The drive from Fremont, CA to Rohnert Park, CA covers 78.2 miles and takes about 1h 38m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Redwood Highway, I 880, John T. Knox Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.7 miles on Redwood Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.97 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.
Midpoint
39.1 miles from Fremont, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Fremont is a suburban city in the southern part of the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area; it is the 4th largest city in the Bay Area by population. Fremont is in the southern part of Alameda County, California, between Union City to the north, Sunol and the hills to the east, Milpitas and Santa Clara County to the south, and the San Francisco Bay to the west. The city of Newark, near the edge of the Bay, is surrounded by the city of Fremont.
Fremont industry is not particularly large relative to other parts of the Bay Area, but neither is it a bedroom community. Many people in Fremont work locally in the electronics and high-tech industry, while many others commute to Silicon Valley or San Francisco locations for work.
Top landmarks
•Mission San José — 18th-century Spanish mission in Fremont, California
•Ardenwood Historic Farm — human settlement in California, United States of America
•Niles Depot Museum — railway museum in Niles, California
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 78.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Fremont, CA to Rohnert Park, CA covers 78.2 miles and takes about 1h 38m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Redwood Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 29.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.2 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 33.5 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 76.7 miles (CA 116): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These 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.
9
33.5 mi into trip|~41m in|I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13B
Toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael
8
76.7 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|CA 116
Take the exit onto CA 116 toward CA 116 West: Sebastopol, Downtown Cotati
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 481B
Toward CA 116 West: Sebastopol, Downtown Cotati
7
77 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|Gravenstein Highway
Turn right onto Gravenstein Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
77.1 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|Old Redwood Highway
Turn left onto Old Redwood Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fremont, CA and Rohnert Park, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento and San Rafael.
Sacramento
28.2 mi in|~34m|via I 880
San Rafael
33.5 mi in|~41m|via I 580
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Redwood Highway
29.7 mi
34m
I 880
17.8 mi
20m
John T. Knox Freeway
12.9 mi
17m
Nimitz Freeway
10.6 mi
13m
Eastshore Freeway
3.3 mi
4m
Mowry Avenue
1.4 mi
3m
Southwest Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
Commerce Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 29.7 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fremont, CA and Rohnert Park, 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
Continue on I 880
1.9 mi·2 min·Nimitz Freeway
Exit 46BToward I 80 East, I 580 West: San Rafael, Sacramento
8
Continue on I 80; I 580
3.3 mi·4 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
13 mi·17 min·John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 13BToward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San RafaelUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·54 sec
Exit 1AToward US 101 North: San Rafeal
11
Merge onto US 101
30 mi·34 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto CA 116
0.3 mi·40 sec·CA 116
Exit 481BToward CA 116 West: Sebastopol, Downtown CotatiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto Gravenstein Highway
449 ft·16 sec·Gravenstein Highway
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto Old Redwood Highway
427 ft·7 sec·Old Redwood Highway
Use the left lane.
15
Turn slight right onto Commerce Boulevard
0.3 mi·44 sec·Commerce Boulevard
Use the right lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto Southwest Boulevard
30 ft·0 sec·Southwest Boulevard
17
Continue on Southwest Boulevard
0.7 mi·1 min·Southwest Boulevard
18
Turn left onto Almond Street
162 ft·9 sec·Almond Street
19
Turn right onto Alta Avenue
236 ft·10 sec·Alta Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Alta Avenue
Trip Plan
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 39.1 miles from Fremont, CA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.7 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.1 miles or 48m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rohnert Park, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fremont, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fremont, CA
This is one driving day of about 78.2 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Fremont, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Redwood Highway for about 29.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.1 mi from Fremont, CA
· 48m into the drive
The midpoint is around 39.1 miles from Fremont, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Rohnert Park, CA
The final approach into Rohnert Park, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
9 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 45.8
From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches to its open grasslands, brushy hillsides, and forested ridges, Point Reyes offers visitors over 1500 spec...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 59.3
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.97 one way
$35.95 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$18.52
$37.04
premium
$6.18
$19.02
$38.03
diesel
$5.61
$17.27
$34.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.5
0
$8.21
$3.75
Efficient EV
19.6
0
$6.84
$3.13
EV Truck/SUV
31.3
0
$10.95
$5.00
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Fremont, CA
Morning
in Fremont on Saturday
Local time
7:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Partly Cloudy
N 1 to 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 7:10PM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
Rohnert Park, CA
Morning
in Rohnert Park on Saturday
Local time
7:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°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.
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
1 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
1h 38m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Rohnert Park, CA covers 78.2 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Redwood Highway, I 880, John T. Knox Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.1 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 $17.97 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.2 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.1 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.5 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 76.7 miles (CA 116): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Fremont, CA and Rohnert Park, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento and San Rafael.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, Muir Woods National Monument and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
