13th St and Riverside Ave
On Stage 2.
Heading east on 13th St
Left, straight, right or straight
Heading east, use the left-turn lane for left turns and either straight-ahead lane to go through.
California › Driving test routes › Paso Robles DMV
California DMV
Paso Robles DMVDriving Test Practice Routes
841 Park Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446
Within two miles of Paso Robles DMV there are 27 sets of traffic lights and 6 railroad crossings. Spring Street runs close to the office, up to 5 lanes wide in places.
Start with the practice routes just below, then see how far a test can reach and how you'll leave the office.
Paso Robles road test practice routes
Practice loops that start and finish at the DMV, each built from Paso Robles'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.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Stage 1: Quiet streets
Mostly residential streets around Park St and Chestnut St, with no traffic lights. Start here for your first few drives.
- Length
- 2.3 mi
- Approx. time
- 8 min
- Turns
- 10
- 4 stop signs
- 2.2 miles of residential streets
- Not covered: traffic lights
Open in Google Maps
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 north on Park Street. 50 ft
- Turn left onto 9th Street. 0.3 mi
- Turn right onto Olive Street. 0.3 mi
- Turn left onto 13th Street. 350 ft
- Turn right onto Chestnut Street. 0.4 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto 19th Street. 0.4 mi
- Turn right onto Park Street. 0.5 mi
- Turn left onto 12th Street. 400 ft
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Pine Street. 350 ft
- At the stop sign, turn right onto 11th Street. 350 ft
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Park Street and return to the DMV. 0.2 mi
Stage 2: Stop signs and lights
Along Niblick Rd and Creston Rd, with 11 sets of lights.
- Length
- 4.2 mi
- Approx. time
- 14 min
- Turns
- 12
- 11 sets of lights, with 2 left turns and 3 right turns at them
- 2 stop signs
- Multi-lane driving on Niblick Rd
- Junctions A and B and D below, among the busiest for crashes
Open in Google Maps
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 (15 steps)
- Leave the DMV and head north on Park Street. 50 ft
- Turn right onto 9th Street. 350 ft
- Turn left onto Pine Street. 400 ft
- At the stop sign, turn right onto 10th Street. 0.1 mi
- Turn left onto Riverside Avenue. 0.2 mi
- At the lights, turn right onto 13th Street. 0.2 mi Straight through 1 set of lights.
- At the lights, continue onto Creston Road. 0.8 mi
- At the lights, turn right onto Nickerson Drive. 0.5 mi
- Continue onto Appaloosa Drive. 0.2 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Niblick Road. 0.4 mi Straight through 1 set of lights.
- At the lights, turn left onto South River Road. 0.3 mi
- At the lights, turn left onto Niblick Road. 0.6 mi Straight through 1 set of lights.
- At the lights, turn right onto Spring Street. 0.6 mi Straight through 2 sets of lights.
- Turn right onto 9th Street. 400 ft
- Turn right onto Park Street and return to the DMV. 50 ft
Stage 3: Test-ready loop
Everything together over about 6 miles, including Niblick Rd and Vine St.
- Length
- 6.4 mi
- Approx. time
- 19 min
- Turns
- 15
- 10 sets of lights, with 2 left turns and 1 right turn at them
- 1 stop sign
- Multi-lane driving on Niblick Rd
- 0.9 miles of residential streets
- Junctions A and B below, among the busiest for crashes
Open in Google Maps
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 (18 steps)
- Leave the DMV and head south on Park Street. 300 ft
- Turn right onto 8th Street. 400 ft
- Turn left onto Spring Street. 0.5 mi Straight through 2 sets of lights.
- At the lights, turn left onto Niblick Road. 1.0 mi Straight through 3 sets of lights.
- Turn left onto Appaloosa Drive. 0.2 mi
- Continue onto Nickerson Drive. 0.3 mi
- Turn left onto Crazy Horse Drive. 0.3 mi
- Turn left onto Navajo Avenue. 0.4 mi
- At the lights, turn left onto South River Road. 0.2 mi
- At the lights, turn right onto Niblick Road. 0.6 mi Straight through 1 set of lights.
- At the lights, continue onto 1st Street. 0.1 mi
- Turn right onto Vine Street. 1.4 mi
- Turn right onto 21st Street. 0.1 mi
- Turn right onto Spring Street. 0.4 mi
- Turn left onto 16th Street. 0.1 mi
- Turn right onto Pine Street. 0.5 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto 9th Street. 350 ft
- Turn left onto Park Street and return to the DMV. 50 ft
Where the Paso Robles 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.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Within a 6-minute drive
- 21sets of traffic lights
- 9schools
Main roads in the area: Spring St, Union Rd, Vine St, South River Rd, North River Rd, Niblick Rd, South Vine St and Riverside 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 Paso Robles DMV
The parking lot and the first junction are the only parts of the route you can be sure of. The office is on Park Street.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
P
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.
1
North to 10th St
450 ft along Park St to 10th Street.
2
South to 6th St
0.2 mi along Park St to 6th Street.
The roads around Paso Robles DMV
What you'll be dealing with near the office, counted from map data within 2 miles.
27
Sets of traffic lights
Most are on Niblick Rd and Spring St.
10
Schools
The limit near a school drops to 25 mph when children are around.
2 mi
One-way streets
Check the arrows before every turn, and start from the correct side of the road.
6
Railroad crossings
Look both ways, never stop on the tracks, and wait if there isn't room on the other side.
1
Roundabout
Give way to traffic already in the roundabout and signal as you leave.
18 mi
Bike lanes
Check the bike lane before turning right, and enter it no more than 200 feet before the turn.
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 Paso Robles 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
Niblick Rd: 3 sets of lights in 1.0 mi - Stage 2
Left turn at lights
From Niblick Rd onto South River Rd - Stage 2
Left turn without lights
From 9th St onto Pine St, giving way to oncoming traffic - Stage 2
Right turn at lights
From Riverside Ave onto 13th St - Stage 3
Lane changes
Niblick Rd, a multi-lane road - Stage 1
Residential streets
Park St 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 Paso Robles St
Score sheet sections from California DMV form DL 32. Places from OpenStreetMap.
Which lane do I need near Paso Robles DMV?
Lane layouts at the junctions with lights on our practice routes, as you'd see them approaching. Arrows show which way each lane can go.
13th St and Creston Rd
On Stage 2.
Heading northeast on 13th St
Left, left, straight, straight
Heading north on South River Rd
Left, left, straight, straight, right
Two lanes turn left heading northeast. Start and finish the turn in the same lane.
Niblick Rd and South River Rd
On Stages 2 and 3.
Heading east on Niblick Rd
Left, left, straight, straight, right
Heading north on South River Rd
Left, left, straight, right or straight
Two lanes turn left heading east. Start and finish the turn in the same lane.
Niblick Rd and Spring St
On Stages 2 and 3.
Heading west on Niblick Rd
Left, left, right, straight
Two lanes turn left heading west. Start and finish the turn in the same lane.
Lane layouts from OpenStreetMap. Road markings can change, so always follow the arrows painted on the road.
What causes crashes on Paso Robles's roads
Recorded causes of the 1,748 crashes on local roads within 2 miles of the office from 2021 to 2025, leaving out freeways. Too fast for conditions and unsafe turn or lane change top the list.
Share of the 1,667 crashes where a cause was recorded. Other causes made up the remaining 5%. About 25% of these crashes happened after dark. Source: California Crash Reporting System, California Highway Patrol, via data.ca.gov.
Paso Robles junctions worth practicing
The junctions within 2 miles of the office with the most crashes from 2021 to 2025. Each one is marked on the practice routes map.
Niblick Rd and Spring St
76 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 9.
Niblick Rd and South River Rd
51 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 9.
24th St and Spring St
38 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change.
13th St and Creston Rd
36 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 4.
Creston Rd and Niblick Rd
33 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 3.
Crashes located within about 100 feet of each junction. Source: California Crash Reporting System, California Highway Patrol, via data.ca.gov.
Booked your Paso Robles road test?
See routes from real Paso Robles tests
Once you're confident on these loops, the Driving Test Routes app has 5 routes recorded from real tests at Paso Robles DMV, with turn-by-turn voice directions on your phone.
On a computer?Scan with your phone's camera to get the app.
Your first week is free.
We earn a commission if you subscribe through these links.
Paso Robles driving test questions
Where does the Paso Robles 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 Spring St, Union Rd, Vine St. Routes recorded from real Paso Robles tests are in the Driving Test Routes app.
Are these the real Paso Robles test routes?
No. Our practice routes are loops we planned from Paso Robles'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 Paso Robles's roads tricky for learners?
Within 2 miles of the office, there are 6 railroad crossings within 2 miles; Spring Street is up to 5 lanes wide.
Which junctions near Paso Robles DMV have the most crashes?
Niblick Rd and Spring St (76), Niblick Rd and South River Rd (51), 24th St and Spring St (38), counting crashes from 2021 to 2025.
How do I book a drive test at Paso Robles DMV?
Book online through the California DMV appointments page, choosing Paso Robles as your office. Book on the DMV website.
Paso Robles 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 Paso Robles page before you go.
Nearby offices
- San Luis Obispo DMV25.3 mi
- Coalinga DMV40.5 mi
- King City DMV48.1 mi
Services at Paso Robles 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
- Driver and vehicle records