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Trip from Arcata, CA to San Bernardino, CA

Drive Time

13h 38m

Distance

705.4 mi

1,135 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$163

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
13h 26m ★
6 AM
13h 38m
8 AM
14h 3m
10 AM
13h 47m
12 PM
13h 45m
3 PM
13h 48m
5 PM
14h 2m
8 PM
13h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Arcata, CA, CA

Arcata, CA

Ashish Durgude

Trip Overview

The drive from Arcata, CA to San Bernardino, CA covers 705.4 miles and takes about 13h 38m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Redwood Highway, Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 251.9 miles on Redwood Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $163.35 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

3 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

352.7 miles from Arcata, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7h 7m into the drive .

Drive Character

At 705.4 miles and 13h 38m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Redwood Highway and Westside Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Redwood Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 251.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

At 13h 38m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 262.4 miles in near I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 705.4 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 262.4 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 279.7 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 280 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 29 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

9
262.4 mi into trip | ~5h 23m in | I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 451B Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
8
279.7 mi into trip | ~5h 45m in | I 580 / Interstate Highway 80

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / Interstate Highway 80 toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oaklan...
8
280 mi into trip | ~5h 46m in | I 580 / MacArthur Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockt...
8
652.1 mi into trip | ~12h 35m in | I 210 / Foothill Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino,...
8
701.4 mi into trip | ~13h 31m in

Take the exit toward I 215: Barstow, Riverside

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 74 Toward I 215: Barstow, Riverside

Towns Along This Route

Between Arcata, CA and San Bernardino, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose and Ventura.

Oakland

262.4 mi in | ~5h 23m | via I 580

Hayward

279.7 mi in | ~5h 45m | via I 580

Stockton

279.7 mi in | ~5h 45m | via I 580

Alameda

279.7 mi in | ~5h 45m | via I 580

San Jose

279.7 mi in | ~5h 45m | via I 580

Ventura

652.1 mi in | ~12h 35m | via I 210

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Redwood Highway 251.9 mi 5h 5m
Westside Freeway 224.4 mi 4h
Foothill Freeway 73.7 mi 1h 24m
I 5 Truck 58.4 mi 1h 6m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway 29.3 mi 33m
William Elton Brown Freeway 17 mi 18m
MacArthur Freeway 16.4 mi 18m
John T. Knox Freeway 13.6 mi 17m
Longest stretch: Redwood Highway — 251.9 mi, about 5h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arcata, CA and San Bernardino, CA.

1

Start on this road

296 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Merge onto US 101

0.1 mi · 9 sec · Redwood Highway
3

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec
Toward 14th Street Use the slight right lane.
4

Turn left onto 14th Street

471 ft · 20 sec · 14th Street
Use the left lane.
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Use the left lane.
6

Merge onto US 101

6.7 mi · 9 min · Redwood Highway
Use the straight lane.
7

Continue on US 101

1.5 mi · 4 min · 4th Street
Use the left / right lanes.
8

Turn left onto US 101

3.0 mi · 6 min · Broadway Street
Use the left / right lanes.
9

Continue on US 101

129 mi · 2 hr 38 min · Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on US 101

5.4 mi · 6 min · Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on US 101; CA 20

116 mi · 2 hr 18 min · Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

14 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 451B Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto I 80; I 580

3.8 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

0.3 mi · 21 sec · Interstate Highway 80
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

16 mi · 18 min · MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16

Merge onto I 580

12 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

11 mi · 11 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
19

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
20

Merge onto I 5

224 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

2.0 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 17 sec
Exit 161A Toward I 210 East: Pasadena Use the slight right lane.
24

Continue on I 210

24 mi · 28 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210

19 mi · 22 min · Foothill Freeway
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura Use the slight right lane.
26

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210

2.9 mi · 3 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210

1.4 mi · 1 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210

1.2 mi · 1 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210

1.8 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210

23 mi · 26 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 74 Toward I 215: Barstow, Riverside Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 74 Toward I 215 South: Riverside Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
33

Merge onto I 215

0.2 mi · 13 sec · Barstow Freeway
34

Continue on I 215

1.8 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
35

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Exit 44A Toward CA 66 West: 5th Street, Civic Center Use the slight right lane.
36

Turn left onto CA 66

0.8 mi · 1 min · West 5th Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
37

Arrive at destination

West 5th Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 352.7 miles from Arcata, CA, or about 7h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 251.9 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 155 miles or 3h 16m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 352.7 miles or 7h 7m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 352.7 miles or 7h 7m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 12h 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Bernardino, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Arcata, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Arcata, CA

Aim for roughly 353 miles and 6.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into San Bernardino, CA

Aim for roughly 353 miles and 6.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 155 miles from Arcata, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Redwood Highway for about 251.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 352.7 mi from Arcata, CA · 7h 7m into the drive

Downtown Windsor, CA, CA

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Windsor, CA

233 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Downtown Hayward, CA, CA

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Hayward, CA

466 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Hayward, CA

Popular next leg

Hayward, CA to San Bernardino, CA

415.5 mi · 6h 57m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Santa Rosa, CA

353 mi · about 6.8h in

A practical overnight split lands near Santa Rosa, CA after about 353 miles or 6.8 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Windsor, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 155 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Modesto, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 352.7 miles from Arcata, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Redwood Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 251.9 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 353 miles or 6.8 hours on the road.

Arriving in San Bernardino, CA

The final approach into San Bernardino, 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 Bernardino, CA.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach San Bernardino, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...

4 mi from route ~11 min detour Free near mile 267.6
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods National Monument

National Monument

Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...

8 mi from route ~21 min detour $15 near mile 267.6
View on nps.gov
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...

9 mi from route ~22 min detour Free near mile 267.6
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...

10 mi from route ~26 min detour Free near mile 267.6
View on nps.gov
Point Reyes National Seashore

Point Reyes National Seashore

National Seashore

From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches to its open grasslands, brushy hillsides, and forested ridges, Point Reyes offers visitors over 1500 spec...

19 mi from route ~47 min detour Free near mile 243.2
View on nps.gov
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

National Memorial

On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...

23 mi from route ~58 min detour Free near mile 291.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$163.35 one way

$326.71 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 247 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $168.46 $336.93
premium $6.24 $173.38 $346.76
diesel $5.64 $156.72 $313.43

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$163

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$293–$403

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 246.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $74 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 211.6 2 $74.07 $33.86
Efficient EV 176.4 2 $61.72 $28.22
EV Truck/SUV 282.2 3 $98.76 $45.15

Gas CO2

247 kg

EV CO2

83 kg (66% less)

Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Arcata, CA

Morning in Arcata on Monday

Local time

9:18 AM

PDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

San Bernardino, CA

Morning in San Bernardino on Monday

Local time

9:18 AM

PDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

38°F

Hayward, CA

466 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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

5 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

13h 38m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Arcata, CA to San Bernardino, CA covers 705.4 miles and takes about 13h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Redwood Highway, Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 353 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 352.7 miles from Arcata, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $163.35 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 705.4 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 262.4 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 279.7 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 280 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Arcata, CA and San Bernardino, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose and Ventura.

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