If you are planning a trip from Richmond to Laguna, California, expect a focused drive covering 85.2 miles. You should budget approximately 1 hour and 29 minutes of time behind the wheel for this journey. Since the route involves navigating 23rd Street, Barrett Avenue, and San Pablo Avenue, this is best suited as a single-day trip rather than an overnight excursion. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it remains an affordable trek within the Pacific Coast region. Keep in mind that this is a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for consistent maneuvering throughout the transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42 miles from Richmond, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.2 mi
58m
South Sacramento Freeway
7.4 mi
8m
Eastshore Freeway
6.9 mi
8m
Capital City Freeway
5.5 mi
6m
Yolo Causeway
3.7 mi
4m
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.5 mi
3m
Bruceville Road
2.7 mi
5m
Barrett Avenue
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 50.2 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, CA and Laguna, CA.
1
Start on Macdonald Avenue
56 ft·8 sec·Macdonald Avenue
2
Turn left onto 23rd Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·23rd Street
3
Turn right onto Barrett Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Barrett Avenue
4
Turn sharp left onto San Pablo Avenue
0.1 mi·23 sec·San Pablo Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 80 East
6
Merge onto I 80
3.4 mi·3 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 80
3.2 mi·3 min·Eastshore Freeway
Exit 21Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Continue on I 80
3.5 mi·3 min·Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·26 sec·Eastshore Freeway
10
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi·1 min·Carquinez Bridge
11
Continue on I 80
14 mi·16 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
27 mi·31 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
8.4 mi·9 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 80
3.7 mi·4 min·Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50; I 80 Business
5.3 mi·5 min·Capital City Freeway
Exit 82Toward Sacramento, South Lake TahoeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
0.3 mi·18 sec·Capital City Freeway
Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, FresnoUse the slight right lane.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·34 sec
Toward CA 99 South: FresnoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto CA 99
7.4 mi·8 min·South Sacramento Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 289Toward Cosumnes River Boulevard, Calvine RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto Cosumnes River Boulevard
0.3 mi·27 sec·Cosumnes River Boulevard
Use the left / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto Bruceville Road
2.7 mi·5 min·Bruceville Road
Use the left / uturn / straight lanes.
22
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
0.3 mi·50 sec·Seasons Drive
23
Turn right onto November Drive
0.1 mi·29 sec·November Drive
24
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way
155 ft·12 sec·Mapleview Way
25
Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court
183 ft·8 sec·Fall Breeze Court
26
Arrive at destination
Fall Breeze Court
Trip Plan
Since this 85.2-mile journey is entirely local, you have significant flexibility in your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours on these busy streets is always a smart move. Because you will spend the entire 1 hour and 29 minutes navigating local roads, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave to cover the $12 estimated cost without needing to hunt for stations mid-route. There are no planned stops on this itinerary, so keep your water and snacks accessible in the cabin if you want to avoid pulling over. My best piece of advice is to keep your GPS active and ready for frequent turns, as the lack of highway stretches means you will be making constant adjustments to your navigation.
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 42 miles from Richmond, CA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.2 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42 miles or 50m 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 24m
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 Richmond, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Richmond, CA
This is one driving day of about 84 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Richmond, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 50.2 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.6 and 80.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
27.6 mi into trip|~33m in|I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
54.8 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
66.9 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 82
Toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe
8
72.2 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, F...
8
80.3 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward Cosumnes River Boulevard, Calvine Road
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.
Exit 289
Toward Cosumnes River Boulevard, Calvine Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.31 one way
$38.61 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$19.90
$39.79
premium
$6.18
$20.43
$40.86
diesel
$5.61
$18.55
$37.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.2
0
$8.82
$4.03
Efficient EV
21
0
$7.35
$3.36
EV Truck/SUV
33.6
0
$11.76
$5.38
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 15, 2026
Origin
Richmond, CA
Late night
in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
12:48 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Laguna, CA
Late night
in Laguna on Sunday
Local time
12:48 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°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
22 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 42m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 11.6
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?
Forget about monotonous highway cruising on this path, as your highway share for the entire trip is 0%. Instead, you will be navigating a series of local roads that require your full attention at every intersection. The longest stretch of uninterrupted driving is 0 miles on 23rd Street, emphasizing just how technical and stop-and-go this experience truly is. Because you are avoiding major highways, the road's personality is defined by its frequent transitions and urban pacing. Expect a hands-on driving experience that demands constant engagement as you move through these local corridors.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.2 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.6 miles in near I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84 miles you will encounter 19 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 27.6 miles (I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.8 miles (I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.9 miles (US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Richmond, CA and Laguna, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento, Lake Tahoe and Fresno.
Though it was a booming industrial center during World War II, the subsequent decades were not kind to Richmond, California. After the war, deindustrialization hit hard. The shipyards closed. Desperation set in. A reputation for violent crime kept visitors away.
But in the 21st century crime has gone down, and a revitalization has begun. Richmond still isn't on any tourism shortlists, but its historic sites, nature, and strategic location between the East Bay and Marin County do attract some interest to this often-overlooked part of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Areas of note include the charming and historic Point Richmond neighborhood on the bay in the southwest of Richmond, as well as the World War II sites at the southern edge of the city. This article also covers Richmond's near-enclave of San Pablo.
Top landmarks
•Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park — U.S. national park in California
•Atchison Village — neighbourhood in Richmond, California, United States of America
•Alvarado Area — National Historic Place in Richmond, California
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 84 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.2 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 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 27.6 miles (I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.8 miles (I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.9 miles (US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (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.
