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Trip from Clovis, CA to Fresno, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

12m

Distance

9.2 mi

15 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 12m ★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 15m
10 AM
0h 14m
12 PM
0h 13m
3 PM
0h 14m
5 PM
0h 15m
8 PM
0h 12m ★

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

county seat of Fresno County, California, United States

Fresno, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This short 9.2-mile drive from Clovis, CA to Fresno, CA takes about 12 minutes and is ideal for a single day trip. You'll primarily be on the Sierra Freeway and North First Street, with about 64% of the journey being on highways. With a low estimated fuel cost of just $2, this is a very budget-friendly option. The route stays within the Pacific Coast region, making it a straightforward local transit. Since it's so brief, you won't need an overnight stay, offering plenty of flexibility for your schedule.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

4.6 miles from Clovis, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with a substantial 64% of the 9.2 miles spent on freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.8 miles on the Sierra Freeway. While much of this route involves higher-speed travel, you'll also navigate sections on Bullard Avenue and North First Street, which may offer a different driving experience with more local traffic. The overall feel is one of efficient transit rather than a scenic exploration.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sierra Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 5.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Sierra Freeway and Bullard Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Woodworth Avenue.

Route Complexity 7/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 9.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 12m.

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
8
8.2 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward Tulare Street, Divisadero Street

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 127B Toward Tulare Street, Divisadero Street
5
8.8 mi into trip | ~12m in | North 1st Street

Turn left onto North 1st Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Sierra Freeway 5.8 mi 6m
Bullard Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
North First Street 0.3 mi <1m
East Tulare Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
East Divisadero Street 0.1 mi <1m
Woodworth Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
North 1st Street <0.1 mi <1m
5th Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Sierra Freeway — 5.8 mi, about 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clovis, CA and Fresno, 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

285 ft · 3 sec · Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec
Exit 127B Toward Tulare Street, Divisadero Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Turn left onto Divisadero Street

121 ft · 2 sec · Divisadero Street
12

Continue on East Divisadero Street

0.1 mi · 16 sec · East Divisadero Street
13

Turn slight left onto East Tulare Avenue

0.2 mi · 19 sec · East Tulare Avenue
14

Turn left onto North 1st Street

390 ft · 15 sec · North 1st Street
Use the left lane.
15

Continue on North First Street

0.3 mi · 32 sec · North First Street
16

Turn right onto East Washington Avenue

28 ft · 1 sec · East Washington Avenue
17

Arrive at destination

East Washington Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the short 12-minute duration, there's no need to rush this 9.2-mile trip from Clovis to Fresno. You can leave whenever it suits your schedule, but consider avoiding peak commute times to ensure the quickest journey. With no designated stops, you have the freedom to pull over if needed, though a fuel cost of only $2 means you likely won't need to worry about refueling on this short hop. Keep an eye out for the transition from Sierra Freeway to local streets as you approach Fresno for a smooth arrival.

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 4.6 miles from Clovis, CA, or about 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.8 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 9 miles or 12m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 4.6 miles or 6m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 10m

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

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Clovis, CA.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Clovis, CA

This is one driving day of about 9.2 miles and 12m.

At 9.2 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Sierra Freeway for about 5.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 4.6 mi from Clovis, CA · 6m into the drive

Pacing Suggestions

Tarpey Village, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tarpey Village, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 4.6 miles from Clovis, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Fresno, CA

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Fresno, CA if you are unfamiliar with the area.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.11 one way

$4.23 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 3 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $2.18 $4.36
premium $6.18 $2.24 $4.47
diesel $5.61 $2.03 $4.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 3.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 2.8 0 $0.97 $0.44
Efficient EV 2.3 0 $0.80 $0.37
EV Truck/SUV 3.7 0 $1.29 $0.59

Gas CO2

3 kg

EV CO2

1 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 15, 2026

Origin

Clovis, CA

Night in Clovis on Wednesday

Local time

10:06 PM

PDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fresno, CA

Night in Fresno on Wednesday

Local time

10:06 PM

PDT

Current temp

51°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

1 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

12m 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 Fresno, CA covers 9.2 miles and takes about 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sierra Freeway, Bullard Avenue, North First 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 4.6 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 $2.11 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 short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 9.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 12m.
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 Fresno, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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