Origin
Fresno, CA
Late night in Fresno on Wednesday
Local time
12:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fresno, CA to Alta Sierra, CA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 20m
Distance
218.9 mi
352 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 7m
★
6 AM
4h 21m
8 AM
4h 47m
10 AM
4h 30m
12 PM
4h 27m
3 PM
4h 31m
5 PM
4h 46m
8 PM
4h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fresno, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Alta Sierra, CA
Patrick Gamelkoorn
Trip Overview
The drive from Fresno, CA to Alta Sierra, CA covers 218.9 miles and takes about 4h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North First Street, East Belmont Avenue, CA 99 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.31 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
109.5 miles from Fresno, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 20m drive with frequent turns across 218.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North First Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 20m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fresno, CA to Alta Sierra, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North First Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Belmont Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 99 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Avenue 7 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Route 99 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Golden State Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Route 99E | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Capital City Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North First Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fresno, CA and Alta Sierra, CA.
1
Start on East Washington Avenue
30 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Washington Avenue
2
Turn right onto North First Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
North First Street
3
Turn left onto East Belmont Avenue
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
East Belmont Avenue
4
Take the ramp right toward CA 99 North
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
CA 99 North
5
Merge slight left
9.4 mi
·
10 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
·
Avenue 7
7
Merge slight left
21 mi
·
24 min
8
Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99
85 mi
·
1 hr 38 min
·
Northbound California State Route 99
9
Continue on Golden State Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Highway
10
Continue on Old U.S. Route 99E
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Old U.S. Route 99E
11
Keep slight left
45 mi
·
51 min
12
Continue on Capital City Freeway
8.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Capital City Freeway
13
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
14
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Alan S. Hart Freeway
15
Take the exit slight right toward CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville
16
Turn left onto Grass Valley Highway
5.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Grass Valley Highway
17
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
118 ft
·
3 sec
·
Grass Valley Highway
18
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Grass Valley Highway
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
118 ft
·
3 sec
·
Grass Valley Highway
20
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Grass Valley Highway
21
Continue on State Highway 49
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 49
22
Turn right onto Alta Sierra Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Alta Sierra Drive
23
Continue on Alta Sierra Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Alta Sierra Drive
24
Turn left onto Francis Drive
344 ft
·
16 sec
·
Francis Drive
25
Turn right onto Upper Circle Drive
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Upper Circle Drive
26
Arrive at your destination
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 109.5 miles from Fresno, CA, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.5 miles or 2h 10m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alta Sierra, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fresno, 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 Fresno, CA
This is one driving day of about 218.9 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fresno, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 109.5 mi from Fresno, CA · 2h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
109 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 109.5 miles from Fresno, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alta Sierra, CA
The final approach into Alta Sierra, 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 Alta Sierra, 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
$50.31 one way
$100.63 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
77 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $51.85 | $103.69 |
| premium | $6.18 | $53.23 | $106.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $48.33 | $96.66 |
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: 76.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.7 | 0 | $22.98 | $10.51 |
| Efficient EV | 54.7 | 0 | $19.15 | $8.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87.6 | 1 | $30.65 | $14.01 |
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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
Alta Sierra, CA
Late night in Alta Sierra on Wednesday
Local time
12:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°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 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 20m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Fresno, CA to Alta Sierra, CA covers 218.9 miles and takes about 4h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North First Street, East Belmont Avenue, CA 99 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 109.5 miles from Fresno, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $50.31 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 20m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fresno, CA to Alta Sierra, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fresno, CA to Alta Sierra, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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