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

The driving distance from Willow Creek, CA to Fresno, CA is about 435 miles (700.1 km), with a travel time of about 07h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 356.3 miles (573.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 12m 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
435.02 mi
07h 36m
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 Willow Creek.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
356.3 mi
Kilometers
573.41 km
Flight Time
00h 43m

Driving Distance

Road route
435.02 mi
Kilometers
700.1 km
Drive Time
07h 36m

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 07h 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fresno
Sun, May 31, 10:34 AM PDT
Return by in Willow Creek
Sun, May 31, 6:10 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Willow Creek
2026-05-31T02:58
Arrive Fresno
Sun, May 31, 10:34 AM PDT
Route Timing
07h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:36 PM to 3:06 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
8:48 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Willow Creek
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 Willow Creek
215 mi
03h 48m
To Fresno
220 mi
03h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 9 mph NNW
Destination
88°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Bigfoot Scenic Byway

    21 m · 9 sec · Bigfoot Scenic Byway

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Trinity Highway / CA Hwy 299

    98.6 mi · 1 hr 57 min · Trinity Highway / CA Hwy 299

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Court Street

    888 ft · 25 sec · Court Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Tehama Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Tehama Street

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South: Sacramento

    3233 ft · 55 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway

    31.8 mi · 34 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Westside Freeway

    93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway

    15.7 mi · 17 min · Westside Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway

    18.6 mi · 21 min · Westside Freeway

  10. 10

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

    2110 ft · 28 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on US 50 East: Fresno

    1936 ft · 33 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on US 50 East: Fresno

    3077 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Capital City Freeway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Capital City Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway

    1383 ft · 18 sec · Capital City Freeway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 99 South: Fresno

    2281 ft · 34 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto South Sacramento Freeway

    56.4 mi · 1 hr 5 min · South Sacramento Freeway

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    106.7 mi · 2 hr 2 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Belmont Avenue

    1517 ft · 41 sec

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn left onto West Belmont Avenue

    2.9 mi · 6 min · West Belmont Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn right onto North First Street

    968 ft · 26 sec · North First Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto East Washington Avenue

    21 m · 3 sec · East Washington Avenue

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Washington Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Sacramento Freeway
163 mi · 38%
Westside Freeway
127 mi · 29%
Trinity Highway / CA Hwy 299
98.6 mi · 23%
Cascade Wonderland Highway
31.8 mi · 7%
West Belmont Avenue
2.95 mi · 1%
Tehama Street
1.56 mi
Longest Stretch

South Sacramento Freeway

Keep slight left

107 mi · 02h 02m

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
07h 36m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
15h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+78.7 mi
356.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Arbuckle
03h 48m from Willow Creek
Leave By
8:48 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Willow Creek and Sunny near Fresno.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 435 miles (700.1 km) and usually takes 07h 36m 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 miles from Willow Creek and 220 miles from Fresno.

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 78.7 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 $88.55 one way or $177.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 136.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 9.9 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 13.5 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 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 12.9 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 Willow Creek and Fresno. Straight-line distance: 356.3 mi (573.41 km).

Willow Creek

#1 Willow Creek

Census-designated place in Humboldt County, California

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

#2 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
Start: Bigfoot Scenic Byway (-123.631395, 40.939569)
End: East Washington Avenue (-119.77237, 36.747738)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 700 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.35 gal
58.11 L · about $88.55
Round trip
$177.11
30.7 gal · 116.22 L
Estimated CO2
136.4 kg one way
Round trip: 272.8 kg / 601 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $88.55 $177.11
Mid-grade $6.07 $93.11 $186.23
Premium $6.24 $95.83 $191.66
Diesel $7.57 $116.15 $232.31

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 Willow Creek and Fresno. The current time is 02:58:07.

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.