Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
57.1 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dorris, CA
Ernesto Rosas
Black Butte, CA
Brett Aukburg
Dorris, CA to Black Butte, CA is 57.1 miles and takes about 1h 11m via US 97, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward drive. It's a short trip, ideal for a quick transit or adding to a longer itinerary. You'll spend most of your time on main highways, making for a generally efficient journey. Consider this if you need to cover this specific stretch of California quickly.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 97 | 50.5 mi | 57m |
| Cascade Wonderland Highway | 3 mi | 3m |
| Truck Village Drive | 2.1 mi | 8m |
| North Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Butte Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West 4th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Summit Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Dorris, CA and Black Butte, CA.
Start on this road
Turn left onto North Main Street
Turn right onto US 97
Turn slight left onto US 97
Continue on US 97
Take the exit
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Turn left onto Summit Drive
Continue on Truck Village Drive
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 28.6 miles from Dorris, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 54.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 97 / West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I 5 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Merge onto I 5 / Cascade Wonderland Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
Take the exit toward Summit Drive, Truck Village Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$12.66 one way
$25.32 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.81 | $13.06 | $26.13 |
| premium | $5.98 | $13.45 | $26.90 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $12.59 | $25.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.1 | 0 | $6.00 | $2.74 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.99 | $3.65 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Afternoon in Dorris on Friday
Local time
1:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Black Butte on Friday
Local time
1:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Clear
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
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.
You'll be on the highway for 88% of this 57.1-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on US 97 covers 50.5 miles. This means you'll experience mostly rural cruising with minimal transitions to surface streets. Expect a consistent driving experience with few interruptions until you reach Truck Village Drive near the end.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 97 and Cascade Wonderland Highway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Main Street.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Dorris, CA to Black Butte, CA is easy. At 1h 11m with 88% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 97 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 51.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
Total Climb
1,420 ft
Total Descent
1,755 ft
Highest Point
5,153 ft
~20.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,615 ft
Notable High Points
Founded 1908
Dorris is a city in the Shasta Cascades region of California.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 57.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Straightforward navigation.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. 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 Dorris, CA or browse trips ending in Black Butte, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
