Trip from Anaheim, CA to Colfax, CA

Drive Time

8h 30m

Distance

459.3 mi

739 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$106

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

8h 23m ★

6 AM

8h 30m

8 AM

8h 46m

10 AM

8h 36m

12 PM

8h 34m

3 PM

8h 37m

5 PM

8h 45m

8 PM

8h 26m

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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Colfax, CA

Lesli Whitecotton

Trip Overview

The drive from Anaheim, CA to Colfax, CA covers 459.3 miles and takes about 8h 30m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, Golden State Freeway, I 5 Truck for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 297.1 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $106.36 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

229.7 miles from Anaheim, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 17m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 8h 30m highway drive covering 459.3 miles, with most of the trip on Westside Freeway and Golden State Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 297.1 miles on Westside Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 297.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Golden State Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 50.3 miles in near I 5 Truck.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 459.3 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 50.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 407.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 407.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 25 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

50.3 mi into trip | ~1h in | I 5 Truck

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 161A Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

407.3 mi into trip | ~7h 29m in

Take the exit toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe

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, I 80 East: San Francisco, South L...

407.5 mi into trip | ~7h 30m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, Broadway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 518 Toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South La...

407.7 mi into trip | ~7h 30m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Exit 518 Toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe

409.6 mi into trip | ~7h 32m 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...

Towns Along This Route

Between Anaheim, CA and Colfax, CA, road signs point toward Lake Tahoe, Broadway and Fresno.

Lake Tahoe

407.3 mi in | ~7h 29m

Broadway

407.5 mi in | ~7h 30m

Fresno

409.6 mi in | ~7h 32m | via I 80 Business

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Westside Freeway	297.1 mi	5h 20m
Golden State Freeway	50 mi	57m
I 5 Truck	37.7 mi	43m
Alan S. Hart Freeway	32.6 mi	37m
Santa Ana Freeway	21.3 mi	24m
Capital City Freeway	10.6 mi	11m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	7 mi	8m
West Lincoln Avenue	1 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 297.1 mi, about 5h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Anaheim, CA and Colfax, CA.

Start on this road

200 ft · 16 sec · this road

Turn left onto South Anaheim Boulevard

422 ft · 21 sec · South Anaheim Boulevard

Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · West Lincoln Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn left

0.2 mi · 14 sec

Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles

Merge onto I 5

3.3 mi · 3 min · Santa Ana Freeway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

18 mi · 20 min · Santa Ana Freeway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

25 mi · 29 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

2.2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

1.5 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck

Exit 161A Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

36 mi · 41 min · I 5 Truck

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

22 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

226 mi · 4 hr 1 min · Westside Freeway

Toward I 5 North Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

26 mi · 27 min · Westside Freeway

Keep left at fork onto I 5

46 mi · 50 min · Westside Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 12 sec

Exit 518 Toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 12 sec

Exit 518 Toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, Broadway Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min

Exit 518 Toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto US 50; I 80 Business

1.2 mi · 1 min · Capital City Freeway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business

9.4 mi · 10 min · Capital City Freeway

Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno Use the slight right lane.

Continue on I 80

7.0 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 80

33 mi · 37 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

401 ft · 9 sec

Exit 135 Toward CA 174 West: Colfax, Grass Valley

Turn right onto Canyon Way

422 ft · 10 sec · Canyon Way

Turn right onto Colfax Overcrossing

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Colfax Overcrossing

Turn right onto CA 174

306 ft · 8 sec · Colfax Highway

Continue on US 40 Hist

0.2 mi · 33 sec · South Auburn Avenue

Turn left onto US 40 Hist

498 ft · 17 sec · Grassvalley Street

Turn right onto US 40 Hist

130 ft · 5 sec · South Main Street

Turn right

33 ft · 2 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 229.7 miles from Anaheim, CA, or about 4h 17m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 297.1 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 101 miles or 1h 58m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 229.7 miles or 4h 17m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 229.7 miles or 4h 17m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 20m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Anaheim, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Anaheim, CA

Aim for roughly 230 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Colfax, CA

Aim for roughly 230 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 101 miles from Anaheim, CA.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 297.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 229.7 mi from Anaheim, CA · 4h 17m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Fresno, CA

230 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Fresno, CA

Overnight Options

Night 1

Fresno, CA

230 mi · about 4.3h in

A practical overnight split lands near Fresno, CA after about 230 miles or 4.3 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Bakersfield, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 101 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Modesto, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 229.7 miles from Anaheim, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 297.1 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 230 miles or 4.3 hours on the road.

Arriving in Colfax, CA

The final approach into Colfax, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Colfax, CA.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Colfax, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$106.36 one way

$212.72 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 161 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.07	$109.69	$219.38
premium	$6.24	$112.89	$225.78
diesel	$5.64	$102.04	$204.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$106

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$236–$346

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 160.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $48 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	137.8	1	$48.23	$22.05
Efficient EV	114.8	1	$40.19	$18.37
EV Truck/SUV	183.7	2	$64.30	$29.40

Gas CO2

161 kg

EV CO2

54 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Anaheim, CA

Afternoon in Anaheim on Sunday

Local time

12:53 PM

PDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Colfax, CA

Afternoon in Colfax on Sunday

Local time

12:53 PM

PDT

Current temp

66°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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

10 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

8h 30m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Anaheim, CA to Colfax, CA covers 459.3 miles and takes about 8h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Westside Freeway, Golden State Freeway, I 5 Truck. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 230 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 229.7 miles from Anaheim, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $106.36 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.