Redding is centrally located in the heart of the Shasta Cascade region of far northern California, a short 2-hour drive from the Sacramento International Airport, 3-hour drive to the San Francisco Bay Area, 3.5-hour drive to the Redwood Coast, and 2-hour drive to the Oregon border.

The city's downtown, shopping hub, and all of its lodging properties are just minutes from Interstate 5, which runs north/south through the middle of town. The city's east/west sides are connected by Hwy 44 which upon entering downtown, becomes Hwy 299W and eventually leads to the north coast.