Ukiah to Kenny is 97.6 miles and takes about 3h 4m via Redwood Highway and Usal Road, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California's Pacific Coast region, traversing a landscape that transitions from the Redwood Highway to more rural surface roads. It's a relatively short trip, offering a good option for a single day of travel. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward drive without extensive highway time.
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
48.8 miles from Ukiah, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Redwood Highway
59.9 mi
1h 15m
Usal Road
16.1 mi
1h 18m
CA 1
14.5 mi
21m
Willits Bypass
4.7 mi
5m
North State Street
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 59.9 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ukiah, CA and Kenny, CA.
1
Start on US 101 Business
0.2 mi·28 sec·North State Street
2
Continue on US 101 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·North State Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
4
Merge onto US 101
17 mi·21 min·Redwood Highway
5
Continue on US 101
4.5 mi·5 min·Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi·48 sec
7
Merge onto US 101
0.2 mi·16 sec·Willits Bypass
8
Continue on US 101
43 mi·54 min·Redwood Highway
9
Turn left onto CA 1
14 mi·21 min·CA 1
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto CR 431
16 mi·1 hr 18 min·Usal Road
11
Arrive at destination
CR 431
Trip Plan
For this 97.6-mile drive, you can comfortably start anytime in the morning and reach Kenny by the afternoon. With a total duration of just over 3 hours, you have flexibility for stops. Plan your fuel stops in Ukiah before you depart, as the $23 estimated fuel cost suggests a moderate consumption. The longest stretch without a major road change is 59.9 miles on the Redwood Highway, so keep that in mind for any necessary breaks.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 48.8 miles from Ukiah, CA, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.9 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.8 miles or 1h 1m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kenny, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ukiah, 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 Ukiah, CA
This is one driving day of about 97.6 miles and 3h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Ukiah, 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 Redwood Highway for about 59.9 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 81.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in|US 101 / Redwood Highway
Merge onto US 101 / Redwood Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
23.6 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
24.3 mi into trip|~30m in|US 101 / Willits Bypass
Merge onto US 101 / Willits Bypass
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
67 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|CA 1
Turn left onto CA 1
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
81.5 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|CR 431 / Usal Road
Turn right onto CR 431 / Usal Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.42 one way
$40.84 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$21.21
$42.41
premium
$5.67
$21.77
$43.54
diesel
$4.80
$18.43
$36.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.3
0
$10.25
$4.68
Efficient EV
24.4
0
$8.54
$3.90
EV Truck/SUV
39
0
$13.66
$6.25
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Ukiah, CA
Morning
in Ukiah on Sunday
Local time
10:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 5 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 3:47AM PDT until July 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 14 at 1:57AM PDT until July 14 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Destination
Kenny, CA
Morning
in Kenny on Sunday
Local time
10:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
NNE 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 3:47AM PDT until July 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 14 at 1:57AM PDT until July 14 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
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
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
3h 4m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only about 15% on highways. You'll spend the majority of your time on local roads, including a significant 59.9-mile stretch on the Redwood Highway before transitioning to Usal Road and CA 1. Expect a more rural cruising experience rather than high-speed travel.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.9 mi on Redwood Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near US 101 / Redwood Highway.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ukiah, CA to Kenny, CA is easy. At 3h 4m with 15% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 23.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 24.3 miles (US 101 / Willits Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Ukiah is a city in the North Coast of California. Just as picturesque as its coastal brethren, Ukiah is in a valley surrounded by beautiful rolling hills or small mountains. It's a good base for exploring Mendocino County, and hosts a variety of small unusual shops and restaurants.
The longest stretch is about 59.9 miles on Redwood Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas 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, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 23.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 24.3 miles (US 101 / Willits Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Kenny, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
