Traveling from Lafayette to Laguna covers a total distance of 73.7 miles, making for a manageable trip that typically lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Since this is a relatively short journey, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $10 on fuel for the trip, keeping your transit costs quite low. Both locations are situated within the Pacific Coast region of California, ensuring a consistent coastal feel throughout your journey. This route is best suited for drivers looking for a straightforward local excursion rather than a major cross-country trek.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.8 miles from Lafayette, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m 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
Twin Cities Road
4.4 mi
7m
CA 242
3.9 mi
4m
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
3.8 mi
4m
River Road
3.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
CA 160
— 18.2 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lafayette, CA and Laguna, CA.
1
Start on Saint Mary's Road
41 ft·2 sec·Saint Mary's Road
2
Turn right onto Moraga Road
0.4 mi·55 sec·Moraga Road
3
Turn right onto Mount Diablo Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·Mount Diablo Boulevard
4
Turn left onto 1st Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·1st Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward CA 24 East: Walnut CreekUse the straight / right lanes.
6
Merge onto CA 24
2.7 mi·2 min·CA 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 680
3.8 mi·4 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
Merge onto CA 4
15 mi·17 min·CA 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Turn straight onto CA 160
1.2 mi·1 min·River Road
12
Turn left onto CA 160
0.1 mi·1 min·Victory Highway
13
Continue on CA 160
8.1 mi·12 min·Victory Highway
14
Turn right onto J11
461 ft·55 sec·Walnut Grove Bridge
15
Turn left onto E13
2.2 mi·3 min·River Road
16
Turn right onto E13
4.4 mi·7 min·Twin Cities Road
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
18
Merge onto I 5
8.1 mi·8 min·Westside Freeway
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 506Toward Elk Grove BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto E12
3.0 mi·5 min·Elk Grove Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
21
Turn left onto Foulks Ranch Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Foulks Ranch Drive
Use the left lane.
22
At end of road, turn right onto Laguna Park Drive
0.2 mi·29 sec·Laguna Park Drive
23
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
0.2 mi·37 sec·Seasons Drive
24
Turn left onto November Drive
0.1 mi·29 sec·November Drive
25
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way
155 ft·12 sec·Mapleview Way
26
Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court
183 ft·8 sec·Fall Breeze Court
27
Arrive at destination
Fall Breeze Court
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 30 minute duration, you have significant flexibility in your departure time, allowing you to plan around local traffic patterns. Since there are no scheduled stops included in this 73.7-mile route, it is wise to handle any fueling needs before you head out to maintain your $10 budget estimate. Take advantage of the short travel time to enjoy a relaxed pace without the pressure of a long-distance itinerary. If you find yourself tiring from the constant turning, remember that you can pull over at your convenience to break up the drive. Focusing on a steady, calm driving rhythm will make this turn-heavy journey much more comfortable.
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 36.8 miles from Lafayette, CA, or about 45m 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 16 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.8 miles or 45m 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 26m
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 Lafayette, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lafayette, CA
This is one driving day of about 73.6 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Lafayette, 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 69.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward CA 24 East: Walnut Creek
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward CA 24 East: Walnut Creek
9
7.5 mi into trip|~9m 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
26.4 mi into trip|~31m 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
69 mi into trip|~1h 33m 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
6
69.3 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|E12 / Elk Grove Boulevard
Turn right onto E12 / Elk Grove Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / uturn lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.92 one way
$33.83 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$17.43
$34.86
premium
$6.18
$17.90
$35.80
diesel
$5.61
$16.25
$32.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.1
0
$7.73
$3.53
Efficient EV
18.4
0
$6.44
$2.94
EV Truck/SUV
29.4
0
$10.30
$4.71
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Lafayette, CA
Evening
in Lafayette on Sunday
Local time
6:40 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Laguna, CA
Evening
in Laguna on Sunday
Local time
6:40 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 7:10PM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
51°F
Rio Vista, CA
37 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
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
1h 43m on the road
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.
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 grind, this route relies entirely on local roads, meaning you will not be spending time on major highway stretches. Because the highway share is 0%, the pace remains steady and technical rather than fast-paced. You should anticipate frequent adjustments to your speed and steering as you navigate the winding local paths. The absence of long, uninterrupted stretches means you will stay engaged with the road from start to finish.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 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?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 160 and CA 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.6 miles you will encounter 23 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: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.5 miles (CA 242): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.4 miles (CA 160): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
306 ft13 ft
Total Climb
224 ft
Total Descent
502 ft
Highest Point
306 ft
Elevation Range
293 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lafayette, CA and Laguna, CA, road signs point toward Pittsburg and Sacramento.
Lafayette is a city of 25,000 (2020) in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in California. It is primarily a residential town located in the hills between Berkeley and Walnut Creek, although it does offer shopping and dining, and the Lafayette Reservoir is popular with hikers.
Lafayette is home to the wealthy set. The median age is 45, and the singles scene is non-existent. Nevertheless, Lafayette attracts a variety of people for a variety of reasons. Most people come for the quiet, private atmosphere.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 73.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.5 miles (CA 242): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.4 miles (CA 160): 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.
