Origin
Laguna, CA
Afternoon in Laguna on Friday
Local time
2:01 PM
PDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Laguna, CA to El Granada, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 11, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 35m
Distance
124 mi
200 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 25m
★
6 AM
2h 36m
8 AM
2h 57m
10 AM
2h 43m
12 PM
2h 41m
3 PM
2h 44m
5 PM
2h 56m
8 PM
2h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Laguna, CA
Tori Pezzulla❤️
El Granada, CA
Irina Sakovich
Trip Overview
The drive from Laguna, CA to El Granada, CA covers 124 miles and takes about 2h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Eastshore Freeway, Cabrillo Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.25 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62 miles from Laguna, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 56.3 mi | 1h 7m |
| Eastshore Freeway | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| Cabrillo Highway | 11.2 mi | 17m |
| South Sacramento Freeway | 9.9 mi | 11m |
| Capital City Freeway | 5 mi | 5m |
| John F Foran Freeway | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| Yolo Causeway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| CA 1 | 3.6 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 56.3 mi, about 1h 7m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 77 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,088 veh/hr typical · worst 4,923
Quietest
2 AM
~691 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 60 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laguna, CA and El Granada, 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 Tahoe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 50 West: San Francisco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 50
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 80
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 80
50 mi
·
58 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Carquinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Eastshore Freeway
17
Continue on I 80
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 80
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Toward San Francisco
Use the slight left lane.
20
Merge onto I 80
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
23
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
24
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Route 80
Exit 2A
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
25
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Route 80
Exit 1A
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 80
Exit 1A
Toward US 101 South: San Jose
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto US 101
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
James Lick Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 431
Toward I 280 South: Daly City
Use the slight right lane.
29
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 280 South: Daly City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Merge onto I 280
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
John F Foran Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on I 280
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Junipero Serra Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 1
3.6 mi
·
3 min
·
CA 1
Exit 47B
Toward CA 1 South: Pacifica
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on CA 1
11 mi
·
17 min
·
Cabrillo Highway
Exit 505
Toward Sharp Park Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Turn left onto Capistrano Road
111 ft
·
2 sec
·
Capistrano Road
Use the left lane.
35
Turn right onto Avenue Alhambra
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue Alhambra
36
Turn left onto Avenue Portola
72 ft
·
3 sec
·
Avenue Portola
37
Arrive at destination
Avenue Portola
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62 miles from Laguna, CA, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.3 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 27 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62 miles or 1h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near El Granada, 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 124 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Laguna, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 56.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
62 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 62 miles from Laguna, 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 225 decision points cluster between mile 12.2 and 108.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
99.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 1m in
|
I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 toward US 101 South: San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward US 101 South: San Jose
8
102.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 280 South: Daly City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 280 South: Daly City
8
108.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
|
CA 1
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 1 toward CA 1 South: Pacifica
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 47B
Toward CA 1 South: Pacifica
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.25 one way
$56.50 round trip
$5.79/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.96 | $29.09 | $58.18 |
| premium | $6.14 | $29.97 | $59.95 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $29.13 | $58.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.2 | 0 | $13.02 | $5.95 |
| Efficient EV | 31 | 0 | $10.85 | $4.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.6 | 0 | $17.36 | $7.94 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Destination
El Granada, CA
Afternoon in El Granada on Friday
Local time
2:01 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
26 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 35m 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?
124 mi in 2h 35m — 38% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.3 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 22 significant decision points across 124 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 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; at 99.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
276 ft
-4 ft
Total Climb
702 ft
Total Descent
696 ft
Highest Point
276 ft
~106.3 mi in
Elevation Range
280 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 El Granada, CA, road signs point toward Lake Tahoe and San Francisco.
Lake Tahoe
12.2 mi in
|
~16m
San Francisco
91.3 mi in
|
~1h 48m
|
via Eastshore Freeway
About the Cities
Arriving in El Granada, CA
Full guide →The Peninsula (or San Francisco Peninsula) region of the San Francisco Bay Area lies immediately south of the City and County of San Francisco—reaching from its famous neighbor to the north into the high-tech region of Silicon Valley. For purposes of this travel guide, the Peninsula is synonymous with San Mateo County. While many of the Peninsula's residents work and play to the north or south, the Peninsula has its attractions, including some beautiful wilderness areas. The Peninsula has two coasts—one on the San Francisco Bay, the other on the Pacific Ocean—but few major cities or ports. The Santa Cruz Mountains divide the region in half north-south, with a large wilderness area that's great for hiking and mountain biking.
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 2h 35m. Total distance: 124 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. 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 El Granada, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 99.7 miles (I 80): 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 El Granada, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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