Origin
Del Rey Oaks, CA
Morning in Del Rey Oaks on Saturday
Local time
11:09 AM
PDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Del Rey Oaks, CA to Fresno, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 5m
Distance
152.9 mi
246 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 54m
★
6 AM
3h 5m
8 AM
3h 28m
10 AM
3h 13m
12 PM
3h 11m
3 PM
3h 15m
5 PM
3h 27m
8 PM
2h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Del Rey Oaks, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Fresno, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 152.9-mile drive from Del Rey Oaks to Fresno, California, is an easy one-day trip, taking about 3 hours and 5 minutes to complete. You'll be spending about 84% of your time on highways, primarily using CA 156 and CA 152 before transitioning to the southbound CA 99. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $35. Given its manageable length and highway focus, this route is ideal for a single day of travel, allowing for flexibility. It's a straightforward drive that connects the Pacific Coast region to another part of California.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.4 miles from Del Rey Oaks, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 156 | 52.9 mi | 1h 4m |
| CA 152 | 43.4 mi | 53m |
| Southbound California State Route 99 | 30.9 mi | 34m |
| Cabrillo Highway | 11.1 mi | 11m |
| El Camino Real | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| West Belmont Avenue | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Canyon del Rey Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| State Route 156 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CA 156
— 52.9 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Del Rey Oaks, CA and Fresno, CA.
1
Start on CA 218
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Canyon del Rey Boulevard
Use the left lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward CA 218: Seaside, Del Rey Oaks
3
Merge onto CA 1
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Cabrillo Highway
4
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 156
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
CA 156
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn straight onto CA 156
490 ft
·
6 sec
·
CA 156
6
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 156
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
CA 156
7
Merge onto US 101; CA 156
8.6 mi
·
9 min
·
El Camino Real
8
Take the exit onto State Route 156
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
State Route 156
Exit 345
Toward CA 156 East: San Juan Bautista, Hollister
9
Keep slight right at fork onto State Route 156
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
State Route 156
Exit 345
Toward CA 156 East: San Juan Bautista, Hollister
10
Continue on CA 156
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
CA 156
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Enter roundabout onto CA 156
198 ft
·
6 sec
·
CA 156
12
Continue on CA 156
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
CA 156
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn slight right onto CA 156
35 mi
·
41 min
·
CA 156
14
Continue on CA 152; CA 33
43 mi
·
53 min
·
CA 152; CA 33
15
Continue on CA 99
31 mi
·
34 min
·
Southbound California State Route 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 134
Toward Belmont Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
17
At end of road, turn left onto West Belmont Avenue
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
West Belmont Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto North First Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
North First Street
19
Turn left onto East Washington Avenue
69 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Washington Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
East Washington Avenue
Trip Plan
With a duration of just over 3 hours, this 152.9-mile trip from Del Rey Oaks to Fresno offers plenty of flexibility. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize your day, and consider making your single planned stop strategically. You'll be covering 52.9 miles on CA 156 before reaching other main roads, so ensure you're fueled up and comfortable before this initial stretch. The $35 fuel cost is an estimate, so checking current prices is always wise. Keep an eye on signage for CA 99 South as you transition onto the final leg of your journey.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.4 miles from Del Rey Oaks, CA, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.9 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 34 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.4 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fresno, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Del Rey Oaks, 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 Del Rey Oaks, CA
This is one driving day of about 152.9 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Del Rey Oaks, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on CA 156 for about 52.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
76 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 76.4 miles from Del Rey Oaks, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 13.2 and 149.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
13.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
CA 156
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 156
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
28.4 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
State Route 156
Take the exit onto State Route 156 toward CA 156 East: San Juan Bautista, Hollister
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 345
Toward CA 156 East: San Juan Bautista, Holliste...
8
28.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
State Route 156
Keep slight right at fork onto State Route 156 toward CA 156 East: San Juan Bautista, Hollister
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 345
Toward CA 156 East: San Juan Bautista, Holliste...
7
149.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward Belmont Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 134
Toward Belmont Avenue
6
149.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 59m in
|
West Belmont Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto West Belmont Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.14 one way
$70.29 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $36.21 | $72.43 |
| premium | $6.18 | $37.18 | $74.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.76 | $67.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.9 | 0 | $16.05 | $7.34 |
| Efficient EV | 38.2 | 0 | $13.38 | $6.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.2 | 0 | $21.41 | $9.79 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Fresno, CA
Morning in Fresno on Saturday
Local time
11:09 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Clear
WNW 0 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 8:09PM PDT until April 17 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 8:09PM PDT until April 17 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
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
13 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
3h 5m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pinnacles National Park
National Park
Around 23 million years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions shaped the landscape that is now Pinnacles National Park. The remnants of these ancient eruptions have formed a striking terrain of rocky sp...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
$30
near mile 36.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this 152.9-mile route, with 84% of the journey taking place on main roads like CA 156, CA 152, and CA 99. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 52.9 miles on CA 156, offering a good period of consistent travel. While primarily highway, the initial segments on CA 156 and CA 152 might offer more varied scenery before you merge onto the more typical freeway conditions of CA 99 as you head towards Fresno. This drive is characterized by its efficiency and steady pace.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.9 mi on CA 156.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 156 and CA 152. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.2 miles in near CA 156.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 152.9 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 13.2 miles (CA 156): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles (State Route 156): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.7 miles (State Route 156): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Del Rey Oaks, CA to Fresno, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Hollister along the way.
Hollister
28.4 mi in
|
~34m
|
via State Route 156
About the Cities
Arriving in Fresno, CA
Full guide →Founded 1872
Fresno is in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Many visitors find themselves stopping in Fresno on the way to Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, or other destinations in the Sierras.
Top landmarks
- • Holy Trinity Church, Fresno — church building in Fresno, United States of America
- • Fresno station — train station in Fresno, California
- • Kearney Park — park in Fresno County, California, United States of America
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 152.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.9 miles on CA 156. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Fresno, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.2 miles (CA 156): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles (State Route 156): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.7 miles (State Route 156): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pinnacles National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Fresno, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Fresno, CA
More from Del Rey Oaks, CA
More trips to Fresno, CA
Explore more options from Del Rey Oaks, CA or browse trips ending in Fresno, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.