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Trip from Central Valley (historical), CA to San Francisco, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 11m

Distance

223 mi

359 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$51

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

15 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 58m ★
6 AM
4h 11m
8 AM
4h 37m
10 AM
4h 20m
12 PM
4h 18m
3 PM
4h 22m
5 PM
4h 36m
8 PM
4h 3m

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 Central Valley (historical), CA, CA

Central Valley (historical), CA

Stephen Leonardi

consolidated city and county in California, United States

San Francisco, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Central Valley (historical), CA to San Francisco, CA covers 223 miles and takes about 4h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, Cascade Wonderland Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.25 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

111.5 miles from Central Valley (historical), CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 11m. Total distance: 223 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Drive Character

This is a 4h 11m highway drive covering 223 miles, with most of the trip on Westside Freeway and Cascade Wonderland Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 93 miles on Westside Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 29 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 93 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Cascade Wonderland Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 133.1 miles in near I 505.

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 19 significant decision points across 223 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 133.1 miles (I 505): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 213.1 miles (Eastshore Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

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

8
133.1 mi into trip | ~2h 25m in | I 505

Keep slight right at fork onto I 505 toward I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
8
166.3 mi into trip | ~3h in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 West: San Francisco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 1A Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
6
213.1 mi into trip | ~3h 55m 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
214.7 mi into trip | ~3h 57m 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
221.5 mi into trip | ~4h 8m 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 93 mi 1h 39m
Cascade Wonderland Highway 38.7 mi 42m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 33.9 mi 41m
I 505 33.2 mi 35m
Eastshore Freeway 15.2 mi 17m
Linus F. Claeys Freeway 3.4 mi 3m
Route 80 1.4 mi 2m
Shasta Dam Boulevard 1.1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 93 mi, about 1h 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Central Valley (historical), CA and San Francisco, CA.

1

Start on this road

93 ft · 11 sec · this road
2

Turn left

60 ft · 10 sec
3

Turn left onto Montana Avenue

229 ft · 13 sec · Montana Avenue
4

Turn right onto CA 151

1.1 mi · 1 min · Shasta Dam Boulevard
5

Take the ramp

85 ft · 2 sec
6

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 31 sec
7

Merge onto I 5

3.2 mi · 3 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

36 mi · 38 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
9

Continue on I 5

93 mi · 1 hr 39 min · Westside Freeway
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 505

33 mi · 35 min · I 505
Toward I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Exit 1A Toward I 80 West: San Francisco Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Merge onto I 80

28 mi · 32 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on I 80

1.0 mi · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on I 80

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Eastshore Freeway
15

Continue on I 80

3.4 mi · 3 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on I 80

14 mi · 16 min · Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway

0.8 mi · 1 min · Eastshore Freeway
Toward San Francisco Use the slight left lane.
18

Merge onto I 80

0.4 mi · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Turn slight left onto I 80

0.4 mi · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
20

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
21

Continue on I 80

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
22

Continue on I 80

0.8 mi · 1 min · Route 80
Exit 2A Use the straight / slight left lanes.
23

Continue on I 80

0.4 mi · 32 sec · Route 80
Exit 1A Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

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.
25

Merge onto US 101

0.3 mi · 25 sec · Central Freeway
26

Continue on Octavia Boulevard

0.5 mi · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434B Toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Turn right onto Market Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Market Street
Use the right lane.
28

Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Market Street
29

Arrive at destination

Market Street

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 111.5 miles from Central Valley (historical), CA, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93 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 49 miles or 55m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 111.5 miles or 2h 1m 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 20m

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 Central Valley (historical), 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 Central Valley (historical), CA

This is one driving day of about 223 miles and 4h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Central Valley (historical), 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 Westside Freeway for about 93 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 111.5 mi from Central Valley (historical), CA · 2h 1m into the drive

city in Yolo County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Davis, CA

112 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

Red Bluff, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Esparto, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 111.5 miles from Central Valley (historical), CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93 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.

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...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour Free near mile 207.6
View on nps.gov
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 223
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 192.2
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...

12 mi from route ~29 min detour Free near mile 223
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 223
View on nps.gov
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Whiskeytown Lake’s crystal-clear waters are iconic, but this 42,000-acre National Recreation Area offers much more. Explore waterfalls, hike rugged trails, uncover Gold Rush history, and witness the r...

13 mi from route ~32 min detour $15 near mile 7.7
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$51.25 one way

$102.51 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 78 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $52.82 $105.64
premium $6.18 $54.23 $108.46
diesel $5.61 $49.24 $98.47

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$51

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$76–$101

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 78 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

15 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

Orland, California

Other

1 DCFC

Skycharger Charging Station

Williams, California

Other

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Williams, California

Tesla

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Anderson, California

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Anderson, California

Tesla

1 DCFC

Electrify America Charging Station

Anderson, California

Electrify America

1 DCFC

BP Pulse Charging Station

Redding, California

Other

1 DCFC

Electrify America Charging Station

Willows, California

Electrify America

1 DCFC

Other: 7 Tesla: 2 ChargePoint: 2 Electrify America: 2 EVgo: 2

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 66.9 0 $23.41 $10.70
Efficient EV 55.8 0 $19.51 $8.92
EV Truck/SUV 89.2 1 $31.22 $14.27

Gas CO2

78 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Central Valley (historical), CA

Afternoon in Central Valley (historical) on Thursday

Local time

4:03 PM

PDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

San Francisco, CA

Afternoon in San Francisco on Thursday

Local time

4:03 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

22 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

4h 11m 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 Central Valley (historical), CA to San Francisco, CA covers 223 miles and takes about 4h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Cascade Wonderland Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 111.5 miles from Central Valley (historical), CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $51.25 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 demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 223 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 133.1 miles (I 505): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 213.1 miles (Eastshore Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Central Valley (historical), CA to San Francisco, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

San Francisco, CA to Central Valley (historical), CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

222.7 mi 4h 11m

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