Origin
Fresno, CA
Late night in Fresno on Tuesday
Local time
3:39 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fresno, CA to Mendota, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
35.5 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fresno, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Mendota, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to get from Fresno to Mendota, you are looking at a straightforward 35.5-mile journey that typically takes about 52 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is a quick trek that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via CA 180, East Belmont Avenue, and North First Street to complete the transit. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $8, this is an economical way to travel between these two points in the Pacific Coast region. Because the route is short and efficient, it offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to easily manage the drive in under an hour.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 180 | 33.7 mi | 47m |
| East Belmont Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North First Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Abby Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 8th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Thomas Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Quince Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CA 180
— 33.7 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fresno, CA and Mendota, CA.
1
Start on East Washington Avenue
28 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Washington Avenue
2
Turn right onto North First Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
North First Street
3
Turn left onto East Belmont Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Belmont Avenue
4
Turn right onto North Abby Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Abby Street
5
Turn left onto East Thomas Avenue
375 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Thomas Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
7
Merge onto CA 180
34 mi
·
47 min
·
CA 180
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
8th Street
9
Turn right onto Quince Street
348 ft
·
15 sec
·
Quince Street
10
Arrive at destination
Quince Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.8 miles from Fresno, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 35.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North First Street
Turn right onto North First Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
North Abby Street
Turn right onto North Abby Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
East Thomas Avenue
Turn left onto East Thomas Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CA 180
Merge onto CA 180
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
35.4 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
Quince Street
Turn right onto Quince Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.16 one way
$16.32 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $8.41 | $16.82 |
| premium | $6.18 | $8.63 | $17.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.84 | $15.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.73 | $1.70 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.11 | $1.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.97 | $2.27 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Mendota, CA
Late night in Mendota on Tuesday
Local time
3:39 AM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Kerman, CA
18 mi in
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
4 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
52m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 95% of this 35.5-mile route keeps you on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on CA 180, which accounts for a 33.7-mile stretch of uninterrupted driving. The transition from the urban environment of Fresno onto the highway makes for a consistent, steady pace behind the wheel. While the route lacks the technical turns of a mountain pass, the high percentage of highway time ensures you can maintain a reliable speed. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes direct travel over scenic diversions.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.7 mi on CA 180.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 180 and East Belmont Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North First Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fresno, CA to Mendota, CA is easy. At 52m with 95% 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 First Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (North Abby Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (East Thomas Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
314 ft
160 ft
Total Climb
10 ft
Total Descent
154 ft
Highest Point
314 ft
~2.5 mi in
Elevation Range
154 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Fresno, CA
Full guide →Founded 1872
Fresno is in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Many visitors find themselves stopping in Fresno on the way to Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, or other destinations in the Sierras.
Top landmarks
- • Holy Trinity Church, Fresno — church building in Fresno, United States of America
- • Fresno station — train station in Fresno, California
- • Kearney Park — park in Fresno County, California, United States of America
Arriving in Mendota, CA
Full guide →Founded 1942
Firebaugh is a city in Fresno County in California's San Joaquin Valley.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 35.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.7 miles on CA 180. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (North First Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (North Abby Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (East Thomas Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Mendota, CA before heading back.
How this page is built
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.
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