Origin
Buttonwillow, CA
Night in Buttonwillow on Thursday
Local time
10:25 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buttonwillow, CA to Oakland, CA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
4h
Distance
247.2 mi
398 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$57
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 48m
★
6 AM
4h 1m
8 AM
4h 26m
10 AM
4h 10m
12 PM
4h 7m
3 PM
4h 11m
5 PM
4h 25m
8 PM
3h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buttonwillow, CA
Anna Arysheva
Oakland, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Buttonwillow, CA to Oakland, CA covers 247.2 miles and takes about 4h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Buttonwillow Drive, Westside Freeway, William Elton Brown Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $56.82 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
123.6 miles from Buttonwillow, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 247.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h drive with frequent turns across 247.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Buttonwillow Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Buttonwillow, CA to Oakland, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Buttonwillow Drive | — | — |
| Westside Freeway | — | — |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | — | — |
| Arthur H | — | — |
| Castro Valley Freeway | — | — |
| I 880 North | — | — |
| Nimitz Freeway | — | — |
| Oak Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Buttonwillow Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buttonwillow, CA and Oakland, CA.
1
Start on East 1st Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1st Street
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Buttonwillow Drive
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Buttonwillow Drive
3
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
4
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
182 mi
·
3 hr 15 min
·
Westside Freeway
5
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
6
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
7
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
8
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
9
Keep slight left to continue on Castro Valley Freeway
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Castro Valley Freeway
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 880 North
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 880 North
11
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
12
Take the exit slight right toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
13
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Oak Street
14
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
12th Street
15
Turn right onto Harrison Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Harrison Street
16
Turn left onto 14th Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
14th Street
17
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 123.6 miles from Buttonwillow, CA, or about 2h into the drive.
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 54 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.6 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 17m
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 Buttonwillow, 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 Buttonwillow, CA
This is one driving day of about 247.2 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Buttonwillow, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 123.6 mi from Buttonwillow, CA · 2h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
124 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 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 123.6 miles from Buttonwillow, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Oakland, 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
$56.82 one way
$113.63 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
87 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $58.55 | $117.10 |
| premium | $6.18 | $60.12 | $120.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $54.58 | $109.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.2 | 0 | $25.96 | $11.87 |
| Efficient EV | 61.8 | 0 | $21.63 | $9.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 98.9 | 1 | $34.61 | $15.82 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 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.
Destination
Oakland, CA
Night in Oakland on Thursday
Local time
10:25 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
17 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
4h on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Buttonwillow, CA to Oakland, CA covers 247.2 miles and takes about 4h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Buttonwillow Drive, Westside Freeway, William Elton Brown Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 123.6 miles from Buttonwillow, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $56.82 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Buttonwillow, CA to Oakland, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Buttonwillow, CA to Oakland, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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