Drive Time
22m
Distance
14.2 mi
23 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Photo: Abhishek Navlakha
The drive from Albany, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 14.2 miles and takes about 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Buchanan Street, I 80 West, Eastshore Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.93 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
7.1 miles from Albany, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .
Expect a 22m drive with frequent turns across 14.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy — mostly straight driving
The drive from Albany, CA to San Francisco, CA is easy. At 22m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Albany, CA to San Francisco, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Buchanan Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Eastshore Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| San Francisco | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dwight D | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Route 80 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 101 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Central Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Albany, CA and San Francisco, CA.
Start on San Pablo Avenue
Turn left onto Buchanan Street
Take the ramp left toward I 80 West, I 580 East: Oakland, San Francisco
Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway
Take the exit slight left toward San Francisco
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Continue on Route 80
Continue on Route 80
Continue on Route 80
Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Merge slight right onto Central Freeway
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
Turn right onto Market Street
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 14.2 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 7.1 miles or 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Francisco, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Albany, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albany, CA
This is one driving day of about 14.2 miles and 22m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 7.1 mi from Albany, CA · 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 14.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 7.1 miles from Albany, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into San Francisco, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around San Francisco, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$1.93 one way
$3.86 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $2.15 | $4.30 |
| premium | $4.15 | $2.32 | $4.64 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $2.10 | $4.19 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.49 | $0.68 |
| Efficient EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.24 | $0.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Albany on Saturday
Local time
10:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in San Francisco on Saturday
Local time
10:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
46°F
Richmond, CA
7 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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