Origin
Fremont, CA
Night in Fremont on Thursday
Local time
10:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fremont, CA to Chinatown, CA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
50m
Distance
36.8 mi
59 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chinatown, CA
Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Overview
The drive from Fremont, CA to Chinatown, CA covers 36.8 miles and takes about 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 880, Nimitz Freeway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.8 miles on I 880. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.46 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 36.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 50m highway drive covering 36.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 880 and Nimitz Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 17.8 miles on I 880.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 880 is the longest continuous segment at about 17.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 880 and Nimitz Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.1 miles in near I 880.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 36.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.1 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles (I 880 / Nimitz Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
8.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 880
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
26 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
I 880 / Nimitz Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880 / Nimitz Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
28.2 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 80 Toll West: San Francisco, Bay Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 46A
Toward I 80 Toll West: San Francisco, Bay Bridg...
8
35.1 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward Fremont Street, Folsom Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 2C
Toward Fremont Street, Folsom Street
6
36.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
Washington Street
Turn left onto Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 880 | 17.8 mi | 20m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 8.7 mi | 10m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| Mowry Avenue | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| California Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Fremont Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Kearny Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Grant Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 880
— 17.8 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fremont, CA and Chinatown, CA.
1
Start on Mowry Avenue
109 ft
·
4 sec
·
Mowry Avenue
2
Continue on Mowry Avenue
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Mowry Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 880 North: Oakland
4
Merge onto I 880
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
18 mi
·
20 min
·
I 880
Use the slight left lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 46A
Toward I 80 Toll West: San Francisco, Bay Bridge
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Use the slight left lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
220 ft
·
3 sec
Toward I 80
10
Merge onto I 80
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 2C
Toward Fremont Street, Folsom Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto Fremont Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Fremont Street
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on Front Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Front Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Turn left onto California Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
California Street
15
Turn right onto Kearny Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Kearny Street
16
Turn left onto Washington Street
446 ft
·
23 sec
·
Washington Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto Grant Avenue
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
Grant Avenue
18
Turn left onto Pacific Avenue
512 ft
·
23 sec
·
Pacific Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Pacific Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.4 mi from Fremont, CA · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Fremont, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chinatown, CA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Chinatown, CA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.46 one way
$16.92 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $8.72 | $17.43 |
| premium | $6.18 | $8.95 | $17.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.12 | $16.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.86 | $1.77 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.22 | $1.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.36 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Chinatown, CA
Night in Chinatown on Thursday
Local time
10:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
50m 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 Fremont, CA to Chinatown, CA covers 36.8 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 880, Nimitz Freeway, 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 18.4 miles from Fremont, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.46 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 short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 36.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.1 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles (I 880 / Nimitz Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Fremont, CA to Chinatown, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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