136.3 mi, about 2h 40m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 142 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,249 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,601
Quietest
2 AM
~212 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 48 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 Crescent City, CA and Laguna, CA.
1
Start on 9th Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·9th Street
2
Turn right onto US 101
0.6 mi·1 min·L Street
3
Continue on US 101
74 mi·1 hr 34 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward CA 299: Weaverville, Redding, Blue Lake, Willow CreekUse the slight right lane.
5
Continue on CA 299
136 mi·2 hr 40 min·CA 299
6
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Court Street
7
Turn left onto Tehama Street
1.6 mi·2 min·Tehama Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·55 sec
Exit 2AToward I 5 South: SacramentoUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 5
32 mi·34 min·Cascade Wonderland Highway
10
Continue on I 5
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·Westside Freeway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
16 mi·16 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
19 mi·21 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 518Toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San FranciscoUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·32 sec
Exit 518Toward US 50 East: Fresno
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 518Toward US 50 East: Fresno
16
Merge onto US 50; I 80 Business
1.2 mi·1 min·Capital City Freeway
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
0.3 mi·18 sec·Capital City Freeway
Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, FresnoUse the slight right lane.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·34 sec
Toward CA 99 South: FresnoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto CA 99
7.4 mi·8 min·South Sacramento Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 289Toward Cosumnes River Boulevard, Calvine RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn right onto Cosumnes River Boulevard
0.3 mi·27 sec·Cosumnes River Boulevard
Use the left / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto Bruceville Road
2.7 mi·5 min·Bruceville Road
Use the left / uturn / straight lanes.
23
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
0.3 mi·50 sec·Seasons Drive
24
Turn right onto November Drive
0.1 mi·29 sec·November Drive
25
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way
155 ft·12 sec·Mapleview Way
26
Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court
183 ft·8 sec·Fall Breeze Court
27
Arrive at destination
Fall Breeze Court
Trip Plan
Given the 7h 33m estimated drive time, starting early from Crescent City is recommended to maximize daylight. With 2 planned stops, you can break up the 387 miles into manageable segments. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before heading into longer stretches, as the estimated cost is $88. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 136.3 miles on CA 299, so plan your refueling and rest stops accordingly before you hit that segment.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 193.5 miles from Crescent City, CA, or about 3h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.3 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 85 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 193.5 miles or 3h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 22m
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 Crescent City, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Crescent City, CA
This is one driving day of about 387 miles and 7h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Crescent City, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on CA 299 for about 136.3 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 74.5 and 383.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
74.5 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward CA 299: Weaverville, Redding, Blue Lake, Willow Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 299: Weaverville, Redding, Blue Lake,...
7
212.9 mi into trip|~4h 20m in
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Sacramento
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2A
Toward I 5 South: Sacramento
8
372.6 mi into trip|~7h 12m in
Take the exit toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 518
Toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco
8
375.2 mi into trip|~7h 16m in|I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, F...
8
383.3 mi into trip|~7h 25m 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
$80.97 one way
$161.93 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg135 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$84.09
$168.18
premium
$5.67
$86.31
$172.63
diesel
$4.80
$73.07
$146.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$81
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$106–$131
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 135.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
116.1
1
$40.64
$18.58
Efficient EV
96.8
1
$33.86
$15.48
EV Truck/SUV
154.8
1
$54.18
$24.77
Gas CO2
135 kg
EV CO2
45 kg (67% 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
Crescent City, CA
Night
in Crescent City on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Partly Cloudy
NNW 6 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 12:00PM PDT until July 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:39AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Destination
Laguna, CA
Night
in Laguna on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 5 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 12:00PM PDT until July 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:39AM 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
8 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 33m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Whiskeytown Lake’s crystal-clear waters are iconic, but this 42,000-acre National Recreation Area offers much more. Explore waterfalls, hike rugged trails, uncover Gold Rush history, and witness the r...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 70% of this 387-mile drive is on highways. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of highway, 136.3 miles, along CA 299. The profile is mostly highway, meaning you'll likely experience extended periods of cruising with fewer turns and changes in speed until you transition to surface roads. Expect a consistent driving experience for a significant portion of the trip.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 136.3 mi on CA 299.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 299 and Westside Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 74.5 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 387 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 74.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 212.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 372.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,509 ft13 ft
Total Climb
3,211 ft
Total Descent
3,226 ft
Highest Point
2,509 ft
~165.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,496 ft
Notable High Points
942 ft at ~27.6 miles+670 ft prominence
2,509 ft at ~165.9 miles+923 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Crescent City, CA and Laguna, CA, road signs point toward Redding, Blue Lake and Willow Creek.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 33m. Total distance: 387 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 33m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 136.3 miles on CA 299. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 29 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 29 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 74.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 212.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 372.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.6 hours each way, a round trip means 15.1 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.
