How far is Cottonwood, CA from Fresno, CA?
The driving distance from Cottonwood, CA to Fresno, CA is about 319.8 miles (514.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 17m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 285.5 miles (459.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 34m 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 05h 17m.
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.
A city located in Orange County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
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 1st Street
19 m · 2 sec · 1st Street
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2
Turn left onto Main Street
1.3 mi · 2 min · Main Street
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3
Continue on Bowman Road
922 ft · 25 sec · Bowman Road
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4
Take the ramp left
1263 ft · 31 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
15.9 mi · 17 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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6
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
15.7 mi · 17 min · Westside Freeway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
18.6 mi · 21 min · Westside Freeway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco
2110 ft · 28 sec
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10
Keep slight left to continue on US 50 East: Fresno
1936 ft · 33 sec
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11
Keep slight left to continue on US 50 East: Fresno
3077 ft · 1 min
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12
Merge slight left onto Capital City Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Capital City Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway
1383 ft · 18 sec · Capital City Freeway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward CA 99 South: Fresno
2281 ft · 34 sec
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15
Merge slight left onto South Sacramento Freeway
56.4 mi · 1 hr 5 min · South Sacramento Freeway
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16
Keep slight left
106.7 mi · 2 hr 2 min
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17
Take the exit slight right toward Belmont Avenue
1517 ft · 41 sec
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18
At the end of the road, turn left onto West Belmont Avenue
2.9 mi · 6 min · West Belmont Avenue
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19
Turn right onto North First Street
968 ft · 26 sec · North First Street
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20
Turn left onto East Washington Avenue
21 m · 3 sec · East Washington Avenue
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21
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.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
Sunny leaving Cottonwood and 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 319.8 miles (514.7 km) and usually takes 05h 17m 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?
Laguna is a useful midpoint, sitting about 157.5 miles from Cottonwood and 162.4 miles from Fresno.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 285.5 miles (459.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.3 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 6:26 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $70.69 one way or $141.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cottonwood and Sunny near Fresno.
Stop Ideas Near Laguna
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City of Sacramento
City of Elk Grove Special Waste Collection Center
Littleton Center
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Laguna.
Elk Grove, California
Sacramento (State Capitol), California
Sacramento Valley Station
Davis station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Cottonwood and Fresno. Straight-line distance: 285.53 mi (459.52 km).
#1 Cottonwood
Located in Shasta County at an elevation of 433 feet, this Northern California census-designated place is situated in the northern Sacramento Valley near where Cottonwood Creek meets the Sacramento River.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 40.3857100, -122.2808400 |
| Altitude | 132 |
| 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: 515 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 39m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 59m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 23m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 19m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 34m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 59m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $70.69 | $141.37 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $73.37 | $146.75 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $75.52 | $151.04 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $94.98 | $189.97 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026