Origin
Alta Sierra, CA
Night in Alta Sierra on Tuesday
Local time
11:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alta Sierra, CA to San Francisco, CA
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
2h 50m
Distance
138.8 mi
223 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 40m
★
6 AM
2h 51m
8 AM
3h 13m
10 AM
2h 59m
12 PM
2h 56m
3 PM
3h 0m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alta Sierra, CA
Patrick Gamelkoorn
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Alta Sierra, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 138.8 miles and takes about 2h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Alan S. Hart Freeway, Eastshore Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 63.4 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.90 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.4 miles from Alta Sierra, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Alta Sierra, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 138.8 miles and takes about 2h 50m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 63.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near CA 49.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 138.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (CA 49): Lane positioning matters here; at 43 miles (I 80 / North Sacramento Beltline Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 129 miles (Eastshore Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CA 49
At end of road, turn left onto CA 49
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
43 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
I 80 / North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 / North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
129 mi into trip
|
~2h 35m in
|
Eastshore Freeway
Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway toward San Francisco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward San Francisco
6
130.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 37m in
|
I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
137.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 63.4 mi | 1h 15m |
| Alan S. Hart Freeway | 16.8 mi | 19m |
| Eastshore Freeway | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| North Sacramento Beltline Freeway | 13.2 mi | 15m |
| CA 49 | 10.3 mi | 13m |
| Grass Valley Highway | 7 mi | 10m |
| Yolo Causeway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| Linus F. Claeys Freeway | 3.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 63.4 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alta Sierra, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Upper Circle Drive
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
Upper Circle Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto Francis Drive
343 ft
·
16 sec
·
Francis Drive
3
Turn right onto Alta Sierra Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Alta Sierra Drive
4
Continue on Alta Sierra Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Alta Sierra Drive
5
At end of road, turn left onto CA 49
10 mi
·
13 min
·
CA 49
Use the straight lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto CA 49
107 ft
·
3 sec
·
Grass Valley Highway
7
Continue on CA 49
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Grass Valley Highway
8
Enter roundabout onto CA 49
106 ft
·
3 sec
·
Grass Valley Highway
9
Continue on CA 49
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Grass Valley Highway
Use the left lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 80 West: Sacramento
11
Merge onto I 80
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Alan S. Hart Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 80
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
13 mi
·
15 min
·
North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 80
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 80
50 mi
·
58 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Carquinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Eastshore Freeway
18
Continue on I 80
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 80
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Toward San Francisco
Use the slight left lane.
21
Merge onto I 80
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
24
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
25
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Route 80
Exit 2A
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
26
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Route 80
Exit 1A
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 1B
Toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Central Freeway
29
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434B
Toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Market Street
Use the right lane.
31
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Market Street
32
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.4 miles from Alta Sierra, CA, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.4 miles.
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 80 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.4 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Francisco, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alta Sierra, 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 Alta Sierra, CA
This is one driving day of about 138.8 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Alta Sierra, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 63.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.4 mi from Alta Sierra, CA · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.4 miles from Alta Sierra, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.4 miles.
Arriving in San Francisco, CA
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.90 one way
$63.80 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $32.87 | $65.75 |
| premium | $6.18 | $33.75 | $67.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.65 | $61.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.6 | 0 | $14.57 | $6.66 |
| Efficient EV | 34.7 | 0 | $12.15 | $5.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.5 | 0 | $19.43 | $8.88 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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.
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Night in San Francisco on Tuesday
Local time
11:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
15 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 50m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alta Sierra, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 138.8 miles and takes about 2h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Alan S. Hart Freeway, Eastshore Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.4 miles from Alta Sierra, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.90 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 138.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (CA 49): Lane positioning matters here; at 43 miles (I 80 / North Sacramento Beltline Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 129 miles (Eastshore Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Alta Sierra, CA to San Francisco, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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