Origin
Rio Dell, CA
Late night in Rio Dell on Wednesday
Local time
4:56 AM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
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Drive Time
2h 33m
Distance
116 mi
187 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rio Dell, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Laguna, CA
Tori Pezzulla❤️
Spanning 123.9 miles, this drive from Rio Dell to Laguna offers a focused journey through the Pacific Coast region. You should anticipate a travel time of approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. With a total estimated fuel cost of $17, it is a budget-friendly way to navigate between these two California locations. Because the route is entirely local, you won't encounter any major interstate stretches, allowing for a more intimate pace. Consider this trip if you prefer a direct, turn-heavy transit over the typical high-speed highway experience.
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
58 miles from Rio Dell, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .
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Expect a technical and engaging experience behind the wheel, as this route is defined by its turn-heavy local roads. With a highway share of 0%, you will stay off the major interstates and remain on smaller, more demanding pavement throughout the entire 123.9-mile distance. The road profile demands your full attention, lacking the monotonous stretches found on typical highway commutes. Because the route is categorized as a local drive, the character of the road remains consistent, requiring you to navigate frequent bends and changes in direction from start to finish.
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 26 miles in near CA 116.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 116 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 26 miles (CA 116): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.6 miles (CA 29 / Saint Helena Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 98.9 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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit onto CA 116 toward CA 116 East: Sonoma, Napa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto CA 29 / Saint Helena Highway
Lane positioning matters here
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
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
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
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rio Dell, CA and Laguna, CA, road signs point toward Napa, Sacramento, Lake Tahoe and Fresno.
Napa
Sacramento
Lake Tahoe
Fresno
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 38.2 mi | 44m |
| Redwood Highway | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| Gravenstein Highway | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| South Sacramento Freeway | 7.4 mi | 8m |
| Jameson Canyon Road | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| Gravenstein Highway North | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| Capital City Freeway | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| Fremont Drive | 5 mi | 7m |
Step-by-step road directions between Rio Dell, CA and Laguna, CA.
Start on Westside Road
Turn right onto Rio Vista Road
Continue on Rio Vista Road
Continue on Rio Vista Road
At end of road, turn right onto River Road
Turn right onto Mirabel Road
At end of road, turn left onto CA 116
Continue on CA 116
Continue on CA 116
Continue on CA 116
Continue on CA 116
Take the ramp onto CA 116
Merge onto US 101; CA 116
Take the exit onto CA 116
Turn left onto Lakeville Highway
Turn left onto Frates Road
Continue on Adobe Road
Continue on CA 116
Continue on CA 116
Enter roundabout onto CA 121
Continue on CA 121
Continue on CA 12; CA 121
Turn right onto CA 29
Continue on CA 12; CA 29
Turn left onto CA 12
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 12
Merge onto I 80; CA 12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Continue on I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto US 50; I 80 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
Take the exit
Merge onto CA 99
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
Since this is a relatively short 2-hour and 20-minute journey, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule. While the trip is short enough to drive in one go, remember that the lack of highway miles means your average speed will be lower than usual. Keep your estimated $17 fuel budget in mind before you head out, as local roads can sometimes impact gas mileage compared to steady highway cruising. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, prioritize your comfort and take breaks if you find the constant steering fatiguing. Staying alert is key, so verify your vehicle is ready for a winding, non-highway drive before you depart.
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 80 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58 miles or 1h 23m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laguna, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Rio Dell, 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 Rio Dell, CA
This is one driving day of about 116 miles and 2h 33m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58 mi from Rio Dell, CA · 1h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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.
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
$26.66 one way
$53.32 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $27.47 | $54.95 |
| premium | $6.18 | $28.21 | $56.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.61 | $51.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.18 | $5.57 |
| Efficient EV | 29 | 0 | $10.15 | $4.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.4 | 0 | $16.24 | $7.42 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 Rio Dell on Wednesday
Local time
4:56 AM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Laguna on Wednesday
Local time
4:56 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°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.
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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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