Origin
Gustine, CA
Evening in Gustine on Sunday
Local time
5:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gustine, CA to Merced, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
31.1 mi
50 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
7 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gustine, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Merced, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel between Gustine and Merced, expect a straightforward 31.1-mile journey that takes about 38 minutes to complete. This drive stays entirely within the Pacific Coast region of California, making it an ideal candidate for a quick day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via North Avenue, V Street, and West 16th Street rather than relying on major interstates. With a fuel budget of approximately $7, it is a very economical transit between these two cities. Because the route is short and direct, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule without worrying about long-distance fatigue.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Avenue | 29.6 mi | 44m |
| West 16th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| V Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 4th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| M Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 18th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Canal Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Avenue
— 29.6 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gustine, CA and Merced, CA.
1
Start on CA 33; CA 140
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
4th Street
2
Turn right onto CA 140
30 mi
·
44 min
·
North Avenue
3
Turn left onto CA 59; CA 140
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
V Street
4
Turn right onto CA 99 Business
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West 16th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto M Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
M Street
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto West 18th Street
474 ft
·
24 sec
·
West 18th Street
7
Turn right onto Canal Street
114 ft
·
4 sec
·
Canal Street
8
Arrive at destination
Canal Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.6 miles from Gustine, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 31.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CA 140 / North Avenue
Turn right onto CA 140 / North Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
30 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
CA 99 Business / West 16th Street
Turn right onto CA 99 Business / West 16th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
30.9 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
M Street
Turn left onto M Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
31 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
West 18th Street
Turn right onto West 18th Street
Navigation decision point
5
31.1 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
Canal Street
Turn right onto Canal Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.15 one way
$14.30 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $7.37 | $14.73 |
| premium | $6.18 | $7.56 | $15.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.87 | $13.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.27 | $1.49 |
| Efficient EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.72 | $1.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.35 | $1.99 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Merced, CA
Evening in Merced on Sunday
Local time
5:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Livingston, CA
16 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
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
47m 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 turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this 0% highway route requires your full attention as you transition through local roads. You will not encounter any long, uninterrupted stretches of pavement, as the path relies on city-level navigation rather than high-speed transit. The personality of this drive is functional and grounded, focusing on local connections rather than scenic highway cruising. Be prepared for frequent turns and a steady pace that reflects the transition from Gustine to Merced.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.6 mi on North Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near CA 140 / North Avenue.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Gustine, CA to Merced, CA is easy. At 47m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (CA 140 / North Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 30 miles (CA 99 Business / West 16th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.9 miles (M Street): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Merced, CA
Full guide →Merced is a city of 86,000 people (2020) in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Located along State Route 99 which runs between the agricultural cities of the eastern San Joaquin Valley, Merced is also a gateway to Yosemite via State Route 140. Merced is less than two hours by car from Yosemite National Park to the east and Monterey Bay, the Pacific Ocean, and several beaches to the west.
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 47m. Total distance: 31.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.6 miles on North Avenue. 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: at 0.2 miles (CA 140 / North Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 30 miles (CA 99 Business / West 16th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.9 miles (M Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Merced, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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