Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 59–82°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PDT Mostly sunny59°F Fairfield7:45 AM PDT Sunny64°F Willows9:15 AM PDT Sunny70°F Redding10:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny82°F Black Butte Summit11:30 AM PDT Sunny75°F Hebron Summit12 PM PDT Sunny76°F California–Oregon line12:30 PM PDT Mostly sunny72°F Klamath Falls12:45 PM PDT Sunny71°F Crater Lake2 PM PDT Sunny66°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 62–80°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PDT Partly sunny62°F Fairfield7:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny67°F Willows9:15 AM PDT Partly sunny70°F Redding10:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny80°F Black Butte Summit11:30 AM PDT Mostly cloudy75°F Hebron Summit12 PM PDT Cloudy77°F California–Oregon line12:30 PM PDT Mostly cloudy73°F Klamath Falls12:45 PM PDT Mostly cloudy72°F Crater Lake2 PM PDT Mostly sunny68°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 62–82°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PDT Mostly sunny62°F Fairfield7:45 AM PDT Sunny64°F Willows9:15 AM PDT Sunny70°F Redding10:15 AM PDT Sunny82°F Black Butte Summit11:30 AM PDT Sunny76°F Hebron Summit12 PM PDT Sunny77°F California–Oregon line12:30 PM PDT Sunny75°F Klamath Falls12:45 PM PDT Sunny74°F Crater Lake2 PM PDT Sunny66°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 62–85°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PDT Mostly sunny62°F Fairfield7:45 AM PDT Sunny64°F Willows9:15 AM PDT Sunny72°F Redding10:15 AM PDT Sunny85°F Black Butte Summit11:30 AM PDT Sunny75°F Hebron Summit12 PM PDT Sunny77°F California–Oregon line12:30 PM PDT Sunny74°F Klamath Falls12:45 PM PDT Sunny73°F Crater Lake2 PM PDT Sunny67°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 62–84°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PDT Mostly sunny62°F Fairfield7:45 AM PDT Sunny65°F Willows9:15 AM PDT Sunny72°F Redding10:15 AM PDT Sunny84°F Black Butte Summit11:30 AM PDT Sunny75°F Hebron Summit12 PM PDT Sunny77°F California–Oregon line12:30 PM PDT Sunny74°F Klamath Falls12:45 PM PDT Sunny74°F Crater Lake2 PM PDT Sunny69°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 63–84°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PDT Partly sunny63°F Fairfield7:45 AM PDT Sunny65°F Willows9:15 AM PDT Sunny72°F Redding10:15 AM PDT Sunny84°F Black Butte Summit11:30 AM PDT Sunny75°F Hebron Summit12 PM PDT Sunny76°F California–Oregon line12:30 PM PDT Sunny73°F Klamath Falls12:45 PM PDT Sunny73°F Crater Lake2 PM PDT Sunny68°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 57–80°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Francisco7 AM PDT Partly sunny61°F Fairfield7:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny63°F Willows9:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny70°F Redding10:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny80°F Black Butte Summit11:30 AM PDT Sunny69°F Hebron Summit12 PM PDT Mostly sunny71°F California–Oregon line12:30 PM PDT Sunny70°F Klamath Falls12:45 PM PDT Sunny69°F Crater Lake2 PM PDT Mostly sunny57°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from San Francisco (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- San Francisco, CAStart 79 ftelevation
- Fairfield, CAMile 45 · 47 min 14 ftelevation
- Willows, CAMile 138 · 2 h 13 min 136 ftelevation
- Redding, CAMile 214 · 3 h 22 min 564 ftelevation
- Black Butte Summit, CAMountain pass · Mile 277 · 4 h 24 min 3,912 ftelevation
- Hebron Summit, CAMountain pass · Mile 313 · 5 h 1 min 5,223 ftelevation
- California–Oregon lineState line · Mile 337 · 5 h 27 min 4,190 ftelevation
- Klamath Falls, ORMile 353 · 5 h 43 min 4,107 ftelevation
- Crater Lake, ORMile 412 · 6 h 58 min 7,126 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at San Francisco, Klamath Falls and Crater Lake.
| Month | San Francisco 150 ft | Klamath Falls Keno station · 4,128 ft | Crater Lake Crater Lake Nps Hq station · 6,485 ft | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 58° / 47° | 41° / 21° | 4.9 | 33° / 20° | 14.3 |
| Feb | 60° / 48° | 46° / 23° | 3.9 | 34° / 19° | 13.2 |
| Mar | 62° / 49° | 52° / 26° | 2.9 | 36° / 20° | 13.6 |
| Apr | 63° / 50° | 58° / 30° | 1.1 | 40° / 23° | 11.6 |
| May | 64° / 51° | 68° / 37° | 0.1 | 49° / 29° | 4.4 |
| Jun | 67° / 53° | 77° / 43° | 0 | 57° / 34° | 1.4 |
| Jul | 66° / 54° | 88° / 49° | 0 | 69° / 41° | 0 |
| Aug | 68° / 56° | 87° / 47° | 0 | 69° / 42° | 0 |
| Sep | 70° / 56° | 79° / 39° | 0 | 63° / 37° | 0.5 |
| Oct | 70° / 54° | 64° / 31° | 0.2 | 51° / 30° | 3.5 |
| Nov | 64° / 51° | 49° / 25° | 2.6 | 38° / 23° | 10.4 |
| Dec | 58° / 47° | 40° / 21° | 5.9 | 33° / 19° | 14.3 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: SAN FRANCISCO DWTN (USW00023272, 150 ft); KENO (USC00354403, 4,128 ft); CRATER LAKE NPS HQ (USC00351946, 6,485 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for California and Oregon rather than repeat them.
- California · CaltransQuickMap conditions and cameras
- California · winter rulesChain controls
- Oregon · ODOTTripCheck road conditions
- Oregon · winter rulesChain laws
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from San Francisco to Crater Lake with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from San Francisco to Crater Lake?
412 miles, about 7 hours of driving without stops, by way of I-5 and US-97. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Crater Lake, at 7,126 ft. It comes at mile 412, about 6 h 58 min of driving after you leave San Francisco.
Does it snow at Crater Lake in November?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Crater Lake Nps Hq (6,485 ft), averages 59.3 inches of snow in November, with about 10 days of 1 inch or more (1991–2020 normals).