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Trip from Auburn Lake Trails, CA to San Francisco, CA

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

2h 51m

Distance

131 mi

211 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 40m ★
6 AM
2h 51m
8 AM
3h 13m
10 AM
2h 59m
12 PM
2h 57m
3 PM
3h 0m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 45m

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 Auburn Lake Trails, CA, CA

Auburn Lake Trails, CA

Robert So

consolidated city and county in California, United States

San Francisco, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Auburn Lake Trails, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 131 miles and takes about 2h 51m 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 $30.11 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

65.5 miles from Auburn Lake Trails, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 131 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (41%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Auburn Lake Trails, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 131 miles and takes about 2h 51m, 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 34 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 2.4 miles in near CA 193 / Georgetown Road.

Driving Effort 9/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 131 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 2.4 miles (CA 193 / Georgetown Road): Navigation decision point; at 35.2 miles (I 80 / North Sacramento Beltline Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.2 miles (Eastshore Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

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

5
2.4 mi into trip | ~9m in | CA 193 / Georgetown Road

At end of road, turn right onto CA 193 / Georgetown Road

Navigation decision point

6
35.2 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
121.2 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
122.7 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
129.6 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 17.1 mi 19m
Eastshore Freeway 15.2 mi 17m
North Sacramento Beltline Freeway 13.2 mi 15m
Yolo Causeway 3.9 mi 4m
CA 49 3.6 mi 7m
Linus F. Claeys Freeway 3.4 mi 3m
El Dorado Street 2.4 mi 5m
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 63.4 mi, about 1h 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Auburn Lake Trails, CA and San Francisco, CA.

1

Start on Cascade Trail

0.2 mi · 40 sec · Cascade Trail
2

Turn right onto Brown Bear Trail

0.5 mi · 1 min · Brown Bear Trail
3

At end of road, turn right onto Hidden Gold Trail

0.1 mi · 40 sec · Hidden Gold Trail
4

Turn left onto Sweetwater Trail

1.6 mi · 6 min · Sweetwater Trail
5

At end of road, turn right onto CA 193

2.2 mi · 3 min · Georgetown Road
6

Turn right onto CA 49

0.2 mi · 19 sec · CA 49
7

Continue on CA 49

3.4 mi · 7 min · CA 49
8

Continue on CA 49

2.3 mi · 5 min · El Dorado Street
9

Enter roundabout onto CA 49

78 ft · 2 sec · El Dorado Street
10

Continue on CA 49

0.2 mi · 32 sec · El Dorado Street
11

Turn right onto CA 49

0.3 mi · 1 min · Elm Avenue
12

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Toward I 80 West: Sacramento
13

Merge onto I 80; CA 49

17 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on I 80

7.1 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

13 mi · 15 min · North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on I 80

3.9 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on I 80

50 mi · 58 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Continue on I 80

1.0 mi · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on I 80

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Eastshore Freeway
20

Continue on I 80

3.4 mi · 3 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Continue on I 80

14 mi · 16 min · Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway

0.8 mi · 1 min · Eastshore Freeway
Toward San Francisco Use the slight left lane.
23

Merge onto I 80

0.4 mi · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Turn slight left onto I 80

0.4 mi · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
25

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
26

Continue on I 80

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
27

Continue on I 80

0.8 mi · 1 min · Route 80
Exit 2A Use the straight / slight left lanes.
28

Continue on I 80

0.4 mi · 32 sec · Route 80
Exit 1A Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

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.
30

Merge onto US 101

0.3 mi · 25 sec · Central Freeway
31

Continue on Octavia Boulevard

0.5 mi · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434B Toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32

Turn right onto Market Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Market Street
Use the right lane.
33

Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Market Street
34

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 65.5 miles from Auburn Lake Trails, CA, or about 1h 30m 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 29 miles or 48m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 65.5 miles or 1h 30m 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 19m

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 Auburn Lake Trails, 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 Auburn Lake Trails, CA

This is one driving day of about 131 miles and 2h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Auburn Lake Trails, 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 65.5 mi from Auburn Lake Trails, CA · 1h 30m into the drive

city in Yolo County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Davis, CA

66 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

Citrus Heights, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Davis, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 65.5 miles from Auburn Lake Trails, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour Free near mile 131.1
View on nps.gov
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...

3 mi from route ~8 min detour Free near mile 117.5
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...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free near mile 104
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...

12 mi from route ~29 min detour Free near mile 131.1
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,...

12 mi from route ~30 min detour $15 near mile 131.1
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.11 one way

$60.22 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 46 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $31.03 $62.05
premium $6.18 $31.86 $63.72
diesel $5.61 $28.92 $57.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 45.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 39.3 0 $13.75 $6.29
Efficient EV 32.8 0 $11.46 $5.24
EV Truck/SUV 52.4 0 $18.34 $8.38

Gas CO2

46 kg

EV CO2

15 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.

Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026

Origin

Auburn Lake Trails, CA

Night in Auburn Lake Trails on Thursday

Local time

10:56 PM

PDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

San Francisco, CA

Night in San Francisco on Thursday

Local time

10:56 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

1 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 51m 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 Auburn Lake Trails, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 131 miles and takes about 2h 51m 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 65.5 miles from Auburn Lake Trails, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.11 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 20 significant decision points across 131 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 2.4 miles (CA 193 / Georgetown Road): Navigation decision point; at 35.2 miles (I 80 / North Sacramento Beltline Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.2 miles (Eastshore Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Auburn Lake Trails, CA to San Francisco, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.

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Plan the drive back the other way.

130.5 mi 2h 50m

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