Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 14m
Distance
159.3 mi
256 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portola, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Laguna, CA
Tori Pezzulla❤️
The drive from Portola, CA to Laguna, CA covers 159.3 miles and takes about 3h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Alan S. Hart Freeway, South Lincoln Street, Capital City Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 84.2 miles on Alan S. Hart Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.61 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.7 miles from Portola, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 159.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
This is a 3h 14m highway drive covering 159.3 miles, with most of the trip on Alan S. Hart Freeway and South Lincoln Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 84.2 miles on Alan S. Hart Freeway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Alan S. Hart Freeway and South Lincoln Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 138.8 miles in near I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 159.3 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 138.8 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 143.7 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 147.5 miles (Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward I 80 Business West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto Capital City Freeway toward CA 99 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Turn right onto Cosumnes River Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alan S. Hart Freeway | 84.2 mi | 1h 37m |
| South Lincoln Street | 22.5 mi | 31m |
| Capital City Freeway | 9 mi | 9m |
| Beckwourth Calpine Road | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| South Sacramento Freeway | 7.8 mi | 8m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Westside Road | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| CA 49 | 4 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Portola, CA and Laguna, CA.
Start on this road
Turn right onto CA 70
Continue on CA 70
Turn right onto CR A23
Continue on CR A23
At end of road, turn left onto CA 49; CA 89
Turn right onto CA 89
Enter roundabout onto CA 89
Continue on CA 89
Enter roundabout onto Truckee Way
Continue on Truckee Way
Enter roundabout onto Truckee Way
Continue on Truckee Way
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 80; CA 89
Continue on I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 Business
Keep slight left at fork onto Capital City Freeway
Continue on South Sacramento Freeway
Take the exit
Turn right onto Cosumnes River Boulevard
Turn left onto Bruceville Road
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
Turn right onto November Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way
Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court
Arrive at destination
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.
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 35 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.7 miles or 1h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laguna, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Portola, 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 Portola, CA
This is one driving day of about 159.3 miles and 3h 14m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.7 mi from Portola, CA · 1h 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 79.7 miles from Portola, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Alan S. Hart Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84.2 miles.
The final approach into Laguna, 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 Laguna, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$36.61 one way
$73.23 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $37.73 | $75.46 |
| premium | $6.18 | $38.74 | $77.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.17 | $70.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.8 | 0 | $16.73 | $7.65 |
| Efficient EV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.94 | $6.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.7 | 0 | $22.30 | $10.20 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Portola on Saturday
Local time
3:35 AM
PDT
Current temp
27°F
Mostly Clear
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 7:10PM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
Late night in Laguna on Saturday
Local time
3:35 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
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
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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