Sacramento to Lassen VNP route suggestions

Question

We are flying into SMF in early September in the mid-afternoon, renting a car and driving to Lassen VNP. What is the best route to take? Any suggestions for where to stay overnight before heading to the park the next morning?

Answer

Great question! Driving from Sacramento (SMF) to Lassen Volcanic National Park in early September is very doable, and you’ll have some solid route options and places to stay along the way to set you up nicely for exploring the park the next day.

Route Suggestions from Sacramento to Lassen VNP

Here are a couple of good ways to drive from Sacramento to Lassen, depending on whether you prefer a more direct route or a scenic detour:

Scenic Route via SR-36 / Volcanic Legacy Byway: - From Sacramento, you can head north via CA-99 / I-5 and then pick up State Route 36 eastbound toward Chester / Susanville. SR-36 is part of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, so you’ll get lovely mountain and forest scenery. - From SR-36 you can connect to Lassen via SR-89 once you approach the park. SR-89 goes through park areas and gives you access to many of the key sights.
North Route via Redding and SR-44: - Another option is to drive from Sacramento up to Redding, then take SR-44 east toward the southwest entrance of Lassen. SR-44 is part of the same Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. - Once on SR-44, you’ll enter the park at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center area, which is a good starting point for day hikes and driving the park highway.

Estimated Time & Distance

The drive is roughly 170–175 miles, depending on route, and takes about 2½ to 3.5 hours depending on stops.

Where to Stay Overnight Before Heading into Lassen

Since you’ll arrive mid-afternoon, staying somewhere about halfway or just outside the park will make the next morning easier and more relaxed:

Chico, CA: This is a very common stop mentioned by other travelers. TripAdvisor users recommend avoiding I-5 and heading up to Chico for the night, then driving into Lassen from there. From Chico you’ll have a more pleasant, scenic drive on smaller highways instead of interstates.
Redding, CA: If you take the SR-44 route, Redding is a logical place to stay the night. It has plenty of lodging options, and from there it's a fairly direct drive on SR-44 to the park.
Gateway Towns Near Lassen: For a closer stay, consider spots like Chester (on Lake Almanor) or Susanville. According to park-area guides, these are good bases for exploring the park the next day. Also, from Reddit travelers: > “Hat Creek Resort … is the best place for proximity … but … if …supermarket or restaurants matter, stay in Chester.”

Additional Tips & Things to Know

Make sure to check the status of Lassen’s park roads before you go. The Lassen Volcanic Highway (the 30-mile scenic road) is the main route connecting key attractions, and road conditions or closures can change.
Fuel up before entering more remote parts — some sources note that gas can be limited near park entrances.
If you plan to explore in the afternoon after arrival, you can hit a few quick viewpoints like Sulphur Works, the Devastated Area, or Chaos Jumbles, then pick things up again the next morning.
Cell service can be spotty in parts of the park, so download park maps or ranger-audio guides ahead of time if possible.

Bottom Line

Your plan to drive from Sacramento, spend a night en route, then head into Lassen the next morning is very sensible. For a balance of scenery and convenience, stopping in Chico or Redding allows a more relaxed pace and sets you up well for good access to the park. Staying near the park (like in Chester) gives you maximum time in Lassen for hiking or exploring the geothermal areas.

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