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Trip from Calexico, CA to San Francisco, CA

Drive Time

11h 15m

Distance

601.6 mi

968 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$139

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
11h 5m ★
6 AM
11h 15m
8 AM
11h 36m
10 AM
11h 22m
12 PM
11h 20m
3 PM
11h 23m
5 PM
11h 35m
8 PM
11h 9m

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 Calexico, CA, CA

Calexico, CA

Lesli Whitecotton

Downtown San Francisco, CA, CA

San Francisco, CA

Abhishek Navlakha

Trip Overview

The drive from Calexico, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 601.6 miles and takes about 11h 15m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 225.6 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $139.32 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

300.8 miles from Calexico, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 44m into the drive .

Drive Character

At 601.6 miles and 11h 15m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Westside Freeway and Foothill Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 45 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 225.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Foothill Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 195.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 35 significant decision points across 601.6 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 195.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 219 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 304.1 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 35 key points

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

7
195.7 mi into trip | ~3h 42m in

Keep slight right at fork toward CA 57 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward CA 57 North
8
219 mi into trip | ~4h 10m in | I 210 / Foothill Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 26A Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
7
304.1 mi into trip | ~5h 48m in | I 5 / Westside Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 5 North
8
576.3 mi into trip | ~10h 42m in | I 580 / MacArthur Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Oakland, San Francisco

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: Oakland, San Francisco
8
600.2 mi into trip | ~11h 12m 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
Westside Freeway 225.6 mi 4h 1m
Foothill Freeway 43.9 mi 50m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway 39.9 mi 43m
CA 86 37.7 mi 43m
I 5 Truck 37.1 mi 42m
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway 32.6 mi 34m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway 29.6 mi 34m
CA 78 29 mi 34m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Calexico, CA and San Francisco, CA.

1

Start on CA 98

31 ft · 0 sec · West Birch Street
2

Turn left onto CA 111

23 mi · 27 min · Imperial Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3

Continue on CA 78

3.7 mi · 4 min · Brawley Bypass
Use the straight lane.
4

Take the exit onto CA 78

29 mi · 34 min · CA 78
Use the straight lane.
5

Continue on CA 86

5.2 mi · 6 min · CA 86
Use the straight lane.
6

Continue on CA 86

32 mi · 37 min · CA 86
Use the straight lane.
7

Merge onto I 10

33 mi · 34 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 10

40 mi · 43 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 10

14 mi · 15 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR

9.3 mi · 9 min · I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Merge onto I 10

1.2 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

0.9 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.3 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
14

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

0.8 mi · 55 sec · San Bernardino Freeway
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward CA 57: Santa Ana Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Toward CA 57 North Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18

Continue on CA 57

3.4 mi · 3 min · CA 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork

1.1 mi · 2 min
Exit 25C Toward I 210 West: Pasadena
20

Merge onto I 210

18 mi · 21 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210

26 mi · 29 min · Foothill Freeway
Exit 26A Toward I 210 West: Sacramento Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
23

Merge onto I 5 Truck

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
24

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

36 mi · 41 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

22 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

226 mi · 4 hr 1 min · Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

16 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
28

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass

1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
29

Merge onto I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

12 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

8.3 mi · 9 min · MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Oakland, San Francisco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
32

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

7.2 mi · 8 min · MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 19A Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
34

Merge onto I 80

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35

Turn slight left onto I 80

0.4 mi · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
36

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
37

Continue on I 80

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
38

Continue on I 80

0.8 mi · 1 min · Route 80
Exit 2A Use the straight / slight left lanes.
39

Continue on I 80

0.4 mi · 32 sec · Route 80
Exit 1A Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40

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.
41

Merge onto US 101

0.3 mi · 25 sec · Central Freeway
42

Continue on Octavia Boulevard

0.5 mi · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434B Toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43

Turn right onto Market Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Market Street
Use the right lane.
44

Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Market Street
45

Arrive at destination

Market 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 300.8 miles from Calexico, CA, or about 5h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 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 132 miles or 2h 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 300.8 miles or 5h 44m 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 300.8 miles or 5h 44m

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 10h 2m

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 Calexico, 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 Calexico, CA

Aim for roughly 301 miles and 5.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into San Francisco, CA

Aim for roughly 301 miles and 5.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 132 miles from Calexico, 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 Westside Freeway for about 225.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 300.8 mi from Calexico, CA · 5h 44m into the drive

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Anaheim, CA

199 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.

Popular next leg

Anaheim, CA to Fresno, CA

244.6 mi · 4h 36m

Downtown Fresno, CA, CA

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Fresno, CA

397 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 Fresno, CA

Popular next leg

Fresno, CA to San Francisco, CA

186.9 mi · 3h 42m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Santa Clarita, CA

301 mi · about 5.6h in

A practical overnight split lands near Santa Clarita, CA after about 301 miles or 5.6 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Moreno Valley, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 133 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Santa Clarita, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 301.8 miles from Calexico, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 302 miles or 4.7 hours on the road.

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.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach San Francisco, 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.

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 603.5
Park Closure: Hyde Street Pier Closure
Caution: Sick Birds and Wildlife, H5N1
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...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour Free near mile 603.5
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 603.5
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 603.5
View on nps.gov
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 249.7
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 ~57 min detour Free near mile 582.7
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$139.32 one way

$278.63 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 211 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $143.67 $287.35
premium $6.24 $147.87 $295.73
diesel $5.64 $133.65 $267.31

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$139

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$269–$379

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 210.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $63 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 180.5 2 $63.17 $28.88
Efficient EV 150.4 1 $52.64 $24.06
EV Truck/SUV 240.6 3 $84.22 $38.50

Gas CO2

210 kg

EV CO2

70 kg (67% 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 hours ago

Origin

Calexico, CA

Morning in Calexico on Monday

Local time

9:05 AM

PDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

San Francisco, CA

Morning in San Francisco on Monday

Local time

9:05 AM

PDT

Current temp

49°F

Partly Cloudy

NW 2 mph 8% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

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

12 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

11h 15m 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 Calexico, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 601.6 miles and takes about 11h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. 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 301 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 300.8 miles from Calexico, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $139.32 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 35 significant decision points across 601.6 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 195.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 219 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 304.1 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Calexico, CA to San Francisco, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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