How far is Redding, CA from Chico, CA?

The driving distance from Redding, CA to Chico, CA is about 72.9 miles (117.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 31m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 66.1 miles (106.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 02m 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
72.92 mi
01h 31m
Flight
66.11 mi
106.4 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Redding.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
66.11 mi
Kilometers
106.4 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
72.92 mi
Kilometers
117.35 km
Drive Time
01h 31m

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 01h 31m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chico
Thu, Oct 15, 12:51 PM PDT
Return by in Redding
Thu, Oct 15, 2:22 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Redding
2026-10-15T11:20
Arrive Chico
Thu, Oct 15, 12:51 PM PDT
Route Timing
01h 31m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:31 AM to 11:31 AM PDT

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

Leave by
3:28 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Redding
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
Red Bluff
CA

County seat of Tehama County, California, United States

From Redding
36.5 mi
00h 45m
To Chico
36.5 mi
00h 45m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph N
Destination
92°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 8:00 AM PDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Redding and Chico.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Redding and Chico.

  1. 1

    Start on South Market Street

    136 m · 22 sec · South Market Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Tehama Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Tehama Street

  3. 3

    Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South: Sacramento

    3233 ft · 55 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway

    31.8 mi · 34 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Westside Freeway

    3.9 mi · 4 min · Westside Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Proberta, Gerber, Flores Avenue

    1537 ft · 33 sec

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Flores Avenue

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Flores Avenue

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Road 99W

    109 m · 11 sec · Road 99W

  9. 9

    Turn left onto San Benito Avenue

    4.5 mi · 8 min · San Benito Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on 5th Street

    791 ft · 32 sec · 5th Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto C Street

    1600 ft · 55 sec · C Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Aramayo Way

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Aramayo Way

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Railroad Avenue

    7.8 mi · 10 min · Railroad Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left

    16.8 mi · 20 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward East First Avenue

    1051 ft · 15 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto East 1st Avenue

    2203 ft · 1 min · East 1st Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Mangrove Avenue

    3273 ft · 2 min · Mangrove Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto East 3rd Street

    1029 ft · 34 sec · East 3rd Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Flume Street

    658 ft · 31 sec · Flume Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto East 5th Street

    531 ft · 23 sec · East 5th Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 5th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Redding and Chico.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

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.

Directions
21 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
28.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Cascade Wonderland Highway
31.8 mi · 44%
Railroad Avenue
7.81 mi · 11%
San Benito Avenue
4.55 mi · 6%
Westside Freeway
3.86 mi · 5%
Flores Avenue
2.61 mi · 4%
Tehama Street
1.29 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Cascade Wonderland Highway

Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway

31.8 mi · 00h 34m

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
01h 31m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.8 mi
66.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Red Bluff
00h 45m from Redding
Leave By
3:28 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Redding and Sunny near Chico.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Redding to Chico?

The road trip is about 72.9 miles (117.4 km) and usually takes 01h 31m 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?

Red Bluff is a useful midpoint, sitting about 36.5 miles from Redding and 36.5 miles from Chico.

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

The direct path is about 66.1 miles (106.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.8 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 3:28 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.09 one way or $32.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 22.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Redding and Sunny near Chico.

Stop Ideas Near Red Bluff

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

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

BUS

Red Bluff, California

2 mi away
228 S. Main Street
BUS

Corning, California

28 mi away
1081 Solano Street
RAIL

Redding station

47 mi away
1620 Yuba Street
BUS

Redding (RABA Transit Center), California

47 mi away
1530 Yuba Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Redding and Chico. Straight-line distance: 66.11 mi (106.4 km).

Redding

#1 Redding

The most populous city in Shasta County, California.

Population92,456
Coordinates40.5865400, -122.3916800
Altitude172
CountryUnited States
Chico

#2 Chico

The most populous city in Butte County, California.

Population102,867
Coordinates39.7284900, -121.8374800
Altitude60
CountryUnited States
Start: Redding (-122.39168, 40.58654)
End: Chico (-121.83748, 39.72849)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 117 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.57 gal
9.74 L · about $16.09
Round trip
$32.18
5.14 gal · 19.48 L
Estimated CO2
22.8 kg one way
Round trip: 45.7 kg / 101 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $6.26 $16.09 $32.18
Mid-grade $6.50 $16.70 $33.40
Premium $6.69 $17.19 $34.38
Diesel $8.41 $21.62 $43.24

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 Redding and Chico. The current time is 11:20:26.

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.