The drive from Fresno, CA to North Richmond, CA covers 188.7 miles and takes about 3h 44m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Northbound California State Route 99, CA 99, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 74.7 miles on Northbound California State Route 99.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.37 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
94.3 miles from Fresno, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 188.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 44m highway drive covering 188.7 miles, with most of the trip on Northbound California State Route 99 and CA 99. The longest continuous stretch is about 74.7 miles on Northbound California State Route 99.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Northbound California State Route 99 is the longest continuous segment at about 74.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Northbound California State Route 99 and CA 99. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 188.7 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 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.5 miles (CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 161.6 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
12.7 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward Avenue 7
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 144
Toward Avenue 7
7
34.5 mi into trip|~41m in|CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99 toward CA 99
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 99
8
161.6 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Oakland, San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580: Oakland, San Francisco
9
181.6 mi into trip|~3h 32m 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
7
185.6 mi into trip|~3h 37m in
Take the exit toward Harbour Way North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 9B
Toward Harbour Way North
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fresno, CA and North Richmond, CA, road signs point toward Avenue 7 and San Francisco.
Avenue 7
12.7 mi in|~16m
San Francisco
109.2 mi in|~2h 8m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Northbound California State Route 99
74.7 mi
1h 27m
CA 99
30.8 mi
34m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.7 mi
34m
MacArthur Freeway
16.7 mi
19m
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
13.9 mi
15m
CA 120
6.8 mi
7m
John T. Knox Freeway
4 mi
4m
Eastshore Freeway
3.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Northbound California State Route 99
— 74.7 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fresno, CA and North Richmond, CA.
1
Start on East Washington Avenue
28 ft·3 sec·East Washington Avenue
2
Turn right onto North First Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·North First Street
3
Turn left onto East Belmont Avenue
2.9 mi·5 min·East Belmont Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward CA 99 North
5
Merge onto CA 99
9.4 mi·10 min·CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·30 sec
Exit 144Toward Avenue 7Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto CA 99
21 mi·24 min·CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99
75 mi·1 hr 27 min·Northbound California State Route 99
Toward CA 99Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward CA 120 West: Manteca, San Francisco
10
Merge onto CA 120
6.8 mi·7 min·CA 120
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 5
1.2 mi·1 min·Westside Freeway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205
14 mi·15 min·Robert T. Monagan Freeway
13
Continue on I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi·13 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
8.3 mi·9 min·MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Oakland, San FranciscoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
8.3 mi·9 min·MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 80; I 580
3.3 mi·4 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
4.0 mi·4 min·John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 13BToward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San RafaelUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 9BToward Harbour Way NorthUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn straight onto Harbour Way South
1.3 mi·2 min·Harbour Way South
Use the straight / left lanes.
21
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.2 mi·32 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto 7th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·7th Street
23
Continue on Fred Jackson Way
0.6 mi·1 min·Fred Jackson Way
24
Turn left onto Market Avenue
150 ft·6 sec·Market Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Market Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 94.3 miles from Fresno, CA, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.7 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 42 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.3 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Richmond, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fresno, 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 Fresno, CA
This is one driving day of about 188.7 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Fresno, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Northbound California State Route 99 for about 74.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94.3 mi from Fresno, CA
· 1h 51m into the drive
The midpoint is around 94.3 miles from Fresno, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Northbound California State Route 99 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.7 miles.
Arriving in North Richmond, CA
The final approach into North Richmond, 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 North Richmond, CA.
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 182.2
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...
9 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 182.2
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,...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
$15
near mile 188.7
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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 188.7
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...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 182.2
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 188.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.37 one way
$86.74 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$44.69
$89.39
premium
$6.18
$45.89
$91.78
diesel
$5.61
$41.66
$83.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.6
0
$19.81
$9.06
Efficient EV
47.2
0
$16.51
$7.55
EV Truck/SUV
75.5
0
$26.42
$12.08
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 16, 2026
Origin
Fresno, CA
Late night
in Fresno on Friday
Local time
5:27 AM
PDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
NW 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:59AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
North Richmond, CA
Late night
in North Richmond on Friday
Local time
5:27 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°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
5 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
3h 44m 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 Fresno, CA to North Richmond, CA covers 188.7 miles and takes about 3h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northbound California State Route 99, CA 99, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 94.3 miles from Fresno, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 188.7 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 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.5 miles (CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 161.6 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Fresno, CA and North Richmond, CA, road signs point toward Avenue 7 and San Francisco.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Muir Woods National Monument. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
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.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
