Origin
Fontana, CA
Morning in Fontana on Friday
Local time
6:20 AM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fontana, CA to San Anselmo, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 14m
Distance
439.3 mi
707 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$101
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 6m
★
6 AM
8h 14m
8 AM
8h 30m
10 AM
8h 20m
12 PM
8h 18m
3 PM
8h 20m
5 PM
8h 29m
8 PM
8h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Anselmo, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 439.3 miles from Fontana to San Anselmo, this journey across the Pacific Coast region is a significant undertaking that typically requires 8 hours and 14 minutes of driving time. Because of the technical nature of the roads, you should plan for a two-day trip rather than attempting it in a single push. Budget approximately $102 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating through local arteries like Sierra Avenue and the CA 210 West requires your full attention. While the drive is feasible, treat it as a multi-day commitment to avoid driver fatigue and ensure you arrive safely at your destination.
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
219.6 miles from Fontana, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 7m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h 14m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands consistent engagement behind the wheel, quite different from a standard interstate cruise. The route relies heavily on surface streets and local connectors like the Foothill Freeway, resulting in a 0% highway share. You will find that the road surface and traffic flow shift frequently as you transition between local zones. Because this path avoids major high-speed corridors, your pace will be dictated by the curves and intersections along the way. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience where your focus remains on the immediate road ahead rather than long, monotonous stretches.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sierra Avenue 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
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 14m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fontana, CA to San Anselmo, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sierra Avenue | — | — |
| CA 210 West | — | — |
| Foothill Freeway | — | — |
| Golden State Freeway | — | — |
| Westside Freeway | — | — |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | — | — |
| Arthur H | — | — |
| MacArthur Freeway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Sierra Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and San Anselmo, CA.
1
Start on Merrill Avenue
207 ft
·
6 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
2
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Sierra Avenue
3
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 210 West
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
CA 210 West
4
Merge slight left onto Foothill Freeway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Foothill Freeway
5
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
6
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
7
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
8
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
9
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Foothill Freeway
10
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Foothill Freeway
11
Keep slight right
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
12
Merge slight right
1.0 mi
·
1 min
13
Keep slight left
36 mi
·
41 min
14
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
15
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
16
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
17
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
18
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
19
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
20
Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
21
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
22
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
23
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
13 mi
·
17 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
24
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 North: San Rafeal
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
US 101 North: San Rafeal
25
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Redwood Highway
26
Take the exit slight right toward Central San Rafael
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Central San Rafael
27
Continue on Irwin Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Irwin Street
28
Turn left onto Fourth Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Fourth Street
29
Continue on Red Hill Avenue
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
Red Hill Avenue
30
Turn left onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
31
Turn right onto North Pine Street
92 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Pine Street
32
Turn right onto San Anselmo Avenue
217 ft
·
9 sec
·
San Anselmo Avenue
33
Turn right onto Tunstead Avenue
118 ft
·
4 sec
·
Tunstead Avenue
34
Turn left onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
194 ft
·
14 sec
·
Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
35
Turn right
30 ft
·
2 sec
36
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
To manage the 439.3-mile distance effectively, plan for at least two intentional stops to break up the technical driving segments. Departing early in the day is your best strategy to navigate the local roads before traffic patterns intensify. Since the drive is quite demanding due to the constant turning, prioritize your rest periods to keep your concentration sharp throughout the 8-hour and 14-minute duration. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $102 estimate can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and local pricing along the way. Breaking the trip into two days will make the transit significantly more manageable and less taxing on your focus.
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 219.6 miles from Fontana, CA, or about 4h 7m into the drive.
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 97 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 219.6 miles or 4h 7m 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 219.6 miles or 4h 7m
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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Anselmo, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fontana, 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 Fontana, CA
Aim for roughly 220 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into San Anselmo, CA
Aim for roughly 220 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 97 miles from Fontana, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 219.6 mi from Fontana, CA · 4h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
220 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 Santa Clarita, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
220 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Santa Clarita, CA after about 220 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 97 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 219.6 miles from Fontana, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 220 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
Arriving in San Anselmo, CA
The final approach into San Anselmo, 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 Anselmo, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach San Anselmo, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$100.97 one way
$201.94 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
154 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $104.05 | $208.10 |
| premium | $6.18 | $106.83 | $213.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $96.99 | $193.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$101
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$231–$341
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 153.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 131.8 | 1 | $46.13 | $21.09 |
| Efficient EV | 109.8 | 1 | $38.44 | $17.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 175.7 | 2 | $61.50 | $28.12 |
Gas CO2
154 kg
EV CO2
51 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 Anselmo, CA
Morning in San Anselmo on Friday
Local time
6:20 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°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.
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
10 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 14m 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 Fontana, CA to San Anselmo, CA covers 439.3 miles and takes about 8h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sierra Avenue, CA 210 West, Foothill Freeway. 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 220 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 219.6 miles from Fontana, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $100.97 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 14m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fontana, CA to San Anselmo, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fontana, CA to San Anselmo, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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