Skip to main content

Trip from Colfax, CA to Chamberlands Estates, CA

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

1h 37m

Distance

72.1 mi

116 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 30m ★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 42m
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 Placer County, California

Colfax, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Chamberlands Estates, CA, CA

Chamberlands Estates, CA

Robert So

Trip Overview

The drive from Colfax, CA to Chamberlands Estates, CA covers 72.1 miles and takes about 1h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Alan S. Hart Freeway, CA 89, Grouse Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.5 miles on Alan S. Hart Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.57 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

36 miles from Colfax, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 1h 37m highway drive covering 72.1 miles, with most of the trip on Alan S. Hart Freeway and CA 89. The longest continuous stretch is about 49.5 miles on Alan S. Hart Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Alan S. Hart Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 49.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Alan S. Hart Freeway and CA 89. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 40 Hist / South Main Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 1h 37m drive. You will face about 18 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 (US 40 Hist / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 40 Hist / Grassvalley Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Colfax Overcrossing): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 40 Hist / South Main Street

Turn left onto US 40 Hist / South Main Street

Navigation decision point

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 40 Hist / Grassvalley Street

Turn left onto US 40 Hist / Grassvalley Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | Colfax Overcrossing

Turn left onto Colfax Overcrossing

Navigation decision point

5
50.8 mi into trip | ~59m in | CA 89

Enter roundabout onto CA 89

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
64.3 mi into trip | ~1h 19m in | CA 89

Enter roundabout onto CA 89

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Colfax, CA to Chamberlands Estates, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Donner Lake along the way.

Donner Lake

46 mi in | ~54m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Alan S. Hart Freeway 49.5 mi 57m
CA 89 20.3 mi 33m
Grouse Drive 0.3 mi 1m
South Auburn Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Ellis Road 0.2 mi <1m
Tanager Drive 0.2 mi <1m
Chamberland Drive 0.2 mi <1m
Colfax Overcrossing 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Alan S. Hart Freeway — 49.5 mi, about 57m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

33 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto US 40 Hist

130 ft · 11 sec · South Main Street
3

Turn left onto US 40 Hist

498 ft · 13 sec · Grassvalley Street
4

Turn right onto US 40 Hist

0.3 mi · 45 sec · South Auburn Avenue
5

Turn left onto Colfax Overcrossing

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Colfax Overcrossing
6

Turn left onto Canyon Way

384 ft · 7 sec · Canyon Way
7

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 12 sec
8

Merge onto I 80

45 mi · 52 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 29 sec
Toward Donner Lake
10

Merge onto I 80

4.2 mi · 4 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Toward CA 89 South: South Lake Tahoe
12

Enter roundabout onto CA 89

4 ft · 0 sec · CA 89
13

Continue on CA 89

13 mi · 19 min · CA 89
Use the straight lane.
14

Enter roundabout onto CA 89

19 ft · 0 sec · CA 89
15

Continue on CA 89

0.3 mi · 38 sec · CA 89
16

Enter roundabout onto CA 89

29 ft · 0 sec · CA 89
17

Continue on CA 89

6.8 mi · 13 min · CA 89
18

Turn right onto Ellis Road

0.2 mi · 58 sec · Ellis Road
19

Continue on Chamberland Drive

0.2 mi · 36 sec · Chamberland Drive
20

Turn right onto Tanager Drive

0.2 mi · 41 sec · Tanager Drive
21

Turn right onto Grouse Drive

0.3 mi · 1 min · Grouse Drive
22

Turn right onto Chukar Circle

424 ft · 18 sec · Chukar Circle
23

Arrive at destination

Chukar Circle

Trip Plan

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 36 miles from Colfax, CA, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.5 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 72.1 miles or 1h 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 36 miles or 42m 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 15m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Colfax, 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 Colfax, CA

This is one driving day of about 72.1 miles and 1h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Colfax, 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 Alan S. Hart Freeway for about 49.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 36 mi from Colfax, CA · 42m into the drive

city in El Dorado County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

South Lake Tahoe, CA

36 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

South Lake Tahoe, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 72.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

South Lake Tahoe, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36 miles from Colfax, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Chamberlands Estates, CA

The final approach into Chamberlands Estates, 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 Chamberlands Estates, 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

$16.57 one way

$33.14 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $17.08 $34.15
premium $6.18 $17.53 $35.07
diesel $5.61 $15.92 $31.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.6 0 $7.57 $3.46
Efficient EV 18 0 $6.31 $2.88
EV Truck/SUV 28.8 0 $10.09 $4.61

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (68% 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

Colfax, CA

Evening in Colfax on Tuesday

Local time

7:48 PM

PDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chamberlands Estates, CA

Evening in Chamberlands Estates on Tuesday

Local time

7:48 PM

PDT

Current temp

50°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

8 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 Colfax, CA to Chamberlands Estates, CA covers 72.1 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 Alan S. Hart Freeway, CA 89, Grouse Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36 miles from Colfax, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.57 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 1h 37m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 40 Hist / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 40 Hist / Grassvalley Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Colfax Overcrossing): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Colfax, CA to Chamberlands Estates, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Donner Lake along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Colfax, CA or browse trips ending in Chamberlands Estates, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.

Explore maps for Colfax, CA or Chamberlands Estates, CA on MapSof.net.