Spanning 78 miles through the Pacific Coast region, this drive from Danville to Laguna is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 33 minutes. Because of the relatively short travel time, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the one-way trek. Since there are no scheduled stops required by the route, you have complete freedom to set your own pace. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this trip offers a manageable transition between these two California locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.7 miles from Danville, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
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
Donald D Doyle Highway
5.3 mi
6m
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
5 mi
5m
Twin Cities Road
4.4 mi
7m
CA 242
3.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
CA 160
— 18.2 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Danville, CA and Laguna, CA.
1
Start on West Prospect Avenue
250 ft·14 sec·West Prospect Avenue
2
Turn right onto Railroad Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Railroad Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto Danville Boulevard
282 ft·12 sec·Danville Boulevard
4
Turn right onto La Gonda Way
0.2 mi·41 sec·La Gonda Way
5
Turn right onto El Cerro Boulevard
0.2 mi·40 sec·El Cerro Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 680 North: SacramentoUse the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto I 680
5.3 mi·6 min·Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 680
5.0 mi·5 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680, CA 24Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 242
3.9 mi·4 min·CA 242
Exit 50Toward CA 242 North: Concord, PittsburgUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto CA 4
15 mi·17 min·CA 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 160
18 mi·24 min·CA 160
Exit 30Toward CA 160: Rio Vista, SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto CA 160
1.2 mi·1 min·River Road
13
Turn left onto CA 160
0.1 mi·1 min·Victory Highway
14
Continue on CA 160
8.1 mi·12 min·Victory Highway
15
Turn right onto J11
461 ft·55 sec·Walnut Grove Bridge
16
Turn left onto E13
2.2 mi·3 min·River Road
17
Turn right onto E13
4.4 mi·7 min·Twin Cities Road
18
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
19
Merge onto I 5
8.1 mi·8 min·Westside Freeway
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 506Toward Elk Grove BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn right onto E12
3.0 mi·5 min·Elk Grove Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
22
Turn left onto Foulks Ranch Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Foulks Ranch Drive
Use the left lane.
23
At end of road, turn right onto Laguna Park Drive
0.2 mi·29 sec·Laguna Park Drive
24
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
0.2 mi·37 sec·Seasons Drive
25
Turn left onto November Drive
0.1 mi·29 sec·November Drive
26
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way
155 ft·12 sec·Mapleview Way
27
Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court
183 ft·8 sec·Fall Breeze Court
28
Arrive at destination
Fall Breeze Court
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 33 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. While the route does not mandate specific stops, consider building in extra time if you prefer to break up the technical, turn-heavy segments of the drive. Keep your fuel budget of $11 in mind as you plan, though the short distance makes it easy to manage your tank before you head out. For the best experience, try to avoid peak local traffic hours to ensure your time on these smaller roads remains smooth. Since you aren't tied to a highway, feel free to pull over safely if you need a quick reset during the journey.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.7 miles from Danville, CA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.2 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.7 miles or 47m 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 30m
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 Danville, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Danville, CA
This is one driving day of about 77.5 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Danville, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on CA 160 for about 18.2 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 72.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|El Cerro Boulevard
Turn right onto El Cerro Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right / right lanes.
8
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 680 North: Sacramento
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 680 North: Sacramento
9
11.3 mi into trip|~14m in|CA 242
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 242 toward CA 242 North: Concord, Pittsburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 50
Toward CA 242 North: Concord, Pittsburg
9
30.2 mi into trip|~36m in|CA 160
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 30
Toward CA 160: Rio Vista, Sacramento
7
72.9 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward Elk Grove Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 506
Toward Elk Grove Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.81 one way
$35.63 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$18.36
$36.71
premium
$6.18
$18.85
$37.69
diesel
$5.61
$17.11
$34.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.3
0
$8.14
$3.72
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.78
$3.10
EV Truck/SUV
31
0
$10.85
$4.96
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 19, 2026
Origin
Danville, CA
Late night
in Danville on Sunday
Local time
12:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Laguna, CA
Late night
in Laguna on Sunday
Local time
12:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Rio Vista, CA
39 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
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
1h 48m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
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...
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
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...
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...
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features zero highway miles, meaning you will be navigating local roads for the entire 78-mile duration. The technical nature of the path keeps the experience engaging, requiring you to stay alert as you transition between locales. Because the road is composed entirely of local stretches, you should anticipate a slower, more rhythmic pace compared to high-speed transit. It is a drive that rewards drivers who enjoy constant steering adjustments over long, straight stretches.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.2 mi on CA 160.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.7 miles in near El Cerro Boulevard.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.5 miles you will encounter 24 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 0.7 miles (El Cerro Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles (CA 242): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
360 ft-2 ft
Total Climb
172 ft
Total Descent
505 ft
Highest Point
360 ft
Elevation Range
362 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Danville, CA and Laguna, CA, road signs point toward Pittsburg and Sacramento.
Danville is a suburban town in Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area, nestled in the valley between Mount Diablo and the Las Trampas ridges. Formerly a farming community that was home to a Southern Pacific Railroad station and later the playwright Eugene O'Neill, it is now a wealthy suburb with lots of greenery and has been rated the safest city in California.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 77.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.2 miles on CA 160. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (El Cerro Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles (CA 242): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Laguna, CA before heading back.
