Drive Time
30m
Distance
19.5 mi
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
The drive from Nevada City, CA to Lake of the Pines, CA covers 19.5 miles and takes about 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Golden Center Freeway, Combie Road, Magnolia Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.65 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
9.7 miles from Nevada City, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Expect a 30m drive with frequent turns across 19.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Center Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Combie Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Magnolia Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lakeshore | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Torrey Pines Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hazel Way | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lakeshore North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Nevada City, CA and Lake of the Pines, CA.
Start on the route
Merge slight left onto Golden Center Freeway
Turn left onto Combie Road
Continue on Magnolia Road
Turn right onto Lakeshore
Keep slight left to continue on Lakeshore
Turn left onto Torrey Pines Drive
Turn right onto Hazel Way
Turn left onto Lakeshore North
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 19.5 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.7 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake of the Pines, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Nevada City, 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 Nevada City, CA
This is one driving day of about 19.5 miles and 30m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.7 mi from Nevada City, CA · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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.
A short stop after about 19.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 9.7 miles from Nevada City, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Lake of the Pines, 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 Lake of the Pines, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.65 one way
$5.30 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $2.96 | $5.91 |
| premium | $4.15 | $3.19 | $6.37 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $2.88 | $5.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.05 | $0.94 |
| Efficient EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.71 | $0.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.73 | $1.25 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Nevada City on Saturday
Local time
2:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Lake of the Pines on Saturday
Local time
2:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
50°F
Rocklin, CA
10 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Explore more options from Nevada City, CA or browse trips ending in Lake of the Pines, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Nevada City, CA or Lake of the Pines, CA on MapSof.net.