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Trip from Montague, CA to Macdoel, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 11m

Distance

51.8 mi

83 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 6m ★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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Downtown Montague, CA, CA

Montague, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Downtown Macdoel, CA, CA

Macdoel, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

This 51.8-mile journey from Montague to Macdoel, California, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 11 minutes to complete. The route primarily utilizes US 97 and the 99-97 Cutoff, with a portion on Montague Grenada Road, offering a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this drive is quite budget-friendly. As both the origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, you'll experience a consistent regional feel throughout your short drive. Consider this a straightforward and efficient way to travel between these two Northern California communities.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 97 27.9 mi 31m
99-97 Cutoff 17.8 mi 28m
Montague Grenada Road 5.7 mi 10m
South 11th Street 0.3 mi <1m
Mount Pitt Road <0.1 mi <1m
Alvarado Street <0.1 mi <1m
Juniper Knoll Road <0.1 mi <1m
West Webb Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 97 — 27.9 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Montague, CA and Macdoel, CA.

1

Start on West Webb Street

35 ft · 3 sec · West Webb Street
2

Turn right onto CA 3; A28

0.3 mi · 29 sec · South 11th Street
3

Continue on A28

5.7 mi · 10 min · Montague Grenada Road
4

Turn left onto A12

18 mi · 28 min · 99-97 Cutoff
5

At end of road, turn left onto US 97

28 mi · 31 min · US 97
6

Turn right onto Juniper Knoll Road

115 ft · 6 sec · Juniper Knoll Road
7

Turn right onto Mount Pitt Road

379 ft · 22 sec · Mount Pitt Road
8

Turn left onto Alvarado Street

224 ft · 9 sec · Alvarado Street
9

Arrive at destination

Alvarado Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Weed, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Weed, CA

26 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.

Popular next leg

Weed, CA to Macdoel, CA

40.2 mi · 46m

Pacing Suggestions

Weed, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Weed, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 25.9 miles from Montague, 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 6

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 51.8 — 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 | CA 3; A28 / South 11th Street

Turn right onto CA 3; A28 / South 11th Street

Navigation decision point

4
6 mi into trip | ~10m in | A12 / 99-97 Cutoff

Turn left onto A12 / 99-97 Cutoff

Navigation decision point

4
23.8 mi into trip | ~39m in | US 97

At end of road, turn left onto US 97

Navigation decision point

4
51.7 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in | Mount Pitt Road

Turn right onto Mount Pitt Road

Navigation decision point

5
51.8 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in | Alvarado Street

Turn left onto Alvarado Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.84 one way

$21.67 round trip

$5.31/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.52 $11.26 $22.51
premium $5.67 $11.55 $23.11
diesel $4.80 $9.78 $19.56

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.5 0 $5.44 $2.49
Efficient EV 13 0 $4.53 $2.07
EV Truck/SUV 20.7 0 $7.25 $3.32

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 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.

Forecast as of Jul 11, 2026

Origin

Montague, CA

Morning in Montague on Sunday

Local time

10:15 AM

PDT

Current temp

93°F

Mostly Sunny

NW 3 to 17 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued July 11 at 1:39PM PDT until July 14 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued July 11 at 1:15PM PDT until July 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Destination

Macdoel, CA

Morning in Macdoel on Sunday

Local time

10:15 AM

PDT

Current temp

88°F

Partly Sunny

WSW 13 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued July 11 at 1:39PM PDT until July 14 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued July 11 at 1:15PM PDT until July 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

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

5 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 11m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

The character of this drive is a blend, with 54% of the journey taking place on highways. You'll encounter a 27.9-mile stretch on US 97, which is the longest uninterrupted segment, likely offering a consistent pace. The route then transitions, incorporating the 99-97 Cutoff and Montague Grenada Road, suggesting a shift from faster highway speeds to potentially more local road conditions. This mixed profile means you'll experience varied driving environments on your way to Macdoel.

54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.9 mi on US 97.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CA 3; A28 / South 11th Street.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Montague, CA to Macdoel, CA is easy. At 1h 11m with 54% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (CA 3; A28 / South 11th Street): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (A12 / 99-97 Cutoff): Navigation decision point; at 23.8 miles (US 97): Navigation decision point.

Elevation Profile

High-altitude sections with notable climbs

5,089 ft 2,524 ft

Total Climb

2,664 ft

Total Descent

933 ft

Highest Point

5,089 ft

~40.7 mi in

Elevation Range

2,566 ft

Notable High Points

5,057 ft at ~33.3 miles +97 ft prominence
5,089 ft at ~40.7 miles +129 ft prominence

About the Cities

Starting in Montague, CA

Full guide →

For the Canadian community of the same name, see Montague (Prince Edward Island) Montague is a township in Sussex County, in the Skylands region of New Jersey in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States of America. It is located at "the top of New Jersey", including the highest point in the state, as well as being the furthest north of the State, being bordered by New York and the Delaware River, across from Pennsylvania. Montague was named by King George II of England, however no one knows why he gave it the name he did. There is a lot of local speculation on how he came up with the name.

Arriving in Macdoel, CA

Full guide →

Macdoel is a town in Siskiyou County in California. To get there from Weed, turn on US-97 N until you reach it. It is nearby Meiss Lake, and has an elementary school. Potato manufacturing is big here.

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 1h 11m. Total distance: 51.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (54%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 27.9 miles on US 97. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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 (CA 3; A28 / South 11th Street): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (A12 / 99-97 Cutoff): Navigation decision point; at 23.8 miles (US 97): Navigation decision point.

Yes — Lava Beds National Monument. 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 Macdoel, 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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