If you are planning a trip from Laguna to Clearlake, expect a 115.9-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 23 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a relatively short distance, it works perfectly as a one-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via Mapleview Way, November Drive, and Seasons Drive as you travel within the Pacific Coast region. Budget approximately $16 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Since there are no designated stops planned on this route, it is a straightforward point-to-point transit that prioritizes efficiency over sightseeing detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58 miles from Laguna, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
58.9 mi
1h 4m
CA 20
37 mi
50m
South Sacramento Freeway
9.9 mi
11m
CA 53
3.9 mi
5m
Capital City Freeway
1.2 mi
1m
Laguna Boulevard
1.2 mi
2m
Seasons Drive
0.3 mi
<1m
Bruceville Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 58.9 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laguna, CA and Clearlake, CA.
1
Start on Fall Breeze Court
183 ft·10 sec·Fall Breeze Court
2
Turn right onto Mapleview Way
155 ft·10 sec·Mapleview Way
3
Turn right onto November Drive
0.1 mi·25 sec·November Drive
4
Turn left onto Seasons Drive
0.3 mi·48 sec·Seasons Drive
5
Turn left onto Bruceville Road
0.3 mi·42 sec·Bruceville Road
6
Turn right onto Laguna Boulevard
1.2 mi·2 min·Laguna Boulevard
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on Bond Road
0.2 mi·15 sec·Bond Road
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward CA 99 North: Sacramento
9
Merge onto CA 99
9.9 mi·11 min·South Sacramento Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·33 sec
Toward US 50 West, US 50 East: San Francisco, South Lake TahoeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 50 West: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 50
1.2 mi·1 min·Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 4AToward I 5: Los Angeles, ReddingUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Exit 4AToward I 5 North: ReddingUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 5: Redding
16
Merge onto I 5
6.7 mi·7 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
52 mi·56 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward CA 20: Colusa, Clear Lake
19
Turn left onto CA 20
37 mi·50 min·CA 20
20
Enter roundabout onto CA 53
223 ft·2 sec·CA 53
21
Continue on CA 53
3.9 mi·5 min·CA 53
22
Turn right onto Polk Avenue
331 ft·18 sec·Polk Avenue
23
Turn left onto Lincoln Avenue
0.1 mi·28 sec·Lincoln Avenue
24
Continue on Duncan Avenue
0.2 mi·37 sec·Duncan Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Duncan Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this 2-hour and 23-minute drive lacks major highway segments, try to depart during daylight hours to better navigate the turn-heavy local roads. With no formal stops built into the itinerary, you have the flexibility to pull over whenever you need a break, so keep an eye out for safe areas along the route. Given the $16 fuel estimate, it is wise to ensure your tank is topped off before leaving to avoid searching for stations on smaller, local roads. Because you are navigating strictly through local streets, rely on your navigation system to manage the frequent transitions between Mapleview Way, November Drive, and Seasons Drive.
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 58 miles from Laguna, CA, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.9 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 25 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58 miles or 1h 7m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clearlake, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Laguna, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Laguna, CA
This is one driving day of about 115.9 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Laguna, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 58.9 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 14.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|Laguna Boulevard
Turn right onto Laguna Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
12.2 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward US 50 West, US 50 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 50 West, US 50 East: San Francisco, S...
7
12.7 mi into trip|~17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 West: San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 50 West: San Francisco
8
14.7 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the exit toward I 5: Los Angeles, Redding
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4A
Toward I 5: Los Angeles, Redding
9
14.9 mi into trip|~20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 5 North: Redding
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4A
Toward I 5 North: Redding
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.64 one way
$53.28 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$27.45
$54.90
premium
$6.18
$28.19
$56.37
diesel
$5.61
$25.59
$51.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.8
0
$12.17
$5.56
Efficient EV
29
0
$10.14
$4.64
EV Truck/SUV
46.4
0
$16.23
$7.42
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Laguna, CA
Late night
in Laguna on Tuesday
Local time
2:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clearlake, CA
Late night
in Clearlake on Tuesday
Local time
2:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Williams, CA
58 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
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
2h 23m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will spend 0% of your time on highways, meaning the entire experience relies on navigating local roads. There is no long, uninterrupted stretch of road here, as the longest segment on Mapleview Way is negligible. The route feels intimate and technical, requiring you to stay alert as you transition between the various local thoroughfares. Expect a driving experience defined by frequent turns and constant maneuvering rather than high-speed highway travel.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.9 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and CA 20. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Laguna Boulevard.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 115.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Laguna Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,814 ft13 ft
Total Climb
2,711 ft
Total Descent
1,308 ft
Highest Point
1,814 ft
~96.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,801 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Laguna, CA and Clearlake, CA, road signs point toward Lake Tahoe, Redding and Clear Lake.
Clearlake is a city in Lake County inland in the North Coast region of California. It is located at the southern end of Clear Lake, which is more than 1.5 million years old.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 115.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.9 miles on Westside Freeway. 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 Clearlake, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Laguna Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clearlake, CA before heading back.
