Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
71.3 mi
115 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
Photo: Stephen Leonardi
The drive from Cottonwood, CA to Oakland, CA covers 71.3 miles and takes about 1h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on County Road 27, I 80 West, Dwight D for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.51 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
35.7 miles from Cottonwood, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 38m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 16m drive with frequent turns across 71.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Cottonwood, CA to Oakland, CA is easy. At 1h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cottonwood, CA to Oakland, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| County Road 27 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dwight D | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Carquinez Bridge | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Eastshore Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Linus F | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 80 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MacArthur Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood, CA and Oakland, CA.
Start on County Road 89
Turn left onto County Road 27
Take the ramp right
Merge slight left
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: San Francisco
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Continue on Carquinez Bridge
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
Take the exit slight left toward MacArthur Boulevard, San Pablo Avenue, Emery Street
Keep slight right to continue on San Pablo Avenue, Emery Street
Turn right onto Watts Street
Turn right onto Peralta Street
Turn left onto 35th Street
Turn right onto San Pablo Avenue
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Junior Way
Turn left onto 14th Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 71.3 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.7 miles or 38m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakland, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood, CA
This is one driving day of about 71.3 miles and 1h 16m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.7 mi from Cottonwood, CA · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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.
A short stop after about 71.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 35.7 miles from Cottonwood, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$16.51 one way
$33.02 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $17.03 | $34.06 |
| premium | $6.24 | $17.52 | $35.05 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $15.84 | $31.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.49 | $3.42 |
| Efficient EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.24 | $2.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.5 | 0 | $9.98 | $4.56 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Cottonwood on Saturday
Local time
12:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Oakland on Saturday
Local time
12:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
51°F
Vallejo, CA
36 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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