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

The driving distance from Willow Creek, CA to Fortuna, CA is about 65.1 miles (104.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 36.2 miles (58.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 38m 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
65.13 mi
01h 19m
Flight
36.24 mi
58.33 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Willow Creek.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
36.24 mi
Kilometers
58.33 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
65.13 mi
Kilometers
104.82 km
Drive Time
01h 19m

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 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fortuna
Thu, Oct 15, 1:48 PM PDT
Return by in Willow Creek
Thu, Oct 15, 3:07 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Willow Creek
2026-10-15T12:29
Arrive Fortuna
Thu, Oct 15, 1:48 PM PDT
Route Timing
01h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:19 AM to 11:19 AM PDT

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

Leave by
3:52 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Willow Creek
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 Willow Creek
32.4 mi
00h 39m
To Fortuna
32.7 mi
00h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 10:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph SSE
Destination
75°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 6 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Bigfoot Scenic Byway

    21 m · 5 sec · Bigfoot Scenic Byway

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Trinity Highway

    37.6 mi · 43 min · Trinity Highway

  3. 3

    Keep slight left

    2140 ft · 47 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway

    8.5 mi · 11 min · Redwood Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on 4th Street

    1.5 mi · 4 min · 4th Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Broadway Street

    3 mi · 6 min · Broadway Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Redwood Highway

    13.1 mi · 15 min · Redwood Highway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 101 Business: Main Street

    1.5 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Turn left onto 9th Street

    45 m · 9 sec · 9th Street

  10. 10

    Turn right

    24 m · 6 sec

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
11 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Trinity Highway
38 mi · 58%
Redwood Highway
21.6 mi · 33%
Broadway Street
2.95 mi · 5%
4th Street
1.55 mi · 2%
US 101 Business
0.94 mi · 1%
9th Street
0.03 mi
Longest Stretch

Trinity Highway

Turn right onto Trinity Highway

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
01h 19m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.9 mi
36.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Blue Lake
00h 39m from Willow Creek
Leave By
3:52 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Willow Creek and Sunny near Fortuna.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 65.1 miles (104.8 km) and usually takes 01h 19m 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 32.4 miles from Willow Creek and 32.7 miles from Fortuna.

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

The direct path is about 36.2 miles (58.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:52 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.40 one way or $28.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 20.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Willow Creek and Fortuna. Straight-line distance: 36.24 mi (58.33 km).

Willow Creek

#1 Willow Creek

Census-designated place in Humboldt County, California

Population1,710
Coordinates40.9395800, -123.6314400
Altitude186
CountryUnited States
Fortuna

#2 Fortuna

City in the United States of America

Population12,107
Coordinates40.5981900, -124.1572800
Altitude20
CountryUnited States
Start: Bigfoot Scenic Byway (-123.631395, 40.939569)
End: (-124.157283, 40.598392)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 105 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 55m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 48m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.3 gal
8.7 L · about $14.40
Round trip
$28.80
4.6 gal · 17.4 L
Estimated CO2
20.4 kg one way
Round trip: 40.9 kg / 90 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $6.26 $14.40 $28.80
Mid-grade $6.50 $14.95 $29.90
Premium $6.69 $15.38 $30.77
Diesel $8.41 $19.35 $38.70

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 Willow Creek and Fortuna. The current time is 12:29:22.

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.