How far is Eureka, CA from Willow Creek, CA?

The driving distance from Eureka, CA to Willow Creek, CA is about 47.5 miles (76.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 29.4 miles (47.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 56m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
47.46 mi
00h 58m
Flight
29.38 mi
47.29 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Eureka.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
29.38 mi
Kilometers
47.29 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
47.46 mi
Kilometers
76.38 km
Drive Time
00h 58m

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 00h 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Willow Creek
Thu, Oct 15, 11:33 AM PDT
Return by in Eureka
Thu, Oct 15, 12:31 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Eureka
2026-10-15T10:34
Arrive Willow Creek
Thu, Oct 15, 11:33 AM PDT
Route Timing
00h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:58 AM to 10:58 AM PDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:34 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Eureka
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

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.

Mid-route stop
Blue Lake
CA

City in California

From Eureka
23.7 mi
00h 29m
To Willow Creek
23.8 mi
00h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph NE
Destination
86°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 10:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Eureka and Willow Creek.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Eureka and Willow Creek.

  1. 1

    Start on H Street

    28 m · 7 sec · H Street

  2. 2

    Turn left

    97 m · 28 sec

  3. 3

    Turn left onto I Street

    48 m · 9 sec · I Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto 5th Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · 5th Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Redwood Highway

    8.7 mi · 12 min · Redwood Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 299 East: Blue Lake, Willow Creek

    1744 ft · 43 sec

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    37.6 mi · 43 min

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Bigfoot Scenic Byway

    21 m · 1 sec · Bigfoot Scenic Byway

  9. 9

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Bigfoot Scenic Byway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Eureka and Willow Creek.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
9 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
CA 299 East
38 mi · 80%
Redwood Highway
8.67 mi · 18%
5th Street
0.71 mi · 2%
I Street
0.03 mi
H Street
0.02 mi
Bigfoot Scenic Byway
0.01 mi
Longest Stretch

CA 299 East

Continue straight

37.6 mi · 00h 43m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 58m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.1 mi
29.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Blue Lake
00h 29m from Eureka
Leave By
4:34 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Eureka and Sunny near Willow Creek.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Eureka to Willow Creek?

The road trip is about 47.5 miles (76.4 km) and usually takes 00h 58m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Blue Lake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 23.7 miles from Eureka and 23.8 miles from Willow Creek.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 29.4 miles (47.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:34 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.46 one way or $20.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Eureka and Sunny near Willow Creek.

Stop Ideas Near Blue Lake

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Blue Lake, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Blue Lake.

BUS

Arcata (Transit Center), California

9 mi away
925 E Street
BUS

McKinleyville (Arcata Airport), California

15 mi away
3561 Boeing Ave
BUS

Eureka, California

18 mi away
Sixth and C Sts.
BUS

Fortuna, California

35 mi away
719 South Fortuna Blvd

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Eureka and Willow Creek. Straight-line distance: 29.38 mi (47.29 km).

Eureka

#1 Eureka

City in and county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States

Population26,652
Coordinates40.8020700, -124.1636700
Altitude12
CountryUnited States
Willow Creek

#2 Willow Creek

Census-designated place in Humboldt County, California

Population1,710
Coordinates40.9395800, -123.6314400
Altitude186
CountryUnited States
Start: Eureka (-124.16367, 40.80207)
End: Willow Creek (-123.63144, 40.93958)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 76 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.67 gal
6.34 L · about $10.46
Round trip
$20.91
3.34 gal · 12.68 L
Estimated CO2
14.8 kg one way
Round trip: 29.7 kg / 65 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $6.26 $10.46 $20.91
Mid-grade $6.50 $10.85 $21.71
Premium $6.69 $11.17 $22.34
Diesel $8.41 $14.05 $28.10

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

There is no time difference between Eureka and Willow Creek. The current time is 10:34:58.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.