Trip from Crescent City, CA to Anaheim, CA

Drive Time

14h 45m

Distance

781.3 mi

1,257 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$181

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

14h 32m ★

6 AM

14h 46m

8 AM

15h 12m

10 AM

14h 55m

12 PM

14h 52m

3 PM

14h 56m

5 PM

15h 11m

8 PM

14h 38m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Crescent City, CA

Michael Darnall

Trip Overview

The drive from Crescent City, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 781.3 miles and takes about 14h 45m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, CA 299, I 5 Truck for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 424.9 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $180.93 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

4 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

390.7 miles from Crescent City, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7h 32m into the drive .

Drive Character

At 781.3 miles and 14h 45m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Westside Freeway and CA 299.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 424.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and CA 299. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 74.5 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 781.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 74.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 212.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 732.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

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

74.5 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in

Take the exit toward CA 299: Weaverville, Redding, Blue Lake, Willow Creek

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward CA 299: Weaverville, Redding, Blue Lake,...

212.9 mi into trip | ~4h 20m in

Take the exit toward I 5 South: Sacramento

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 2A Toward I 5 South: Sacramento

732.5 mi into trip | ~13h 45m in | I 5 Truck

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 158 Toward I 405 South

757.5 mi into trip | ~14h 14m in | I 5 / Golden State Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa Ana

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

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Stre...

779.5 mi into trip | ~14h 40m in

Take the exit toward Lincoln Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 111 Toward Lincoln Avenue

Towns Along This Route

Between Crescent City, CA and Anaheim, CA, road signs point toward Redding, Blue Lake and Willow Creek.

Redding

74.5 mi in | ~1h 36m

Blue Lake

74.5 mi in | ~1h 36m

Willow Creek

74.5 mi in | ~1h 36m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Westside Freeway	424.9 mi	7h 38m
CA 299	136.3 mi	2h 40m
I 5 Truck	83.3 mi	1h 36m
Redwood Highway	73.7 mi	1h 34m
Cascade Wonderland Highway	31.8 mi	34m
Santa Ana Freeway	20.7 mi	24m
Golden State Freeway	5.3 mi	6m
Tehama Street	1.6 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 424.9 mi, about 7h 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Crescent City, CA and Anaheim, CA.

Start on 9th Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · 9th Street

Turn right onto US 101

0.6 mi · 1 min · L Street

Continue on US 101

74 mi · 1 hr 34 min · Redwood Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Toward CA 299: Weaverville, Redding, Blue Lake, Willow Creek Use the slight right lane.

Continue on CA 299

136 mi · 2 hr 40 min · CA 299

Turn right onto Court Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Court Street

Turn left onto Tehama Street

1.6 mi · 2 min · Tehama Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 55 sec

Exit 2A Toward I 5 South: Sacramento Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 5

32 mi · 34 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway

Continue on I 5

93 mi · 1 hr 39 min · Westside Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

16 mi · 16 min · Westside Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

79 mi · 1 hr 27 min · Westside Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

0.8 mi · 48 sec · Westside Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

237 mi · 4 hr 13 min · Westside Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

4.1 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

0.3 mi · 17 sec · I 5 Truck

Exit 158 Toward I 405 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

25 mi · 29 min · I 5 Truck

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

1.3 mi · 1 min · Golden State Freeway

Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa Ana Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Merge onto I 5

21 mi · 24 min · Santa Ana Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 33 sec

Exit 111 Toward Lincoln Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue

1.3 mi · 3 min · West Lincoln Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto South Anaheim Boulevard

370 ft · 14 sec · South Anaheim Boulevard

Turn right

200 ft · 14 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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 4 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 390.7 miles from Crescent City, CA, or about 7h 32m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 424.9 miles.

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 172 miles or 3h 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 390.7 miles or 7h 32m 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 390.7 miles or 7h 32m

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 13h 32m

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 Crescent City, 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 Crescent City, CA

Aim for roughly 391 miles and 7.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Anaheim, CA

Aim for roughly 391 miles and 7.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 172 miles from Crescent City, CA.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 4 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 424.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 390.7 mi from Crescent City, CA · 7h 32m into the drive

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

McKinleyville, CA

258 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Davis, CA

516 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 Davis, CA

Popular next leg

Davis, CA to Anaheim, CA

422.1 mi · 6h 44m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Red Bluff, CA

391 mi · about 7.4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Red Bluff, CA after about 391 miles or 7.4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Red Bluff, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 172 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Laguna, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 390.7 miles from Crescent City, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 424.9 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 391 miles or 7.4 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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$180.93 one way

$361.86 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 273 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.07	$186.59	$373.18
premium	$6.24	$192.03	$384.07
diesel	$5.64	$173.58	$347.16

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$181

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$311–$421

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 273.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $82 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	234.4	2	$82.04	$37.50
Efficient EV	195.3	2	$68.36	$31.25
EV Truck/SUV	312.5	3	$109.38	$50.00

Gas CO2

273 kg

EV CO2

91 kg (67% less)

Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 3 years ago

Origin

Crescent City, CA

Morning in Crescent City on Monday

Local time

7:42 AM

PDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Anaheim, CA

Morning in Anaheim on Monday

Local time

7:42 AM

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

13 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

14h 45m 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 Crescent City, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 781.3 miles and takes about 14h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Westside Freeway, CA 299, I 5 Truck. 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 391 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 390.7 miles from Crescent City, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $180.93 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 4 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Crescent City, CA and Anaheim, CA, road signs point toward Redding, Blue Lake and Willow Creek.

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Trip from Crescent City, CA to Anaheim, CA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Anaheim, CA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Crescent City, CA

Anaheim, CA

Same local time

13 degrees warmer at arrival

14h 45m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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