Origin
Fort Bragg, CA
Morning in Fort Bragg on Saturday
Local time
10:31 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Bragg, CA to Laguna, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 32m
Distance
216.3 mi
348 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 19m
★
6 AM
4h 33m
8 AM
5h 0m
10 AM
4h 42m
12 PM
4h 40m
3 PM
4h 44m
5 PM
4h 58m
8 PM
4h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Bragg, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Laguna, CA
Tori Pezzulla❤️
Trip Overview
The drive from Fort Bragg, CA to Laguna, CA covers 216.3 miles and takes about 4h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CA 20, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Saint Helena Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.8 miles on CA 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.71 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
108.1 miles from Fort Bragg, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 20 | 55.8 mi | 1h 8m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 38.2 mi | 44m |
| Saint Helena Highway | 29.5 mi | 33m |
| Fort Bragg-Willits Road | 26.8 mi | 39m |
| Saint Helena Highway South | 21.7 mi | 25m |
| South Sacramento Freeway | 7.4 mi | 8m |
| Fort Bragg Road | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Jameson Canyon Road | 6.2 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
CA 20
— 55.8 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Bragg, CA and Laguna, CA.
1
Start on this road
75 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto East Laurel Street
191 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Laurel Street
3
Turn right onto North Franklin Street
466 ft
·
24 sec
·
North Franklin Street
4
Turn right onto East Redwood Avenue
401 ft
·
25 sec
·
East Redwood Avenue
5
Turn left onto CA 1
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto CA 20
27 mi
·
39 min
·
Fort Bragg-Willits Road
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on CA 20
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Fort Bragg Road
8
Turn right onto CA 20
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on CA 20
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Redwood Highway
10
Take the ramp onto CA 20
56 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
CA 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto CA 128
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
CA 128
Exit 512
Toward CA 128 East: Canyon Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto CA 128
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Canyon Road
13
Turn right onto CA 128
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Geyserville Avenue
14
Turn left onto CA 128
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
15
At end of road, turn left onto CA 128
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
16
Continue on CA 128
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Boulevard
17
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
18
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
19
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Saint Helena Highway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on CA 12; CA 29
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Napa–Vallejo Highway
21
Turn left onto CA 12
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Jameson Canyon Road
Use the left / uturn lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 12
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
CA 12
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto I 80; CA 12
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
27 mi
·
31 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on I 80
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50; I 80 Business
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Capital City Freeway
Exit 82
Toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
Capital City Freeway
Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno
Use the slight right lane.
29
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
Toward CA 99 South: Fresno
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Merge onto CA 99
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
South Sacramento Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 289
Toward Cosumnes River Boulevard, Calvine Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Turn right onto Cosumnes River Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Cosumnes River Boulevard
Use the left / right lanes.
33
Turn left onto Bruceville Road
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Bruceville Road
Use the left / uturn / straight lanes.
34
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Seasons Drive
35
Turn right onto November Drive
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
November Drive
36
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way
155 ft
·
12 sec
·
Mapleview Way
37
Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court
183 ft
·
8 sec
·
Fall Breeze Court
38
Arrive at destination
Fall Breeze Court
Trip Plan
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 108.1 miles from Fort Bragg, CA, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 48 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.1 miles or 2h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laguna, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Bragg, 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 Fort Bragg, CA
This is one driving day of about 216.3 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Fort Bragg, 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 20 for about 55.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 108.1 miles from Fort Bragg, 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 285 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 212.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CA 1 / North Main Street
Turn left onto CA 1 / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
93.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
|
CA 128
Take the exit onto CA 128 toward CA 128 East: Canyon Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 512
Toward CA 128 East: Canyon Road
9
199.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 9m in
|
US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 82
Toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe
8
204.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 15m in
|
I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, F...
8
212.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 25m in
Take the exit toward Cosumnes River Boulevard, Calvine Road
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 289
Toward Cosumnes River Boulevard, Calvine Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.71 one way
$99.43 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $51.23 | $102.46 |
| premium | $6.18 | $52.60 | $105.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.76 | $95.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.9 | 0 | $22.71 | $10.38 |
| Efficient EV | 54.1 | 0 | $18.93 | $8.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.5 | 1 | $30.28 | $13.84 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 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
Laguna, CA
Morning in Laguna on Saturday
Local time
10:31 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
SW 7 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 11:57AM PDT until April 15 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 9:35AM PDT until April 15 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
63°F
Cloverdale, CA
108 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.
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
17 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
4h 32m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 156.6
View on nps.gov
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
near mile 156.6
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument
National Monument
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
$15
near mile 149.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
216.3 mi in 4h 32m — 32% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: CA 20.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.8 mi on CA 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near CA 1 / North Main Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 216.3 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 0.2 miles (CA 1 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 93.3 miles (CA 128): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 199.2 miles (US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,607 ft
16 ft
Total Climb
1,836 ft
Total Descent
1,894 ft
Highest Point
1,607 ft
~30.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,591 ft
Notable High Points
1,607 ft at ~30.9 miles
+673 ft prominence
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.
Between Fort Bragg, CA and Laguna, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento, Lake Tahoe and Fresno.
Sacramento
199.2 mi in
|
~4h 9m
|
via US 50; I 80 Business
Lake Tahoe
199.2 mi in
|
~4h 9m
|
via US 50; I 80 Business
Fresno
204.5 mi in
|
~4h 15m
|
via I 80 Business
About the Cities
Starting in Fort Bragg, CA
Full guide →For the fort in North Carolina, see Fayetteville (North Carolina). Fort Bragg is an isolated town of 7,000 people (2020) on California's North Coast. It serves as the economic hub of the area despite the demise of its historic logging and fishing industries at the end of the 20th century. Long regarded as the "Beast" to the neighboring village of Mendocino's "Belle," it has slowly been shedding its inhospitable, blue-collar reputation and begun to warm to the new reality of a tourism-based economy with art galleries, microbreweries and gastropubs of its own.
Top landmarks
- • Weller House — historic house in Fort Bragg, California, United States
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 4h 32m. Total distance: 216.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.8 miles on CA 20. 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 Laguna, 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 0.2 miles (CA 1 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 93.3 miles (CA 128): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 199.2 miles (US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Muir Woods National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Laguna, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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