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Trip from Rio Dell, CA to Laguna, CA

Data updated 56 minutes ago

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

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 23m ★
6 AM
2h 34m
8 AM
2h 54m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 53m
8 PM
2h 27m

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

city in Humboldt County, California, United States of America

Rio Dell, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Laguna, CA, CA

Laguna, CA

Tori Pezzulla❤️

Trip Overview

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 .

Loading map...

Drive Character

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.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 42 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 38.2 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 26 miles in near CA 116.

Route Complexity 10/10

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 27 key points

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

8
26 mi into trip | ~38m in | CA 116

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 472B Toward CA 116 East: Sonoma, Napa
6
46.6 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in | CA 29 / Saint Helena Highway

Turn right onto CA 29 / Saint Helena Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
98.9 mi into trip | ~2h 10m 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
8
104.2 mi into trip | ~2h 16m 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...
8
112.3 mi into trip | ~2h 25m 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 Mentioned on Route Signs

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

26 mi in | ~38m | via CA 116

Sacramento

98.9 mi in | ~2h 10m | via US 50; I 80 Business

Lake Tahoe

98.9 mi in | ~2h 10m | via US 50; I 80 Business

Fresno

104.2 mi in | ~2h 16m | via I 80 Business

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 38.2 mi, about 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Westside Road

136 ft · 10 sec · Westside Road
2

Turn right onto Rio Vista Road

93 ft · 4 sec · Rio Vista Road
3

Continue on Rio Vista Road

0.2 mi · 50 sec · Rio Vista Road
4

Continue on Rio Vista Road

325 ft · 15 sec · Rio Vista Road
5

At end of road, turn right onto River Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · River Road
6

Turn right onto Mirabel Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · Mirabel Road
Use the right lane.
7

At end of road, turn left onto CA 116

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Front Street
8

Continue on CA 116

5.7 mi · 8 min · Gravenstein Highway North
9

Continue on CA 116

0.5 mi · 50 sec · Healdsburg Avenue
10

Continue on CA 116

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Continue on CA 116

7.6 mi · 11 min · Gravenstein Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Take the ramp onto CA 116

0.3 mi · 36 sec · CA 116
Toward US 101 South: San Francisco Use the right lane.
13

Merge onto US 101; CA 116

8.4 mi · 9 min · Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit onto CA 116

0.3 mi · 55 sec · CA 116
Exit 472B Toward CA 116 East: Sonoma, Napa Use the slight right lane.
15

Turn left onto Lakeville Highway

1.5 mi · 2 min · Lakeville Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
16

Turn left onto Frates Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · Frates Road
Use the left lane.
17

Continue on Adobe Road

3.2 mi · 4 min · Adobe Road
18

Continue on CA 116

3.3 mi · 5 min · Stage Gulch Road
19

Continue on CA 116

1.6 mi · 2 min · Arnold Drive
20

Enter roundabout onto CA 121

225 ft · 3 sec · Fremont Drive
21

Continue on CA 121

4.9 mi · 7 min · Fremont Drive
22

Continue on CA 12; CA 121

4.4 mi · 6 min · Carneros Highway
23

Turn right onto CA 29

2.7 mi · 3 min · Saint Helena Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Continue on CA 12; CA 29

1.3 mi · 1 min · Napa–Vallejo Highway
25

Turn left onto CA 12

6.2 mi · 7 min · Jameson Canyon Road
Use the left / uturn lanes.
26

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 12

0.3 mi · 38 sec · CA 12
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Merge onto I 80; CA 12

2.5 mi · 2 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight right lane.
28

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

27 mi · 31 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

8.4 mi · 9 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30

Continue on I 80

3.7 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

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.
32

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.
33

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 34 sec
Toward CA 99 South: Fresno Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34

Merge onto CA 99

7.4 mi · 8 min · South Sacramento Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 289 Toward Cosumnes River Boulevard, Calvine Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36

Turn right onto Cosumnes River Boulevard

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Cosumnes River Boulevard
Use the left / right lanes.
37

Turn left onto Bruceville Road

2.7 mi · 5 min · Bruceville Road
Use the left / uturn / straight lanes.
38

Turn right onto Seasons Drive

0.3 mi · 50 sec · Seasons Drive
39

Turn right onto November Drive

0.1 mi · 29 sec · November Drive
40

At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way

155 ft · 12 sec · Mapleview Way
41

Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court

183 ft · 8 sec · Fall Breeze Court
42

Arrive at destination

Fall Breeze Court

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58 miles from Rio Dell, CA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.2 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Rio Dell, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 38.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Napa County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Napa, CA

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Davis, 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 58 miles from Rio Dell, 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

$26.66 one way

$53.32 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 6 days ago

Origin

Rio Dell, CA

Late night in Rio Dell on Wednesday

Local time

4:56 AM

PDT

Current temp

--

Unavailable

Destination

Laguna, CA

Late night in Laguna on Wednesday

Local time

4:56 AM

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.

Road read

2h 33m 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 Rio Dell, CA to Laguna, CA covers 116 miles and takes about 2h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Redwood Highway, Gravenstein Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58 miles from Rio Dell, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.66 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
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.
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.
Between Rio Dell, CA and Laguna, CA, road signs point toward Napa, Sacramento, Lake Tahoe and Fresno.

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