Origin
Atascadero, CA
Evening in Atascadero on Thursday
Local time
7:40 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Atascadero, CA to Morro Bay, CA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
26m
Distance
17.4 mi
28 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Morro Bay, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Atascadero, CA to Morro Bay, CA covers 17.4 miles and takes about 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Old U.S. Route 466, CA 41, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13.3 miles on Old U.S. Route 466. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.00 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 17.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 26m highway drive covering 17.4 miles, with most of the trip on Old U.S. Route 466 and CA 41. The longest continuous stretch is about 13.3 miles on Old U.S. Route 466.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Old U.S. Route 466 is the longest continuous segment at about 13.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Old U.S. Route 466 and CA 41. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near El Camino Real.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 26m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (El Camino Real): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (CA 41): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
El Camino Real
Depart onto El Camino Real
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CA 41
Turn right onto CA 41
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
3
16.4 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
16.6 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
CA 1 / Cabrillo Highway
Merge onto CA 1 / Cabrillo Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
16.7 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Main Street
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Old U.S. Route 466 | 13.3 mi | 19m |
| CA 41 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| El Camino Real | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Cabrillo Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Old U.S. Route 466
— 13.3 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atascadero, CA and Morro Bay, CA.
1
Start on El Camino Real
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
El Camino Real
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn right onto CA 41
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
CA 41
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on CA 41
13 mi
·
19 min
·
Old U.S. Route 466
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
5
Merge onto CA 1
456 ft
·
6 sec
·
Cabrillo Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward Main Street
7
Turn right onto Main Street
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Main Street
8
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.00 one way
$8.00 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $4.12 | $8.24 |
| premium | $6.18 | $4.23 | $8.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.84 | $7.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.83 | $0.84 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.52 | $0.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.11 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Morro Bay, CA
Evening in Morro Bay on Thursday
Local time
7:40 PM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
7 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
26m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Atascadero, CA to Morro Bay, CA covers 17.4 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Old U.S. Route 466, CA 41, Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.7 miles from Atascadero, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.00 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 26m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (El Camino Real): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (CA 41): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Atascadero, CA to Morro Bay, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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