Origin
Foster City, CA
Afternoon in Foster City on Sunday
Local time
4:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Foster City, CA to Fremont, CA
Drive Time
28m
Distance
23.1 mi
37 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Foster City, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Traveling from Foster City to Fremont is a quick, straightforward 23.1-mile journey that typically takes about 28 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it connects two points within the Pacific Coast region of California. You can expect to spend approximately $5 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly commute or short-distance excursion. Because the drive is short, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics or complex planning. It is a highly practical trip that functions well for those looking for an efficient way to cross between these two areas.
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
11.5 miles from Foster City, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 84% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will begin by navigating the J Arthur Younger Freeway, which offers the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 10.5 miles. Eventually, you will transition onto I-880 before finishing your journey on Mowry Avenue. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience rather than a winding scenic route, as the geography is defined by high-speed transit. The transition from freeway speeds to the local flow of Mowry Avenue marks the most significant change in your driving environment.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
J Arthur Younger Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 10.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on J Arthur Younger Freeway and I 880. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 23.1 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 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left toward CA 92 East: San Mateo Bridge, Hayward
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward CA 92 East: San Mateo Bridge, Hayward
8
11.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 880: Oakland, San Jose, Hesperian Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26A; 26B; 25B
Toward I 880: Oakland, San Jose, Hesperian Boul...
8
11.3 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 880: Oakland, San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 880: Oakland, San Jose
8
11.9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 880 South: San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26A
Toward I 880 South: San Jose
8
21.2 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward Mowry Avenue, Central Fremont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17
Toward Mowry Avenue, Central Fremont
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Foster City, CA to Fremont, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Jose along the way.
San Jose
11.1 mi in
|
~13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| J Arthur Younger Freeway | 10.5 mi | 12m |
| I 880 | 8 mi | 8m |
| Mowry Avenue | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Shell Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Metro Center Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
J Arthur Younger Freeway
— 10.5 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Foster City, CA and Fremont, CA.
1
Start on Shell Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Shell Boulevard
Use the left / uturn / straight lanes.
2
Turn right onto Metro Center Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Metro Center Boulevard
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
Toward CA 92 East: San Mateo Bridge, Hayward
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto CA 92
10 mi
·
12 min
·
J Arthur Younger Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 26A; 26B; 25B
Toward I 880: Oakland, San Jose, Hesperian Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 880: Oakland, San Jose
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 26A
Toward I 880 South: San Jose
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 880
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the none lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
I 880
Use the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 880
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 17
Toward Mowry Avenue, Central Fremont
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left
116 ft
·
3 sec
Use the left lane.
13
Turn straight onto Mowry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Mowry Avenue
14
Continue on Mowry Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Mowry Avenue
Use the none lane.
15
Arrive at destination
Mowry Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 28-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule rather than rushing. Since there are no required stops on this 23.1-mile route, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to build in extra time for breaks. Keep in mind that the majority of your travel occurs on high-speed highways, so stay alert when merging onto I-880. A great way to manage this trip is to check local traffic patterns on the J Arthur Younger Freeway before you leave, as this will be your primary corridor for the first half of the drive.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 11.5 miles from Foster City, CA, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.5 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 23.1 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11.5 miles or 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fremont, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Foster City, 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 Foster City, CA
This is one driving day of about 23.1 miles and 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Foster City, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on J Arthur Younger Freeway for about 10.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.5 mi from Foster City, CA · 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
12 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 23.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 11.5 miles from Foster City, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fremont, CA
The final approach into Fremont, 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 Fremont, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.35 one way
$10.70 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $5.52 | $11.03 |
| premium | $6.24 | $5.68 | $11.36 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.13 | $10.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.43 | $1.11 |
| Efficient EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.02 | $0.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.23 | $1.48 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Destination
Fremont, CA
Afternoon in Fremont on Sunday
Local time
4:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
51°F
Union City, CA
12 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
18 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
28m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Foster City, CA to Fremont, CA covers 23.1 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are J Arthur Younger Freeway, I 880, Mowry Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.5 miles from Foster City, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.35 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 23.1 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 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Foster City, CA to Fremont, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Jose along the way.
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