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Trip from Woodland, CA to Fresno, 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 43m

Distance

189.3 mi

305 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 31m ★
6 AM
3h 43m
8 AM
4h 8m
10 AM
3h 52m
12 PM
3h 50m
3 PM
3h 53m
5 PM
4h 7m
8 PM
3h 36m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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seat of Yolo County, California, United States

Woodland, CA

Wikimedia Commons

county seat of Fresno County, California, United States

Fresno, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 189.3-mile drive from Woodland, CA to Fresno, CA is easily managed as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 43 minutes. You'll primarily be on CA 99, with significant portions also on the South Sacramento Freeway and Westside Freeway, making it a 96% highway-focused journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $44, it's an economical option for covering ground between these two Pacific Coast locations. The overall feel is that of a practical, efficient transit rather than a scenic exploration, making it ideal for getting from point A to point B without much fuss. You can expect a fairly direct path with minimal detours.

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

94.7 miles from Woodland, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
CA 99 106.7 mi 2h 2m
South Sacramento Freeway 56.4 mi 1h 5m
Westside Freeway 17.5 mi 19m
West Belmont Avenue 2.9 mi 5m
Capital City Freeway 1.5 mi 1m
East Main Street 1 mi 2m
Court Street 0.4 mi 1m
I 5 Business 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: CA 99 — 106.7 mi, about 2h 2m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Woodland, CA and Fresno, CA.

1

Start on 1st Street

96 ft · 8 sec · 1st Street
2

Turn right onto Court Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Court Street
3

At end of road, turn right onto East Street

460 ft · 18 sec · East Street
4

Turn left onto I 5 BUS

1.0 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
5

Take the ramp onto I 5 Business

0.4 mi · 51 sec · I 5 Business
Toward I 5 South: Sacramento
6

Merge onto I 5

18 mi · 19 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 27 sec
Exit 518 Toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 32 sec
Exit 518 Toward US 50 East: Fresno
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 518 Toward US 50 East: Fresno
10

Merge onto US 50; I 80 Business

1.2 mi · 1 min · Capital City Freeway
11

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.
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 34 sec
Toward CA 99 South: Fresno Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto CA 99

56 mi · 1 hr 5 min · South Sacramento Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

107 mi · 2 hr 2 min · CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 134 Toward Belmont Avenue Use the slight right lane.
16

At end of road, turn left onto West Belmont Avenue

2.9 mi · 5 min · West Belmont Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17

Turn right onto North First Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · North First Street
18

Turn left onto East Washington Avenue

69 ft · 3 sec · East Washington Avenue
19

Arrive at destination

East Washington Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the 3-hour and 43-minute duration, this 189.3-mile trip is perfectly suited for a single day. Departing in the morning will help you avoid any potential afternoon traffic congestion, especially as you pass through the Sacramento area. Plan for one main stop along the way to stretch your legs and refuel, as the longest uninterrupted stretch is over 100 miles. Since the route is predominantly highway, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach Fresno, and utilize the services available along CA 99. The $44 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always be prepared for slight variations.

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 94.7 miles from Woodland, CA, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.7 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 42 miles or 51m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 94.7 miles or 1h 52m 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 1m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fresno, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Woodland, 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 Woodland, CA

This is one driving day of about 189.3 miles and 3h 43m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Woodland, 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 99 for about 106.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and county seat of Stanislaus County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Modesto, CA

95 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

Galt, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Modesto, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 94.7 miles from Woodland, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before CA 99 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 106.7 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Richmaid Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lodi, California

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 54.1

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12093684279

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Inspire Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lodi, California

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 54.1

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12093278030

Visit website

Richmaid Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 54.1

Lodi, California

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12093684279

Visit website

Allora

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $100 or ab mile 27

Sacramento, California

Hours: 5–8:30 pm

+19165386434

Visit website

Inspire Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 54.1

Lodi, California

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12093278030

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 27

Sacramento, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 27

Sacramento, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 135.2

Merced, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 135.2

Merced, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 175.8

Fresno, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 175.8

Fresno, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 27

Sacramento, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

EVCS Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 189.3

Fresno, California

Visit website

Gallo Center for the Arts

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 94.7

Modesto, California

+12093382100

Visit website

William Land Regional Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 27

Sacramento, California

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+19168086060

Visit website

Funderland Amusement Park

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 27

Sacramento, California

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+19164560131

Visit website

Micke Grove Zoo

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 54.1

Lodi, California

Hours: 10 am–4:30 pm

+12093312010

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 19.5 and 185.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
19.5 mi into trip | ~24m in

Take the exit toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 518 Toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco
6
19.9 mi into trip | ~25m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East: Fresno

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 518 Toward US 50 East: Fresno
6
20.3 mi into trip | ~25m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East: Fresno

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 518 Toward US 50 East: Fresno
8
22 mi into trip | ~28m 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...
7
185.9 mi into trip | ~3h 36m in

Take the exit toward Belmont Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 134 Toward Belmont Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.51 one way

$87.02 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 66 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $44.84 $89.67
premium $6.18 $46.04 $92.07
diesel $5.61 $41.80 $83.59

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 66.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 56.8 0 $19.88 $9.09
Efficient EV 47.3 0 $16.56 $7.57
EV Truck/SUV 75.7 0 $26.50 $12.12

Gas CO2

66 kg

EV CO2

22 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 Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Woodland, CA

Afternoon in Woodland on Sunday

Local time

2:49 PM

PDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fresno, CA

Afternoon in Fresno on Sunday

Local time

2:49 PM

PDT

Current temp

73°F

Sunny

NW 5 to 15 mph 0% chance 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

4 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 43m 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?

Expect a highway-focused drive for the vast majority of this 189.3-mile route, with 96% of it being on major freeways. The personality of this drive is straightforward and efficient, largely characterized by CA 99. You'll encounter one substantial stretch of 106.7 miles on CA 99 without needing to exit, allowing for a consistent pace. While not designed for sightseeing, this profile means you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained, high-speed roads, making for a predictable driving experience.

96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.7 mi on CA 99.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 99 and South Sacramento Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 17 significant decision points across 189.3 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 19.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 20.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Woodland, CA to Fresno, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco along the way.

San Francisco

19.5 mi in | ~24m

About the Cities

Starting in Woodland, CA

Full guide →

Founded 1871

Woodland is a city of 61,032 (2020) in Yolo County in the Sacramento Valley of California.

Top landmarks

  • • Woodland Opera House — theater and former movie theater in Woodland, California, United States
  • • Gibson Mansion — single-family detached home in Woodland, California
  • • Hotel Woodland — hotel in Woodland, United States of America

Arriving in Fresno, CA

Full guide →

Founded 1872

Fresno is in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Many visitors find themselves stopping in Fresno on the way to Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, or other destinations in the Sierras.

Top landmarks

  • • Holy Trinity Church, Fresno — church building in Fresno, United States of America
  • • Fresno station — train station in Fresno, California
  • • Kearney Park — park in Fresno County, California, United States of America

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 3h 43m. Total distance: 189.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 106.7 miles on CA 99. 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 Fresno, 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 19.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 20.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

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 Fresno, 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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