Driving Cost from Bend, Oregon to Fairfax, California

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The Cost of a Trip: Bend, Oregon to Fairfax, California based on Current Gas Prices

Planning a road trip from Bend, Oregon to Fairfax, California can be both exciting and overwhelming. The trip covers a distance of approximately 565 miles and can take over 9 hours, depending on the route you choose. As you begin to plan the trip, the first factor to consider is the cost of the trip based on current gas prices. This article highlights the various routes you can take and the estimated costs for each.

Route 1: Oregon Coast

One route is to head west to the Oregon coast, driving along Highway 101. While this is the longest route to Fairfax, California, it is the most scenic. The Oregon coast is known for its dramatic coastline, pristine beaches, and charming towns. Along this route, you’ll pass through Bandon, Newport, and Lincoln City. Ultimately arriving in Redwood National Park, which is also a popular tourist destination. With a total distance of 686 miles, the estimated cost of gas for this route ranges from $108 to $165.

  • Distance: 686 miles
  • Estimated gas cost: $108 - $165 (depending on fuel efficiency)

Route 2: Interstate 5

This is the most direct route and the most commonly chosen route by drivers following the I-5 highway. It is a long and often monotonous drive through the mountains and valleys of Northern California. However, this is the fastest route to take. You’ll pass through cities like Eugene, Medford, Sacramento, and San Francisco before finally arriving in Fairfax. The entire trip can cost between $60 and $95 for gas depending on fuel efficiency.

  • Distance: 547 miles
  • Estimated gas cost: $60 - $95 (depending on fuel efficiency)

Route 3: Bend to Sacramento

This is another alternative route you can take which provides more sights and diversity than I-5. The journey would begin by driving south from Bend to Klamath Falls, then following Highway 139 West to Susanville, and continuing southbound on Highway 395. This route takes you through the Sierra Nevada mountains and offers stunning vistas. Once in Susanville, you can follow Highway 36, which takes you through Lassen National Forest before joining with Highway 99 and Highway 70, bringing you to Sacramento via Marysville and Yuba City. After visiting Sacramento, which is a fascinating city to explore, you can continue south along I-80 to reach Fairfax, California. The total cost of gas for the trip can range between $75 and $115 depending on fuel efficiency.

  • Distance: 598 miles
  • Estimated gas cost: $75 - $115 (depending on fuel efficiency)

Route 4: Scenic Lake Route

This route follows Highway 97 South before turning west onto Highway 98 and to Highway 139. At Susanville, take Highway 36 to reach Highway 99 South, bypassing Sacramento, and then taking Highway 80 West towards your final destination in Fairfax. This journey includes seeing the beautiful diamond-like lakes and national parks that provide stunning vistas as you drive along the shores of the Klamath lake and the Lassen Volcanic National Park. The total cost of gas for the trip can range between $85 and $135 depending on fuel efficiency.

  • Distance: 565 miles
  • Estimated gas cost: $85 - $135 (depending on fuel efficiency)

Best Route

It’s worth noting that the route you choose for your trip will likely depend on what sights you’re interested in seeing and how much time you have available. While I-5 is the most direct route, you may want to consider other scenic options like the Oregon coast route, which can take longer but provides amazing views.

The best balance of cost, time, and scenery is Route 3: Bend to Sacramento. This route has a little bit of everything with beautiful natural sights, small towns, and access to big cities. You can take a break in Sacramento to explore before resuming the trip to Fairfax. Furthermore, this option is hard to beat as it only takes roughly 10 hours to complete.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the cost of a trip between Bend, Oregon, and Fairfax, California, highly depends on the route you choose and the current gas prices. The four routes mentioned in this article range from a few miles short of 547 to almost 698 miles and estimated gas costs range from $60 to $165 depending on fuel efficiency. Hence Route 3: Bend to Sacramento, which covers 598 miles is the best route to take for this trip. It offers scenic landscapes, access to natural parks, small towns, and big cities while being a well-balanced itinerary for time, cost, and opportunity to explore different cities on this journey.