Origin
Fontana, CA
Morning in Fontana on Sunday
Local time
11:35 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fontana, CA to Arcata, CA
Drive Time
13h 28m
Distance
696.7 mi
1,121 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$161
one way
Photo: Ashish Durgude
Trip Overview
The drive from Fontana, CA to Arcata, CA covers 696.7 miles and takes about 13h 28m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Westside Freeway, Redwood Highway, Foothill Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 225.6 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $161.34 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
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
348.3 miles from Fontana, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 696.7 miles and 13h 28m 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 Redwood Highway.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 58 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 225.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 13h 28m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 45 miles in near I 210 / Foothill Freeway.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 44 significant decision points across 696.7 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 45 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 392.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 392.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 44 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
45 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26A
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
8
392.3 mi into trip
|
~7h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut 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.
Exit 44B
Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacr...
9
392.4 mi into trip
|
~7h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacr...
8
412.9 mi into trip
|
~7h 38m in
|
I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none lane.
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
8
427.7 mi into trip
|
~7h 55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Towns Along This Route
Between Fontana, CA and Arcata, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek, Novato and Auto Mall.
San Francisco
355.7 mi in
|
~6h 33m
|
via I 580
Sacramento
392.3 mi in
|
~7h 14m
Concord
392.3 mi in
|
~7h 14m
Walnut Creek
392.3 mi in
|
~7h 14m
Novato
430.5 mi in
|
~7h 58m
Auto Mall
430.5 mi in
|
~7h 58m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 225.6 mi | 4h 1m |
| Redwood Highway | 190.2 mi | 3h 54m |
| Foothill Freeway | 67.2 mi | 1h 17m |
| Saint Helena Highway | 51.2 mi | 59m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.1 mi | 42m |
| Golden State Freeway | 22.3 mi | 25m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 19.6 mi | 22m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and Arcata, CA.
1
Start on Merrill Avenue
205 ft
·
6 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
2
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Sierra Avenue
Use the none lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward CA 210 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Merge onto CA 210
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the none lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the none lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Exit 26A
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
18
Merge onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the none lane.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 44B
Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 680
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the none lane.
23
Continue on I 680
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680, CA 24
Use the none lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
Use the none lane.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
243 ft
·
3 sec
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the none lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the slight right lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 780
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 780
Toward I 780: Benicia
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 1B
Toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Use the slight right lane.
29
Keep slight left at fork
448 ft
·
11 sec
Toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Use the slight left lane.
30
Merge onto I 80
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 33
Toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 37: Napa
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on CA 37
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 37
Toward CA 37
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
34
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 19
Toward CA 29: Napa, Sonoma Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Turn right onto CA 29
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Sonoma Boulevard
Use the right lane.
36
Continue on CA 29
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Broadway Street
Use the straight lane.
37
Continue on CA 29
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Napa–Vallejo Highway
Use the left / none lanes.
38
Continue on CA 12; CA 29
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
Use the none lane.
39
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
Use the none lane.
40
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
Use the none lane.
41
Continue on CA 128
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Boulevard
42
Continue on CA 128
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
43
Continue on CA 128
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
44
At end of road, turn right onto CA 128
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Geyserville Avenue
45
Turn left onto CA 128
359 ft
·
6 sec
·
Canyon Road
46
Take the exit onto CA 128
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
CA 128
47
Merge onto US 101; CA 128
55 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Continue on US 101
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
50
Merge onto US 101
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Willits Bypass
51
Continue on US 101
129 mi
·
2 hr 38 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the none lane.
52
Continue on US 101
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Broadway Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
53
Turn right onto US 101
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West 5th Street
54
Continue on US 101
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
55
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward CA 255: Arcata, Sunnybrae
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
56
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
57
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Use the straight lane.
58
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 348.3 miles from Fontana, CA, or about 6h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 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 153 miles or 2h 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 348.3 miles or 6h 25m 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 348.3 miles or 6h 25m
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 12h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arcata, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fontana, 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 Fontana, CA
Aim for roughly 348 miles and 6.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Arcata, CA
Aim for roughly 348 miles and 6.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 153 miles from Fontana, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 225.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 348.3 mi from Fontana, CA · 6h 25m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
230 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
460 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 Windsor, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
348 mi · about 6.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Windsor, CA after about 348 miles or 6.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 153 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 348.3 miles from Fontana, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 225.6 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 348 miles or 6.7 hours on the road.
Arriving in Arcata, CA
The final approach into Arcata, 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 Arcata, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Arcata, 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
$161.34 one way
$322.68 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
244 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $166.39 | $332.77 |
| premium | $6.24 | $171.24 | $342.48 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $154.78 | $309.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$161
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$291–$401
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 243.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $73 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 209 | 2 | $73.15 | $33.44 |
| Efficient EV | 174.2 | 1 | $60.96 | $27.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 278.7 | 3 | $97.54 | $44.59 |
Gas CO2
244 kg
EV CO2
82 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Arcata, CA
Morning in Arcata on Sunday
Local time
11:35 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
69°F
Mountain View, CA
230 mi in
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
7 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
13h 28m 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 Fontana, CA to Arcata, CA covers 696.7 miles and takes about 13h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Redwood Highway, Foothill Freeway. 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 348 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 348.3 miles from Fontana, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $161.34 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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 44 significant decision points across 696.7 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 45 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 392.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 392.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Fontana, CA and Arcata, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek, Novato and Auto Mall.
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