How far is Fresno, CA from Colfax, CA?

The driving distance from Fresno, CA to Colfax, CA is about 216.1 miles (347.7 km), with a travel time of about 04h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 174.9 miles (281.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
216.08 mi
04h 12m
Flight
174.85 mi
281.39 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fresno.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
174.85 mi
Kilometers
281.39 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
216.08 mi
Kilometers
347.74 km
Drive Time
04h 12m

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 04h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Colfax
Tue, May 5, 4:39 AM PDT
Return by in Fresno
Tue, May 5, 8:51 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fresno
2026-05-05T00:27
Arrive Colfax
Tue, May 5, 4:39 AM PDT
Route Timing
04h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:12 AM to 12:12 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:36 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fresno
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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
Ripon
CA

City in California

From Fresno
108.1 mi
02h 06m
To Colfax
108 mi
02h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Tuesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
61°F
Tuesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Fresno and Colfax.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fresno and Colfax.

  1. 1

    Start on East Washington Avenue

    9 m · 3 sec · East Washington Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North First Street

    968 ft · 23 sec · North First Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Belmont Avenue

    2.9 mi · 6 min · East Belmont Avenue

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right toward CA 99 North

    965 ft · 23 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    9.4 mi · 11 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7

    2522 ft · 31 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    21.4 mi · 24 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99

    84.6 mi · 1 hr 38 min · Northbound California State Route 99

  9. 9

    Continue on Golden State Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Golden State Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Old U.S. Route 99E

    1.3 mi · 1 min · Old U.S. Route 99E

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    44.7 mi · 52 min

  12. 12

    Continue on Capital City Freeway

    8.9 mi · 10 min · Capital City Freeway

  13. 13

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    7 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway

    32.6 mi · 38 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 174 West: Colfax, Grass Valley

    122 m · 10 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Canyon Way

    129 m · 10 sec · Canyon Way

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Colfax Overcrossing

    599 ft · 15 sec · Colfax Overcrossing

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Colfax Highway

    93 m · 8 sec · Colfax Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on South Auburn Avenue

    1225 ft · 34 sec · South Auburn Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Grassvalley Street

    152 m · 18 sec · Grassvalley Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    40 m · 6 sec · South Main Street

  22. 22

    Turn right

    10 m · 3 sec

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fresno and Colfax.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
23 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Northbound California State Route 99
84.6 mi · 39%
Old U.S. Route 99E
46 mi · 21%
Alan S. Hart Freeway
32.6 mi · 15%
Avenue 7
21.9 mi · 10%
CA 99 North
9.59 mi · 4%
Capital City Freeway
8.86 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Northbound California State Route 99

Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99

84.6 mi · 01h 38m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
04h 12m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.2 mi
174.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ripon
02h 06m from Fresno
Leave By
8:36 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Fresno and Partly Sunny near Colfax.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fresno to Colfax?

The road trip is about 216.1 miles (347.7 km) and usually takes 04h 12m 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?

Ripon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 108.1 miles from Fresno and 108 miles from Colfax.

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

The direct path is about 174.9 miles (281.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.2 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 8:36 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.96 one way or $87.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 67.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Fresno and Partly Sunny near Colfax.

Stop Ideas Near Ripon

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Ripon, 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 Ripon.

RAIL

Manteca, CA

14 mi away
17800 Shideler Parkway
RAIL

Modesto station

20 mi away
1700 Held Drive
RAIL

Stockton – San Joaquin Street

27 mi away
735 S. San Joaquin St
RAIL

Robert J. Cabral Station

27 mi away
949 East Channel St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fresno and Colfax. Straight-line distance: 174.85 mi (281.39 km).

Fresno

#1 Fresno

The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Fresno metropolitan area.

Population530,267
Coordinates36.7477300, -119.7723700
Altitude94
CountryUnited States
Colfax

#2 Colfax

City in California, USA

Population2,009
Coordinates39.1007300, -120.9532800
Altitude739
CountryUnited States
Start: Fresno (-119.77237, 36.74773)
End: Colfax (-120.95328, 39.10073)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 348 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.62 gal
28.86 L · about $43.96
Round trip
$87.92
15.24 gal · 57.72 L
Estimated CO2
67.7 kg one way
Round trip: 135.4 kg / 299 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $43.96 $87.92
Mid-grade $6.07 $46.22 $92.45
Premium $6.24 $47.57 $95.14
Diesel $7.57 $57.66 $115.32

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 · May 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Fresno and Colfax. The current time is 00:27:11.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

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