Origin
Chico, CA
Afternoon in Chico on Sunday
Local time
12:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chico, CA to Anaheim, CA
Drive Time
8h 1m
Distance
498.9 mi
803 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$116
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 53m
★
6 AM
8h 1m
8 AM
8h 19m
10 AM
8h 7m
12 PM
8h 6m
3 PM
8h 8m
5 PM
8h 18m
8 PM
7h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chico, CA
Sebastián Casimiro
Trip Overview
Traveling from Chico to Anaheim covers a substantial 498.9-mile journey that spans the Pacific Coast region. With a driving time of approximately 8 hours and 1 minute, this trek is best approached as a two-day excursion rather than a single marathon stint. You will navigate primarily via local thoroughfares like Broadway Street, Oroville Avenue, and Park Avenue, which requires a steady focus throughout the trip. Budgeting roughly $68 for fuel is a smart way to prepare for the road ahead. Because this route involves a heavy concentration of local turns rather than high-speed interstates, it offers an unconventional way to see the landscape. Planning an overnight stay is highly recommended to keep your energy levels high and ensure you arrive in Anaheim feeling refreshed.
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
249.5 miles from Chico, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention, as this route contains 0% highway travel. You won't find long, monotonous interstate stretches here; in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on Broadway Street, meaning you will be navigating frequent turns throughout the entire 498.9 miles. This profile creates a very different experience than a typical highway cruise, requiring you to remain constantly engaged with the road ahead. The path winds through various local arteries, making the drive feel intimate and technical rather than fast-paced. Be prepared for a journey that prioritizes local connectivity over the efficiency of major freeways.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Broadway Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 1m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chico, CA to Anaheim, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Broadway Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Oroville Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Park Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Park Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Oroville | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| E Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bernie Richter Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Broadway Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chico, CA and Anaheim, CA.
1
Start on East 5th Street
518 ft
·
30 sec
·
East 5th Street
2
Turn left onto Broadway Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
Broadway Street
3
Turn slight left onto Oroville Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Oroville Avenue
4
Continue on Park Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Park Avenue
5
Continue on East Park Avenue
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
East Park Avenue
6
Take the ramp slight right
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
7
Merge slight left
8.0 mi
·
9 min
8
Keep slight left to continue on Oroville, Marysville
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Oroville, Marysville
9
Merge slight right
19 mi
·
22 min
10
Continue straight
11 mi
·
12 min
11
Continue straight
1.5 mi
·
3 min
12
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
5th Street
13
Turn left onto E Street
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
E Street
14
Keep slight right
18 mi
·
20 min
15
Merge slight left onto Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
16
Continue on Golden State Highway
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Golden State Highway
17
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
66 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Westside Freeway
18
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
0.8 mi
·
49 sec
·
Westside Freeway
19
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
237 mi
·
4 hr 13 min
·
Westside Freeway
20
Keep slight right
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
21
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
22
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 405 South
23
Keep slight left
25 mi
·
29 min
24
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
25
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
26
Take the exit slight right toward Lincoln Avenue
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
Lincoln Avenue
27
Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Lincoln Avenue
28
Turn right onto South Anaheim Boulevard
371 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Anaheim Boulevard
29
Turn right
200 ft
·
15 sec
30
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
To manage this 8-hour, 1-minute drive effectively, plan for at least two designated stops to break up the intensity of the local roads. Since you are dealing with a turn-heavy route, departing early in the morning allows you to navigate the trickier sections while you are fresh and visibility is at its peak. Keep your $68 fuel budget accessible, as local driving often requires more frequent stops than highway cruising. Since there is no single long stretch to lean on, pace yourself by alternating drivers if possible or scheduling your two stops in areas that allow for a complete mental reset. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay hyper-alert at every intersection, as the reliance on local streets like Oroville Avenue and Park Avenue means you will be encountering more traffic signals and stop signs than a standard highway trip.
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 249.5 miles from Chico, CA, or about 4h into the drive.
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 110 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 249.5 miles or 4h 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 249.5 miles or 4h
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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anaheim, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chico, 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 Chico, CA
Aim for roughly 249 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Anaheim, CA
Aim for roughly 249 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 110 miles from Chico, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 249.5 mi from Chico, CA · 4h into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
249 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 Modesto, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
249 mi · about 4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Modesto, CA after about 249 miles or 4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 110 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 249.5 miles from Chico, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 249 miles or 4 hours on the road.
Arriving in Anaheim, CA
The final approach into Anaheim, 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 Anaheim, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Anaheim, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$115.53 one way
$231.07 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
175 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $119.15 | $238.29 |
| premium | $6.24 | $122.62 | $245.25 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $110.84 | $221.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$116
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$246–$356
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 174.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 149.7 | 1 | $52.38 | $23.95 |
| Efficient EV | 124.7 | 1 | $43.65 | $19.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 199.6 | 2 | $69.85 | $31.93 |
Gas CO2
175 kg
EV CO2
58 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Anaheim, CA
Afternoon in Anaheim on Sunday
Local time
12:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
76°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
26 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
8h 1m 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 Chico, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 498.9 miles and takes about 8h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Broadway Street, Oroville Avenue, Park Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
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 249 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 249.5 miles from Chico, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $115.53 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 1m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chico, CA to Anaheim, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Chico, CA to Anaheim, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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