Chico DMVDriving Test Practice Routes
107 Parmac Rd #1, Chico, CA 95926
Within two miles of Chico DMV there are 74 sets of traffic lights, 12 all-way stops and 7 railroad crossings. About 13 miles of streets are one-way. Cohasset Road runs close to the office, up to 5 lanes wide in places and signed at 40 mph.
Start with the practice routes just below, then see how far a test can reach and how you'll leave the office.
Chico road test practice routes
Practice loops that start and finish at the DMV, each built from Chico's real streets and harder than the last.
These are practice loops we planned. They aren't official DMV test routes. Drive with a licensed supervisor, and follow the signs and conditions on the day, which may differ from the map.
Stage 1: Quiet streets
Mostly residential streets around Rio Lindo Ave and Mission Ranch Blvd, with few traffic lights. Start here for your first few drives.
- Length
- 3.6 mi
- Approx. time
- 12 min
- Turns
- 12
- 2 sets of lights, with 2 left turns at them
- 6 stop signs
- 3.3 miles of residential streets
Send it to your phoneScan to open this route in Google Maps, or open it here.
Google Maps can pick slightly different streets between our stops, so check it against the map here. It works best in the Google Maps app.
Turn-by-turn directions (14 steps)
- Leave the DMV and head north on Parmac Road. 0.2 mi
- Turn left onto Rio Lindo Avenue. 0.5 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Esplanade. 0.1 mi
- At the lights, turn left onto Mission Ranch Boulevard. 0.5 mi
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Holly Avenue. 0.5 mi
- At the stop sign, turn left onto West 11th Avenue. 0.5 mi
- Turn right onto Magnolia Avenue. 450 ft
- Turn left onto West 10th Avenue. 0.1 mi
- At the stop sign, continue onto East 10th Avenue. 0.5 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto East Lindo Avenue. 200 ft
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Mangrove Avenue. 0.1 mi
- At the lights, turn left onto Cohasset Road. 500 ft
- Turn right onto Rio Lindo Avenue. 0.3 mi
- Turn left onto Parmac Road and return to the DMV. 0.2 mi
Stage 2: Stop signs and lights
Along Cohasset Rd and West East Ave, with 18 sets of lights.
- Length
- 4.9 mi
- Approx. time
- 17 min
- Turns
- 9
- 18 sets of lights, with 2 left turns and 2 right turns at them
- 1 stop sign
- Multi-lane driving on Esplanade
- 1.0 miles of residential streets
Send it to your phoneScan to open this route in Google Maps, or open it here.
Google Maps can pick slightly different streets between our stops, so check it against the map here. It works best in the Google Maps app.
Turn-by-turn directions (11 steps)
- Leave the DMV and head south on Parmac Road. 0.1 mi
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Cohasset Road. 1.2 mi Straight through 5 sets of lights.
- Turn left onto Pillsbury Road. 0.5 mi
- At the lights, turn right onto East Avenue. 0.8 mi Straight through 5 sets of lights.
- At the lights, continue onto West East Avenue. 0.6 mi Straight through 1 set of lights.
- Turn right onto Ilahee Lane. 0.1 mi
- Turn left onto Cussick Avenue. 450 ft
- At the lights, turn left onto West East Avenue. 0.6 mi Straight through 1 set of lights.
- At the lights, turn right onto Esplanade. 0.5 mi Straight through 1 set of lights.
- At the lights, turn left onto Cohasset Road. 0.2 mi
- Turn left onto Parmac Road and return to the DMV. 0.1 mi
Stage 3: Test-ready loop
Everything together over about 6 miles, including Cohasset Rd and East Lassen Ave.
- Length
- 6.4 mi
- Approx. time
- 20 min
- Turns
- 12
- 15 sets of lights, with 2 left turns and 4 right turns at them
- 1 all-way stop
- 4 stop signs
- Multi-lane driving on Cohasset Rd
- 3.4 miles of residential streets
Send it to your phoneScan to open this route in Google Maps, or open it here.
Google Maps can pick slightly different streets between our stops, so check it against the map here. It works best in the Google Maps app.
Turn-by-turn directions (13 steps)
- Leave the DMV and head south on Parmac Road. 0.1 mi
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Cohasset Road. 2.1 mi Straight through 7 sets of lights.
- At the lights, turn right onto East Lassen Avenue. 0.8 mi
- Turn left onto El Paso Way. 0.4 mi Straight through 1 all-way stop.
- At the lights, turn right onto East Avenue. 0.3 mi Straight through 2 sets of lights.
- At the lights, turn left onto Connors Avenue. 0.3 mi
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Esplanade. 0.2 mi
- At the lights, turn right onto Mission Ranch Boulevard. 0.5 mi
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Holly Avenue. 0.5 mi
- At the stop sign, turn left onto West 11th Avenue. 0.6 mi
- At the lights, turn left onto Esplanade. 0.2 mi
- At the lights, turn right onto Cohasset Road. 0.2 mi
- Turn left onto Parmac Road and return to the DMV. 0.1 mi
Where the Chico DMV drive test can go
Every drive test starts and finishes at the office, so the closer a road is, the more likely you are to drive it. The shading shows how long each road takes to reach from the DMV.
Within a 6-minute drive
- 39sets of traffic lights
- 4all-way stops
- 10schools
Main roads in the area: Esplanade, Cohasset Rd, West East Ave, East Ave, Mangrove Ave, East 1st Ave, West 8th Ave and East 5th Ave.
Drive times are our estimates from speed limits, with time added for lights and stops. They aren't DMV figures.
Leaving and returning to Chico DMV
The parking lot and the first junction are the only parts of the route you can be sure of. The office is on Parmac Rd #1.
In the parking lot
The test sheet scores how you drive through the lot, so watch for people and cars, keep it slow, and take extra care reversing out of your space.
North to Rio Lindo Ave
0.2 mi along Parmac Rd to Rio Lindo Avenue.
South to Cohasset Rd
0.1 mi along Parmac Rd to Cohasset Road.
The roads around Chico DMV
What you'll be dealing with near the office, counted from map data within 2 miles.
Sets of traffic lights
Most are on Esplanade and East Ave.
All-way stops
West 5th St has 3 of them.
Schools
The limit near a school drops to 25 mph when children are around.
One-way streets
Check the arrows before every turn, and start from the correct side of the road.
Railroad crossings
Look both ways, never stop on the tracks, and wait if there isn't room on the other side.
Roundabouts
Give way to traffic already in the roundabout and signal as you leave.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, downloaded 2026-10-07. Counts cover public roads within 2 miles of the office.
Where to practice each part of the California drive test
The DMV's drive test score sheet (form DL 32) marks you on parking lot driving, backing, intersections, turns, lane changes, and business and residential driving. Here's where to practice near Chico DMV.
- Every loop
Parking lot driving
The DMV lot itself, at the start and end of every test - Stage 3
Lights you drive straight through
Cohasset Rd: 7 sets of lights in 2.1 mi - Stage 2
Left turn at lights
From Cussick Ave onto West East Ave - Stage 2
Left turn without lights
From Cohasset Rd onto Pillsbury Rd, giving way to oncoming traffic - Stage 2
Right turn at lights
From Pillsbury Rd onto East Ave - Stage 3
Lane changes
Cohasset Rd, a multi-lane road - Stage 1
Residential streets
Mission Ranch Blvd and the streets around it - Not on a loop
Freeway merging
Only scored on supplemental (referral) tests. For practice, the nearest on-ramp is on Cohasset Rd
Score sheet sections from California DMV form DL 32. Places from OpenStreetMap.
Booked your Chico road test?
See routes from real Chico tests
Once you're confident on these loops, the Driving Test Routes app has 5 routes recorded from real tests at Chico DMV, with turn-by-turn voice directions on your phone.
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Chico driving test questions
Where does the Chico DMV driving test go?
The DMV doesn't publish its test routes. Every test starts and finishes in the office parking lot, and the roads closest to the office are the ones you're most likely to drive, such as Esplanade, Cohasset Rd, West East Ave. Routes recorded from real Chico tests are in the Driving Test Routes app.
Are these the real Chico test routes?
No. Our practice routes are loops we planned from Chico's street data to cover the skills on the test. They're for practice, not a copy of the DMV's routes.
What do you need to pass the California drive test?
The DMV's score sheet (form DL 32) says you pass with no more than 15 errors on the driving maneuvers and no critical driving errors. Before you set off, you also need no more than 3 errors on the parking brake, arm signals, wipers, defroster, emergency flashers and headlights.
What makes Chico's roads tricky for learners?
Within 2 miles of the office, 13 miles of streets are one-way; there are 7 railroad crossings within 2 miles; Cohasset Road is up to 5 lanes wide.
How do I book a drive test at Chico DMV?
Book online through the California DMV appointments page, choosing Chico as your office. Book on the DMV website.
Chico DMV office information
Opening hours
| Monday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Thursday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Friday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours can change on holidays. Check the DMV's Chico page before you go.
Nearby offices
- Oroville DMV22.9 mi
- Willows DMV24.7 mi
- Red Bluff DMV35.7 mi
Services at Chico DMV
- Behind-the-wheel drive tests
- Written knowledge tests
- Motorcycle driving tests
- Driver's license and ID applications
- Replacement documents
- Vehicle registration and renewals
- Title transfers
- License plates
- Disabled parking placards
- Self-service kiosks
- Driver and vehicle records