Trip from Richmond, CA to Laguna, CA

Drive Time

1h 42m

Distance

84 mi

135 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

1h 35m ★

6 AM

1h 42m

8 AM

1h 58m

10 AM

1h 48m

12 PM

1h 46m

3 PM

1h 48m

5 PM

1h 57m

8 PM

1h 38m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Richmond, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Laguna, CA

Tori Pezzulla❤️

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Richmond to Laguna, California, expect a focused drive covering 85.2 miles. You should budget approximately 1 hour and 29 minutes of time behind the wheel for this journey. Since the route involves navigating 23rd Street, Barrett Avenue, and San Pablo Avenue, this is best suited as a single-day trip rather than an overnight excursion. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it remains an affordable trek within the Pacific Coast region. Keep in mind that this is a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for consistent maneuvering throughout the transit.

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

42 miles from Richmond, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

Forget about monotonous highway cruising on this path, as your highway share for the entire trip is 0%. Instead, you will be navigating a series of local roads that require your full attention at every intersection. The longest stretch of uninterrupted driving is 0 miles on 23rd Street, emphasizing just how technical and stop-and-go this experience truly is. Because you are avoiding major highways, the road's personality is defined by its frequent transitions and urban pacing. Expect a hands-on driving experience that demands constant engagement as you move through these local corridors.

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.

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 50.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.6 miles in near I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 84 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 27.6 miles (I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.8 miles (I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.9 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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

27.6 mi into trip | ~33m in | I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

54.8 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in | I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

66.9 mi into trip | ~1h 19m 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

72.2 mi into trip | ~1h 25m 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...

80.3 mi into trip | ~1h 34m 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

Towns Along This Route

Between Richmond, CA and Laguna, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento, Lake Tahoe and Fresno.

Sacramento

66.9 mi in | ~1h 19m | via US 50; I 80 Business

Lake Tahoe

66.9 mi in | ~1h 19m | via US 50; I 80 Business

Fresno

72.2 mi in | ~1h 25m | via I 80 Business

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	50.2 mi	58m
South Sacramento Freeway	7.4 mi	8m
Eastshore Freeway	6.9 mi	8m
Capital City Freeway	5.5 mi	6m
Yolo Causeway	3.7 mi	4m
Linus F. Claeys Freeway	3.5 mi	3m
Bruceville Road	2.7 mi	5m
Barrett Avenue	1.2 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 50.2 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, CA and Laguna, CA.

Start on Macdonald Avenue

56 ft · 8 sec · Macdonald Avenue

Turn left onto 23rd Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · 23rd Street

Turn right onto Barrett Avenue

1.2 mi · 2 min · Barrett Avenue

Turn sharp left onto San Pablo Avenue

0.1 mi · 23 sec · San Pablo Avenue

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 80 East

Merge onto I 80

3.4 mi · 3 min · Eastshore Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 80

3.2 mi · 3 min · Eastshore Freeway

Exit 21 Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Continue on I 80

3.5 mi · 3 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 80

0.3 mi · 26 sec · Eastshore Freeway

Continue on I 80

1.0 mi · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge

Continue on I 80

14 mi · 16 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

27 mi · 31 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

8.4 mi · 9 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 80

3.7 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

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.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 34 sec

Toward CA 99 South: Fresno Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto CA 99

7.4 mi · 8 min · South Sacramento Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Exit 289 Toward Cosumnes River Boulevard, Calvine Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto Cosumnes River Boulevard

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Cosumnes River Boulevard

Use the left / right lanes.

Turn left onto Bruceville Road

2.7 mi · 5 min · Bruceville Road

Use the left / uturn / straight lanes.

Turn right onto Seasons Drive

0.3 mi · 50 sec · Seasons Drive

Turn right onto November Drive

0.1 mi · 29 sec · November Drive

At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way

155 ft · 12 sec · Mapleview Way

Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court

183 ft · 8 sec · Fall Breeze Court

Arrive at destination

Fall Breeze Court

Trip Plan

Since this 85.2-mile journey is entirely local, you have significant flexibility in your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours on these busy streets is always a smart move. Because you will spend the entire 1 hour and 29 minutes navigating local roads, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave to cover the $12 estimated cost without needing to hunt for stations mid-route. There are no planned stops on this itinerary, so keep your water and snacks accessible in the cabin if you want to avoid pulling over. My best piece of advice is to keep your GPS active and ready for frequent turns, as the lack of highway stretches means you will be making constant adjustments to your navigation.

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 miles from Richmond, CA, or about 50m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.2 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 42 miles or 50m 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 24m

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 Richmond, 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 Richmond, CA

This is one driving day of about 84 miles and 1h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Richmond, CA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 50.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 42 mi from Richmond, CA · 50m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Napa, CA

42 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

Sacramento, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Napa, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42 miles from Richmond, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Laguna, CA

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.45 one way

$38.90 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.07	$20.06	$40.12
premium	$6.24	$20.65	$41.29
diesel	$5.64	$18.66	$37.32

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	25.2	$8.82	$4.03
Efficient EV	21	$7.35	$3.36
EV Truck/SUV	33.6	$11.76	$5.38

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Richmond, CA

Afternoon in Richmond on Sunday

Local time

1:46 PM

PDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Laguna, CA

Afternoon in Laguna on Sunday

Local time

1:46 PM

PDT

Current temp

72°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

26 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

1h 42m 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 Richmond, CA to Laguna, CA covers 84 miles and takes about 1h 42m 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 miles from Richmond, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.45 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.

Between Richmond, CA and Laguna, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento, Lake Tahoe and Fresno.

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Trip from Richmond, CA to Laguna, CA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Laguna, CA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Richmond, CA

Laguna, CA

Same local time

26 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 42m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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