Origin
Cherry Valley, CA
Night in Cherry Valley on Friday
Local time
10:00 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cherry Valley, CA to San Francisco, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 34m
Distance
457.1 mi
736 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$106
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 26m
★
6 AM
8h 34m
8 AM
8h 50m
10 AM
8h 40m
12 PM
8h 38m
3 PM
8h 40m
5 PM
8h 49m
8 PM
8h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cherry Valley, CA
Pham Ngoc Anh
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cherry Valley, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 457.1 miles and takes about 8h 34m 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, I 5 Truck for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 225.6 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $105.85 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
228.6 miles from Cherry Valley, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 20m into the drive .
About the Cities
Arriving in San Francisco, CA
Full guide →The centerpiece of the Bay Area, San Francisco is one of the most visited cities in the world, and with good reason. The cultural center of northern California, San Francisco is renowned for its mixture of scenic beauty and unique culture that makes it one of the most vibrant and desirable cities in the nation, if not the world. Sandwiched between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean on a small square of land seven miles (11 km) on each side, San Francisco offers a wealth of treasures for the visitor, from the windswept and often foggy bay to the steep hills lined with Victorian homes that overlook the spectacular scenery of the city.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Drive Character
This is a 8h 34m highway drive covering 457.1 miles, with most of the trip on Westside Freeway and Foothill Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 225.6 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 41 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.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,824 ft
54 ft
Total Climb
3,070 ft
Total Descent
5,840 ft
Highest Point
2,824 ft
Elevation Range
2,770 ft
Notable High Points
2,754 ft at ~130.6 miles
+1,343 ft prominence
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 51.2 miles in.
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 35 significant decision points across 457.1 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 51.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.5 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 159.7 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 35 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
51.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 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
74.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m 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
159.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 6m 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
431.8 mi into trip
|
~8h 1m 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
455.7 mi into trip
|
~8h 31m 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 |
| I 5 Truck | 37.1 mi | 42m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.6 mi | 34m |
| Golden State Freeway | 22.3 mi | 25m |
| San Bernardino Freeway | 19.9 mi | 22m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 18.1 mi | 20m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cherry Valley, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Beaumont Avenue
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Beaumont Avenue
2
Turn right onto Cherry Valley Boulevard
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Cherry Valley Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 10 West: Redlands
4
Merge onto I 10
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 10
14 mi
·
15 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR
9.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 10
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
San Bernardino Freeway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward CA 57: Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward CA 57 North
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on CA 57
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
CA 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 25C
Toward I 210 West: Pasadena
16
Merge onto I 210
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
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.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
25
Merge onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
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.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19A
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
30
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.
31
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
33
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
34
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Route 80
Exit 2A
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
35
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Route 80
Exit 1A
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
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.
37
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Central Freeway
38
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434B
Toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Market Street
Use the right lane.
40
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Market Street
41
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 228.6 miles from Cherry Valley, CA, or about 4h 20m 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 101 miles or 1h 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 228.6 miles or 4h 20m 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 228.6 miles or 4h 20m
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 7h 21m
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 Cherry Valley, 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 Cherry Valley, CA
Aim for roughly 229 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into San Francisco, CA
Aim for roughly 229 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 101 miles from Cherry Valley, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 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 228.6 mi from Cherry Valley, CA · 4h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
229 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 Bakersfield, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
229 mi · about 4.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Bakersfield, CA after about 229 miles or 4.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 101 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 228.6 miles from Cherry Valley, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 225.6 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 229 miles or 4.3 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$105.85 one way
$211.71 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
160 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $109.16 | $218.33 |
| premium | $6.24 | $112.35 | $224.70 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $101.55 | $203.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$106
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$236–$346
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 159.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $48 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 137.1 | 1 | $48.00 | $21.94 |
| Efficient EV | 114.3 | 1 | $40.00 | $18.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 182.8 | 2 | $63.99 | $29.25 |
Gas CO2
160 kg
EV CO2
53 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.
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Night in San Francisco on Friday
Local time
10:00 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Mostly Clear
W 7 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 13 at 6:04PM PDT until April 14 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford 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
17 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
8h 34m 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 Cherry Valley, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 457.1 miles and takes about 8h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, I 5 Truck. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
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 229 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 228.6 miles from Cherry Valley, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $105.85 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 2 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 457.1 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 51.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.5 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 159.7 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Cherry Valley, CA to San Francisco, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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