Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
13m
Distance
10.9 mi
18 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dorris, CA
Ernesto Rosas
Macdoel, CA
Stephen Leonardi
This brief 10.9-mile journey from Dorris, CA to Macdoel, CA takes about 13 minutes to complete. Primarily following US 97, this drive is a straightforward highway-focused experience. With a minimal fuel cost estimated at $3, it's an easy addition to any Pacific Coast itinerary. As a very short trip, it's perfectly suited for a single day, allowing ample time for exploration at either end. You won't need to worry about overnight stays for this particular segment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 97 | 9.9 mi | 11m |
| North Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Butte Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Old State Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 4th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Alvarado Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Dorris, CA and Macdoel, 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
Turn slight left onto Old State Highway
Turn right onto Alvarado Street
Arrive at destination
3 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 10.9 — 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
Turn right onto Alvarado Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.56 one way
$5.12 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.18 | $2.65 | $5.31 |
| premium | $6.30 | $2.70 | $5.40 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $2.30 | $4.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.14 | $0.52 |
| Efficient EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.95 | $0.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.53 | $0.70 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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 Wednesday
Local time
1:31 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued May 23 at 11:59PM PDT until May 25 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Destination
Afternoon in Macdoel on Wednesday
Local time
1:31 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Clear
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued May 23 at 11:59PM PDT until May 25 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
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.
The drive is overwhelmingly a highway experience, with 90% of the route on main roads like US 97, North Main Street, and South Butte Street. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 9.9 miles on US 97, indicating a consistent pace for most of the journey. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes efficient travel over varied scenery, keeping you on well-maintained, likely faster roads for the majority of the time. Expect a smooth and direct path between these two California locations.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 97 and North Main Street. 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 Macdoel, CA is easy. At 13m with 90% 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 10.9 miles (Alvarado Street): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
33 ft
Total Descent
8 ft
Highest Point
4,269 ft
~10.9 mi in
Elevation Range
30 ft
Notable High Points
Founded 1908
Dorris is a city in the Shasta Cascades region of California.
Macdoel is a town in Siskiyou County in California. To get there from Weed, turn on US-97 N until you reach it. It is nearby Meiss Lake, and has an elementary school. Potato manufacturing is big here.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 13m. Total distance: 10.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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