Origin
Willits, CA
Late night in Willits on Sunday
Local time
12:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Willits, CA to Laguna, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 41m
Distance
181.8 mi
293 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 29m
★
6 AM
3h 41m
8 AM
4h 6m
10 AM
3h 50m
12 PM
3h 48m
3 PM
3h 51m
5 PM
4h 5m
8 PM
3h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Willits, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Laguna, CA
Tori Pezzulla❤️
Trip Overview
This 181.8-mile journey from Willits, CA to Laguna, CA is easily manageable as a single-day road trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 41 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on CA 20, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and Saint Helena Highway, with about 38% of your drive on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is $42, and you can expect a mixed driving experience. Since it's a relatively short drive, it offers flexibility for when you want to depart and how you pace any stops. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, suggesting a consistent coastal influence throughout your travels.
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
90.9 miles from Willits, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 20 | 55.8 mi | 1h 8m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 38.2 mi | 44m |
| Saint Helena Highway | 29.5 mi | 33m |
| Saint Helena Highway South | 21.7 mi | 25m |
| South Sacramento Freeway | 7.4 mi | 8m |
| Jameson Canyon Road | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| Capital City Freeway | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| Yolo Causeway | 3.7 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
CA 20
— 55.8 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Willits, CA and Laguna, CA.
1
Start on Pine Street
148 ft
·
8 sec
·
Pine Street
2
Turn right onto Coast Street
165 ft
·
12 sec
·
Coast Street
3
Turn left onto West Valley Street
430 ft
·
19 sec
·
West Valley Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto South Main Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on CA 20
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Redwood Highway
6
Take the ramp onto CA 20
56 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
CA 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto CA 128
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
CA 128
Exit 512
Toward CA 128 East: Canyon Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto CA 128
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Canyon Road
9
Turn right onto CA 128
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Geyserville Avenue
10
Turn left onto CA 128
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
11
At end of road, turn left onto CA 128
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
12
Continue on CA 128
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Boulevard
13
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
14
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
15
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Saint Helena Highway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on CA 12; CA 29
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Napa–Vallejo Highway
17
Turn left onto CA 12
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Jameson Canyon Road
Use the left / uturn lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 12
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
CA 12
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 80; CA 12
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
27 mi
·
31 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 80
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50; I 80 Business
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Capital City Freeway
Exit 82
Toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
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, Fresno
Use the slight right lane.
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
Toward CA 99 South: Fresno
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto CA 99
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
South Sacramento Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 289
Toward Cosumnes River Boulevard, Calvine Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Turn right onto Cosumnes River Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Cosumnes River Boulevard
Use the left / right lanes.
29
Turn left onto Bruceville Road
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Bruceville Road
Use the left / uturn / straight lanes.
30
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Seasons Drive
31
Turn right onto November Drive
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
November Drive
32
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way
155 ft
·
12 sec
·
Mapleview Way
33
Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court
183 ft
·
8 sec
·
Fall Breeze Court
34
Arrive at destination
Fall Breeze Court
Trip Plan
For this 1-day trip of 181.8 miles, starting your drive in the morning is recommended to allow ample time for any unscheduled stops or to simply enjoy the journey. With a duration of under 4 hours, you have the flexibility to depart when it's most convenient. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, especially considering the longest stretch without a major change is 55.8 miles on CA 20. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $42, and it's always wise to top up before heading out on routes where services might be less frequent.
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 90.9 miles from Willits, CA, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 40 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.9 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h
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 Willits, 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 Willits, CA
This is one driving day of about 181.8 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Willits, 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 CA 20 for about 55.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
91 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 90.9 miles from Willits, 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 255 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 178.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
58.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
CA 128
Take the exit onto CA 128 toward CA 128 East: Canyon Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 512
Toward CA 128 East: Canyon Road
9
164.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 18m 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
170 mi into trip
|
~3h 24m 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
178.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 33m 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
$41.79 one way
$83.57 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $43.06 | $86.12 |
| premium | $6.18 | $44.21 | $88.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.14 | $80.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.5 | 0 | $19.09 | $8.73 |
| Efficient EV | 45.5 | 0 | $15.91 | $7.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.7 | 0 | $25.45 | $11.64 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Destination
Laguna, CA
Late night in Laguna on Sunday
Local time
12:54 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
13 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
3h 41m 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?
Your drive will present a mixed profile, blending faster highway sections with more varied road types. You'll spend 38% of your time on highways, encountering one uninterrupted stretch of 55.8 miles on CA 20. This means you'll experience periods of steady cruising interspersed with more engaging driving as you transition between major roads. The character of the drive will likely evolve as you progress, moving from potentially more open highway to perhaps more winding or local road segments, keeping your attention on the wheel.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.8 mi on CA 20.
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 0.1 miles in near South Main Street.
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 25 significant decision points across 181.8 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 0.1 miles (South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 58.9 miles (CA 128): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 164.7 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Willits, CA and Laguna, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento, Lake Tahoe and Fresno.
Sacramento
164.7 mi in
|
~3h 18m
|
via US 50; I 80 Business
Lake Tahoe
164.7 mi in
|
~3h 18m
|
via US 50; I 80 Business
Fresno
170 mi in
|
~3h 24m
|
via I 80 Business
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 41m. Total distance: 181.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.8 miles on CA 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
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 0.1 miles (South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 58.9 miles (CA 128): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 164.7 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Laguna, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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