How far is Penn Valley, CA from Grass Valley, CA?
The driving distance from Penn Valley, CA to Grass Valley, CA is about 8.7 miles (14 km), with a travel time of about 00h 15m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 7.1 miles (11.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 15m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
Census-designated place in Nevada County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Penn Valley and Grass Valley.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Penn Valley and Grass Valley.
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1
Start on Willow Lane
121 m · 23 sec · Willow Lane
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2
Turn left onto Lasso Loop
817 ft · 39 sec · Lasso Loop
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3
Turn right onto Horton Street
1647 ft · 1 min · Horton Street
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4
At the end of the road, turn right onto Penn Valley Drive
1.3 km · 1 min · Penn Valley Drive
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5
At the end of the road, turn left onto Penn Valley Drive
2973 ft · 60 sec · Penn Valley Drive
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6
Turn right onto Eric Rood Memorial Expressway
5.7 mi · 7 min · Eric Rood Memorial Expressway
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7
Take the exit left
1037 ft · 15 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Golden Center Freeway
636 ft · 9 sec · Golden Center Freeway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward CA 174
993 ft · 14 sec
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10
Keep slight left to continue on CA 174
51 m · 5 sec
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11
Turn left onto South Auburn Street
1297 ft · 33 sec · South Auburn Street
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12
Turn right onto East Main Street
104 m · 10 sec · East Main Street
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13
Turn right onto Stewart Street
36 m · 5 sec · Stewart Street
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14
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Stewart Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Penn Valley and Grass Valley.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Eric Rood Memorial Expressway
Turn right onto Eric Rood Memorial Expressway
5.7 mi · 00h 07m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Sunny leaving Penn Valley and Mostly Sunny near Grass Valley.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Penn Valley to Grass Valley?
The road trip is about 8.7 miles (14 km) and usually takes 00h 15m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Lake Wildwood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 4.2 miles from Penn Valley and 4.5 miles from Grass Valley.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 7.1 miles (11.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.6 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:00 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.79 one way or $3.58 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 2.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Penn Valley and Mostly Sunny near Grass Valley.
Stop Ideas Near Lake Wildwood
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 Lake Wildwood.
Grass Valley, California
Colfax
Marysville, California
Auburn
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Penn Valley and Grass Valley. Straight-line distance: 7.14 mi (11.49 km).
#1 Penn Valley
Census-designated place in Nevada County, California
| Population | 1,621 |
| Coordinates | 39.1960000, -121.1910700 |
| Altitude | 427 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Grass Valley
City in Nevada County, California, United States
| Population | 12,763 |
| Coordinates | 39.2190600, -121.0610600 |
| Altitude | 735 |
| Country | United States |
End: Stewart Street (-121.060877, 39.219076)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 14 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 17m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 13m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 10m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 08m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 07m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 06m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $1.79 | $3.58 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $1.88 | $3.76 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $1.94 | $3.87 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $2.35 | $4.69 |
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 25, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.