How far is Cottonwood, CA from Fresno, CA?
The driving distance from Cottonwood, CA to Fresno, CA is about 208.8 miles (336 km), with a travel time of about 03h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 178.5 miles (287.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 06m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 03h 33m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Cottonwood and Fresno.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood and Fresno.
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1
Start on County Road 89
1.6 mi · 4 min · County Road 89
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2
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route
4 m · 1 sec
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3
Exit the roundabout
113 m · 6 sec
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4
Turn straight
9.1 mi · 13 min
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5
Turn left onto Pedrick Road
1 mi · 1 min · Pedrick Road
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6
Turn right onto West Kentucky Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · West Kentucky Avenue
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7
Turn left onto North West Street
932 ft · 27 sec · North West Street
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8
Continue on County Road 99
2436 ft · 52 sec · County Road 99
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9
Take the ramp right toward I 5 South: Sacramento
848 ft · 21 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
1.9 mi · 2 min · Westside Freeway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
18.6 mi · 21 min · Westside Freeway
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12
Take the exit slight right toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco
2110 ft · 28 sec
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13
Keep slight left to continue on US 50 East: Fresno
1936 ft · 33 sec
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14
Keep slight left to continue on US 50 East: Fresno
3077 ft · 1 min
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15
Merge slight left onto Capital City Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Capital City Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway
1383 ft · 18 sec · Capital City Freeway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward CA 99 South: Fresno
2281 ft · 34 sec
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18
Merge slight left onto South Sacramento Freeway
56.4 mi · 1 hr 5 min · South Sacramento Freeway
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19
Keep slight left
106.7 mi · 2 hr 2 min
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20
Take the exit slight right toward Belmont Avenue
1517 ft · 41 sec
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21
At the end of the road, turn left onto West Belmont Avenue
2.9 mi · 6 min · West Belmont Avenue
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22
Turn right onto North First Street
968 ft · 26 sec · North First Street
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23
Turn left onto East Washington Avenue
21 m · 3 sec · East Washington Avenue
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Washington Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Cottonwood and Fresno.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
South Sacramento Freeway
Keep slight left
107 mi · 02h 02m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Mostly Sunny leaving Cottonwood and Mostly Sunny near Fresno.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Cottonwood to Fresno?
The road trip is about 208.8 miles (336 km) and usually takes 03h 33m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Salida is a useful midpoint, sitting about 102 miles from Cottonwood and 106.8 miles from Fresno.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 178.5 miles (287.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:54 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.52 one way or $85.04 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Cottonwood and Mostly Sunny near Fresno.
Stop Ideas Near Salida
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Salida.
Modesto station
Manteca, CA
Tracy, CA
Tracy, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Cottonwood and Fresno. Straight-line distance: 178.51 mi (287.29 km).
#1 Cottonwood
Ghost town in Yolo County, California
| Population | 3,850 |
| Coordinates | 38.6582400, -121.9710800 |
| Altitude | 50 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Fresno
The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Fresno metropolitan area.
| Population | 530,267 |
| Coordinates | 36.7477300, -119.7723700 |
| Altitude | 94 |
| Country | United States |
End: East Washington Avenue (-119.77237, 36.747738)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 336 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 57m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 13m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 10m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 28m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 58m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 36m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $42.52 | $85.04 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $44.71 | $89.41 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $46.01 | $92.02 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $55.77 | $111.54 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in California · Apr 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.