Drive Time
6h 13m
Distance
393.8 mi
634 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
Photo: Abhishek Navlakha
The drive from Bell Gardens, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 393.8 miles and takes about 6h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 710 North, Long Beach Freeway, I 5 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.49 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
196.9 miles from Bell Gardens, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 6m into the drive .
Expect a 6h 13m drive with frequent turns across 393.8 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
Navigation is easy, but the length (6h 13m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bell Gardens, CA to San Francisco, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 710 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Long Beach Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Santa Ana Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Golden State Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Westside Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Bell Gardens, CA and San Francisco, CA.
Start on Florence Avenue
Take the ramp straight toward I 710 North: Pasadena
Merge slight left onto Long Beach Freeway
Take the exit slight left toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
Merge slight right onto Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Keep slight left
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: San Francisco
Merge slight right 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
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 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 87 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 196.9 miles or 3h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Francisco, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Bell Gardens, 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 Bell Gardens, CA
This is one driving day of about 393.8 miles and 6h 13m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 196.9 mi from Bell Gardens, CA · 3h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
197 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 87 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 196.9 miles from Bell Gardens, 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
$53.49 one way
$106.98 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $59.69 | $119.38 |
| premium | $4.15 | $64.34 | $128.68 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $58.14 | $116.28 |
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
$53
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 137.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 118.1 | 1 | $41.35 | $18.90 |
| Efficient EV | 98.5 | 1 | $34.46 | $15.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 157.5 | 1 | $55.13 | $25.20 |
Gas CO2
138 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Bell Gardens on Saturday
Local time
10:24 AM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in San Francisco on Saturday
Local time
10:24 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
51°F
Modesto, CA
197 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
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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Return Trip
San Francisco, CA to Bell Gardens, CAPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from Bell Gardens, CA or browse trips ending in San Francisco, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
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