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Trip from Clovis, CA to Coalinga, CA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 37m

Distance

78.1 mi

126 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 30m ★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m

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

city in Fresno County, California, United States

Clovis, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Coalinga, CA, CA

Coalinga, CA

Jorge Urosa

Trip Overview

This 78.1-mile drive from Clovis, CA to Coalinga, CA takes about 1 hour and 37 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You'll navigate primarily via the Yosemite Freeway and the United States Navy Lieutenant Commander Otis Vincent Tolbert Memorial Highway, with a portion on Fresno Coalinga Road. With a projected fuel cost of around $18, this is an economical journey. Both Clovis and Coalinga are situated within the Pacific Coast region, so you'll remain within this familiar landscape for the entire trip. This route offers a straightforward transit between these two Central Valley communities.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

39.1 miles from Clovis, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a mixed drive experience on this route, with 49% of the journey taking place on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 31.5 miles on the Yosemite Freeway. This means you'll experience periods of faster travel interspersed with more local road driving. The character of the drive shifts as you progress, moving from freeway conditions to more direct, potentially slower routes as you approach Coalinga. It's not a constant interstate grind, but rather a blend of speeds and road types.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Yosemite Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 31.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Woodworth Avenue.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Woodworth Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (CA 168 / Sierra Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (CA 168 / Sierra Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Woodworth Avenue

Turn left onto Woodworth Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
1.2 mi into trip | ~2m in | CA 168 / Sierra Freeway

Merge onto CA 168 / Sierra Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
6 mi into trip | ~7m in | CA 168 / Sierra Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 168 / Sierra Freeway toward CA 180 West, CA 41

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 1A Toward CA 180 West, CA 41
5
8.2 mi into trip | ~10m in | CA 41 / Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway

Merge onto CA 41 / Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
40.5 mi into trip | ~49m in

Take the exit toward CA 198 West: Lemoore NAS, Coalinga

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

Toward CA 198 West: Lemoore NAS, Coalinga

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Yosemite Freeway 31.5 mi 37m
United States Navy Lieutenant Commander Otis Vincent Tolbert Memorial Highway 28.7 mi 34m
Fresno Coalinga Road 7.6 mi 11m
Sierra Freeway 5.8 mi 6m
East Elm Avenue 1 mi 1m
Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway 0.8 mi <1m
Bullard Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
Woodworth Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Yosemite Freeway — 31.5 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clovis, CA and Coalinga, CA.

1

Start on 4th Street

139 ft · 11 sec · 4th Street
2

Turn left onto Woodworth Avenue

479 ft · 23 sec · Woodworth Avenue
3

Turn right onto 5th Street

300 ft · 5 sec · 5th Street
4

Turn left onto Bullard Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Bullard Avenue
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward CA 168 West
6

Merge onto CA 168

4.8 mi · 5 min · Sierra Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 168

1.0 mi · 1 min · Sierra Freeway
Exit 1A Toward CA 180 West, CA 41 Use the slight right lane.
8

Take the exit

1.1 mi · 1 min
9

Merge onto CA 41

0.8 mi · 58 sec · Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on CA 41

31 mi · 37 min · Yosemite Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward CA 198 West: Lemoore NAS, Coalinga
12

Merge onto CA 198

29 mi · 34 min · United States Navy Lieutenant Commander Otis Vincent Tolbert Memorial Highway
13

At end of road, turn left onto CA 33; CA 198

7.6 mi · 11 min · Fresno Coalinga Road
14

Continue on CA 33; CA 198

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Elm Avenue
15

Turn left onto CA 33

49 ft · 0 sec · North 5th Street
16

Arrive at destination

CA 33

Trip Plan

Given its short duration, this 78.1-mile trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, though an early start might help you beat any potential midday traffic. Since there are no designated stops listed, plan for a brief fuel and stretch break if needed, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, with an estimated cost of $18, it's a manageable expense. A practical tip: be aware that the transition from the Yosemite Freeway to Fresno Coalinga Road might involve a change in speed limits and road conditions, so be prepared to adjust your driving accordingly.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.1 miles from Clovis, CA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.5 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 78.1 miles or 1h 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39.1 miles or 47m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 20m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Clovis, 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 Clovis, CA

This is one driving day of about 78.1 miles and 1h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Clovis, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Yosemite Freeway for about 31.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39.1 mi from Clovis, CA · 47m into the drive

county seat of Fresno County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fresno, CA

39 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

Fresno, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 78.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fresno, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.1 miles from Clovis, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Coalinga, CA

The final approach into Coalinga, 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 Coalinga, CA.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.95 one way

$35.90 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $18.50 $37.00
premium $6.18 $18.99 $37.99
diesel $5.61 $17.24 $34.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.4 0 $8.20 $3.75
Efficient EV 19.5 0 $6.83 $3.12
EV Truck/SUV 31.2 0 $10.93 $5.00

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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 data refreshed 16 hours ago

Origin

Clovis, CA

Morning in Clovis on Wednesday

Local time

10:40 AM

PDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Coalinga, CA

Morning in Coalinga on Wednesday

Local time

10:40 AM

PDT

Current temp

48°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

2 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

1h 37m 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 Clovis, CA to Coalinga, CA covers 78.1 miles and takes about 1h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Yosemite Freeway, United States Navy Lieutenant Commander Otis Vincent Tolbert Memorial Highway, Fresno Coalinga Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.1 miles from Clovis, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.95 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Woodworth Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (CA 168 / Sierra Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (CA 168 / Sierra Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Clovis, CA to Coalinga, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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