The drive from Laguna, CA to Richmond, CA covers 85.5 miles and takes about 1h 43m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, South Sacramento Freeway, Eastshore Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50.1 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.65 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.7 miles from Laguna, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Though it was a booming industrial center during World War II, the subsequent decades were not kind to Richmond, California. After the war, deindustrialization hit hard. The shipyards closed. Desperation set in. A reputation for violent crime kept visitors away.
But in the 21st century crime has gone down, and a revitalization has begun. Richmond still isn't on any tourism shortlists, but its historic sites, nature, and strategic location between the East Bay and Marin County do attract some interest to this often-overlooked part of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Areas of note include the charming and historic Point Richmond neighborhood on the bay in the southwest of Richmond, as well as the World War II sites at the southern edge of the city. This article also covers Richmond's near-enclave of San Pablo.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 85.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Laguna, CA to Richmond, CA covers 85.5 miles and takes about 1h 43m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 50.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Laguna Boulevard.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.5 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Laguna Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|Laguna Boulevard
Turn right onto Laguna Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
12.2 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward US 50 West, US 50 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe
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.
Toward US 50 West, US 50 East: San Francisco, S...
7
12.7 mi into trip|~17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 West: San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 50 West: San Francisco
8
83.8 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward San Pablo Avenue, Barrett Avenue
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 16
Toward San Pablo Avenue, Barrett Avenue
7
84.2 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|Barrett Avenue
Turn sharp right onto Barrett Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
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 Laguna, CA to Richmond, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Lake Tahoe along the way.
Lake Tahoe
12.2 mi in|~16m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.1 mi
58m
South Sacramento Freeway
9.9 mi
11m
Eastshore Freeway
6.9 mi
7m
Capital City Freeway
5 mi
5m
Yolo Causeway
3.9 mi
4m
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.4 mi
3m
Laguna Boulevard
1.2 mi
2m
Carquinez Bridge
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 50.1 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laguna, CA and Richmond, CA.
1
Start on Fall Breeze Court
183 ft·10 sec·Fall Breeze Court
2
Turn right onto Mapleview Way
155 ft·10 sec·Mapleview Way
3
Turn right onto November Drive
0.1 mi·25 sec·November Drive
4
Turn left onto Seasons Drive
0.3 mi·48 sec·Seasons Drive
5
Turn left onto Bruceville Road
0.3 mi·42 sec·Bruceville Road
6
Turn right onto Laguna Boulevard
1.2 mi·2 min·Laguna Boulevard
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on Bond Road
0.2 mi·15 sec·Bond Road
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward CA 99 North: Sacramento
9
Merge onto CA 99
9.9 mi·11 min·South Sacramento Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·33 sec
Toward US 50 West, US 50 East: San Francisco, South Lake TahoeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 50 West: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 50
5.0 mi·5 min·Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 80
3.9 mi·4 min·Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 80
50 mi·58 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi·1 min·Carquinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Eastshore Freeway
17
Continue on I 80
3.4 mi·3 min·Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 80
6.6 mi·7 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Exit 16Toward San Pablo Avenue, Barrett AvenueUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn sharp right onto Barrett Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·Barrett Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto 25th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·25th Street
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto Macdonald Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·Macdonald Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
Macdonald Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.7 miles from Laguna, CA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.1 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.7 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Laguna, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Laguna, CA
This is one driving day of about 85.5 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Laguna, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 50.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.7 mi from Laguna, CA
· 52m into the drive
The midpoint is around 42.7 miles from Laguna, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Richmond, CA
The final approach into Richmond, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 85.5
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 73.7
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,...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
$15
near mile 85.5
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 85.5
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.7
0
$8.98
$4.10
Efficient EV
21.4
0
$7.48
$3.42
EV Truck/SUV
34.2
0
$11.97
$5.47
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Laguna, CA
Evening
in Laguna on Friday
Local time
7:00 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Richmond, CA
Evening
in Richmond on Friday
Local time
7:00 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°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
22 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
1h 43m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Laguna, CA to Richmond, CA covers 85.5 miles and takes about 1h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, South Sacramento Freeway, Eastshore Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.7 miles from Laguna, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.65 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.5 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Laguna Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Laguna, CA to Richmond, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Lake Tahoe along the way.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
