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Trip from Brookdale, CA to Oakland, CA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 35m

Distance

67.1 mi

108 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 28m ★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 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 Brookdale, CA, CA

Brookdale, CA

Stephen Leonardi

city and county seat of Alameda County, California, United States

Oakland, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Brookdale, CA to Oakland, CA covers 67.1 miles and takes about 1h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 880, Bear Creek Road, Nimitz Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.5 miles on I 880. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.42 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.

Midpoint

33.6 miles from Brookdale, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 67.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 35m highway drive covering 67.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 880 and Bear Creek Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 28.5 miles on I 880.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 880 is the longest continuous segment at about 28.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 880 and Bear Creek Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 36.4 miles in near I 880 / Nimitz Freeway.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 36.4 miles (I 880 / Nimitz Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 49 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

6
36.4 mi into trip | ~58m in | I 880 / Nimitz Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 880 / Nimitz Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
49 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in | I 880

Keep slight left at fork onto I 880

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
8
66 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in

Take the exit toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive

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 41A Toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
6
66.5 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in | 12th Street

Turn left onto 12th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
66.8 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in | Harrison Street

Turn right onto Harrison Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 880 28.5 mi 32m
Bear Creek Road 13 mi 27m
Nimitz Freeway 12.6 mi 14m
Santa Cruz Highway 9.6 mi 11m
CA 9 2.1 mi 5m
Oak Street 0.3 mi <1m
12th Street 0.3 mi <1m
14th Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 880 — 28.5 mi, about 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brookdale, CA and Oakland, CA.

1

Start on Larkspur Street

61 ft · 4 sec · Larkspur Street
2

Turn right onto CA 9

2.1 mi · 5 min · CA 9
3

Turn right onto Bear Creek Road

13 mi · 27 min · Bear Creek Road
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 16 sec
5

Merge onto CA 17

9.6 mi · 11 min · Santa Cruz Highway
Use the straight lane.
6

Continue on I 880

12 mi · 13 min · I 880
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 880

13 mi · 14 min · Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 880

17 mi · 19 min · I 880
Use the slight left lane.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Exit 41A Toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Turn right onto Oak Street

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Oak Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Turn left onto 12th Street

0.3 mi · 45 sec · 12th Street
Use the straight lane.
12

Turn right onto Harrison Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Harrison Street
Use the right lane.
13

Turn left onto 14th Street

0.2 mi · 48 sec · 14th Street
14

Arrive at destination

14th 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 33.6 miles from Brookdale, CA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.5 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 15 miles or 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 33.6 miles or 55m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 22m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Brookdale, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Brookdale, CA

This is one driving day of about 67.1 miles and 1h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Brookdale, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 880 for about 28.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 33.6 mi from Brookdale, CA · 55m into the drive

incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Los Gatos, CA

34 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

Los Gatos, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Santa Clara, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 33.6 miles from Brookdale, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Oakland, CA

The final approach into Oakland, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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...

8 mi from route ~21 min detour Free near mile 67.2
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...

9 mi from route ~22 min detour Free near mile 67.2
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...

18 mi from route ~46 min detour Free near mile 67.2
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,...

18 mi from route ~45 min detour $15 near mile 67.2
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...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 67.2
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.42 one way

$30.84 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 24 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $15.89 $31.79
premium $6.18 $16.32 $32.64
diesel $5.61 $14.81 $29.63

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 20.1 0 $7.05 $3.22
Efficient EV 16.8 0 $5.87 $2.68
EV Truck/SUV 26.8 0 $9.39 $4.29

Gas CO2

23 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (65% 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

Brookdale, CA

Evening in Brookdale on Thursday

Local time

7:48 PM

PDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Oakland, CA

Evening in Oakland on Thursday

Local time

7:48 PM

PDT

Current temp

67°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

18 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

1h 35m 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 Brookdale, CA to Oakland, CA covers 67.1 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 880, Bear Creek Road, Nimitz Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.6 miles from Brookdale, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.42 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 36.4 miles (I 880 / Nimitz Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 49 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Brookdale, CA to Oakland, 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 Golden Gate National Recreation Area. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.

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Return Trip

Oakland, CA to Brookdale, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

67.2 mi 1h 36m

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