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

The driving distance from Fresno, CA to Willow Creek, CA is about 430.2 miles (692.3 km), with a travel time of about 08h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 356.3 miles (573.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
430.16 mi
08h 13m
Flight
356.3 mi
573.41 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
356.3 mi
Kilometers
573.41 km
Flight Time
00h 43m

Driving Distance

Road route
430.16 mi
Kilometers
692.27 km
Drive Time
08h 13m

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 08h 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Willow Creek
Sun, May 31, 12:25 PM PDT
Return by in Fresno
Sun, May 31, 8:38 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fresno
2026-05-31T04:12
Arrive Willow Creek
Sun, May 31, 12:25 PM PDT
Route Timing
08h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:13 PM to 3:43 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
7:34 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fresno
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

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
Arbuckle
CA

Census-designated place in Colusa County, California

From Fresno
215.1 mi
04h 06m
To Willow Creek
215.1 mi
04h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW
Destination
75°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 9 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    44.1 mi · 51 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 50 West, US 50 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe

    2549 ft · 34 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on US 50 West: San Francisco

    1.3 km · 1 min

  14. 14

    Continue on Capital City Freeway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Capital City Freeway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles, Redding

    803 ft · 15 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on I 5 North: Redding

    1407 ft · 30 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I 5: Redding

    1615 ft · 39 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    6.7 mi · 8 min · Westside Freeway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway

    120.9 mi · 2 hr 10 min · Westside Freeway

  20. 20

    Continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway

    31.6 mi · 34 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 44: Eureka, Susanville

    915 ft · 16 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on CA 44 West: Eureka, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

    1.5 km · 1 min

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Pine Street

    149 m · 18 sec · Pine Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Eureka Way

    25 mi · 30 min · Eureka Way

  26. 26

    Continue straight

    74 mi · 1 hr 28 min

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Bigfoot Scenic Byway

    21 m · 1 sec · Bigfoot Scenic Byway

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Bigfoot Scenic Byway

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
28 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
128 mi · 30%
Eureka Way
99 mi · 23%
Northbound California State Route 99
84.6 mi · 20%
Old U.S. Route 99E
45.4 mi · 11%
Cascade Wonderland Highway
31.6 mi · 7%
Avenue 7
21.9 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway

121 mi · 02h 10m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
08h 13m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
16h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+73.9 mi
356.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Arbuckle
04h 06m from Fresno
Leave By
7:34 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Fresno 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 Fresno to Willow Creek?

The road trip is about 430.2 miles (692.3 km) and usually takes 08h 13m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Arbuckle is a useful midpoint, sitting about 215.1 miles from Fresno and 215.1 miles from Willow Creek.

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

The direct path is about 356.3 miles (573.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 73.9 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 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $87.57 one way or $175.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 134.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Arbuckle

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Arbuckle and the surrounding midpoint area.
Denny's
Coffee break 10.1 mi away

Denny's

Dunnigan , CA
30003 County Road 8, Dunnigan, CA 95937, United States
Rating 3.8/5 651 reviews Diner,American restaurant,Breakfast restaurant
Northview Park
Scenic stop 13.3 mi away

Northview Park

Williams , CA
180 Virginia St, Williams, CA 95987, United States
Rating 4.5/5 115 reviews Tourist attraction,Park
Pilot Travel Center
Practical stop 10.1 mi away

Pilot Travel Center

Dunnigan , CA
30035 County Road 8, Dunnigan, CA 95937, United States
Rating 4.2/5 2,934 reviews Truck stop,Convenience store,Gas station
Stop photo coming soon
Meeting point 12.7 mi away

City Clerk

Williams , CA
810 E St, Williams, CA 95987, United States
City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Arbuckle.

BUS

Marysville, California

42 mi away
I Street between 8th and 9th
RAIL

Davis station

60 mi away
840 Second Street
RAIL

Sacramento Valley Station

68 mi away
401 I Street
BUS

Sacramento (State Capitol), California

69 mi away
1389 10th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fresno and Willow Creek. Straight-line distance: 356.3 mi (573.41 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
Willow Creek

#2 Willow Creek

Census-designated place in Humboldt County, California

Population1,710
Coordinates40.9395800, -123.6314400
Altitude186
CountryUnited States
Start: Fresno (-119.77237, 36.74773)
End: Willow Creek (-123.63144, 40.93958)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 692 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 08m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.18 gal
57.46 L · about $87.57
Round trip
$175.15
30.36 gal · 114.92 L
Estimated CO2
134.9 kg one way
Round trip: 269.8 kg / 595 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $87.57 $175.15
Mid-grade $6.07 $92.08 $184.16
Premium $6.24 $94.77 $189.54
Diesel $7.57 $114.87 $229.73

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 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Fresno and Willow Creek. The current time is 04:12:02.

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.