Trip from Fresno, CA to Sea Ranch, CA

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

5h 58m

Distance

287.6 mi

463 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$66

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 46m ★

6 AM

5h 59m

8 AM

6h 25m

10 AM

6h 8m

12 PM

6h 5m

3 PM

6h 9m

5 PM

6h 24m

8 PM

5h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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county seat of Fresno County, California, United States

Fresno, CA

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Trip Overview

The drive from Fresno, CA to Sea Ranch, CA covers 287.6 miles and takes about 5h 58m 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, Coast Highway, CA 99 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 $66.10 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

143.8 miles from Fresno, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 48m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 5h 58m highway drive covering 287.6 miles, with most of the trip on Northbound California State Route 99 and Coast Highway. 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 30 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 Coast Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 287.6 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 23 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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

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

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

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

222.9 mi into trip | ~4h 23m in

Take the exit toward Railroad Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 479 Toward Railroad Avenue

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 Sea Ranch, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco and San Rafael.

San Francisco

109.2 mi in | ~2h 8m

San Rafael

181.6 mi in | ~3h 32m | via I 580

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Northbound California State Route 99	74.7 mi	1h 27m
Coast Highway	41.6 mi	59m
CA 99	30.8 mi	34m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway	29.7 mi	34m
Redwood Highway	27.8 mi	32m
MacArthur Freeway	16.7 mi	19m
Robert T. Monagan Freeway	13.9 mi	15m
John T. Knox Freeway	12.9 mi	17m

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 Sea Ranch, CA.

Start on East Washington Avenue

28 ft · 3 sec · East Washington Avenue

Turn right onto North First Street

0.2 mi · 22 sec · North First Street

Turn left onto East Belmont Avenue

2.9 mi · 5 min · East Belmont Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Toward CA 99 North

Merge onto CA 99

9.4 mi · 10 min · CA 99

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 30 sec

Exit 144 Toward Avenue 7 Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto CA 99

21 mi · 24 min · CA 99

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99

75 mi · 1 hr 27 min · Northbound California State Route 99

Toward CA 99 Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min

Toward CA 120 West: Manteca, San Francisco

Merge onto CA 120

6.8 mi · 7 min · CA 120

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 5

1.2 mi · 1 min · Westside Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 205

14 mi · 15 min · Robert T. Monagan Freeway

Continue on I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

12 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

8.3 mi · 9 min · MacArthur Freeway

Toward I 580: Oakland, San Francisco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

8.3 mi · 9 min · MacArthur Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 80; I 580

3.3 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

13 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway

Exit 13B Toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 54 sec

Exit 1A Toward US 101 North: San Rafeal

Merge onto US 101

28 mi · 32 min · Redwood Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Exit 479 Toward Railroad Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto West Railroad Avenue

0.4 mi · 46 sec · West Railroad Avenue

Turn right onto Stony Point Road

1.7 mi · 3 min · Stony Point Road

Turn left onto Roblar Road

6.5 mi · 8 min · Roblar Road

At end of road, turn right onto Valley Ford Road

5.5 mi · 7 min · Valley Ford Road

Continue on CA 1

2.9 mi · 3 min · Valley Ford Cutoff

Continue on CA 1

5.8 mi · 10 min · Bay Highway

Continue on CA 1

8.7 mi · 11 min · Coast Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 1

33 mi · 47 min · Coast Highway

Arrive at destination

CA 1

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 143.8 miles from Fresno, CA, or about 2h 48m 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 143.8 miles or 2h 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 4h 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sea Ranch, 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 287.6 miles and 5h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 143.8 mi from Fresno, CA · 2h 48m into the drive

city in Contra Costa County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Richmond, CA

144 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

Turlock, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dublin, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 143.8 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 Sea Ranch, CA

The final approach into Sea Ranch, 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 Sea Ranch, 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 ~7 min detour Free near mile 188.4

View on nps.gov

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

7 mi from route ~18 min detour Free near mile 178.5

View on nps.gov

Muir Woods National Monument

National Monument

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,...

8 mi from route ~19 min detour $15 near mile 198.3

View on nps.gov

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

National Recreation 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...

10 mi from route ~26 min detour Free near mile 198.3

View on nps.gov

Point Reyes National Seashore

National Seashore

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 ~45 min detour Free near mile 208.2

View on nps.gov

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

National Memorial

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...

21 mi from route ~52 min detour Free near mile 178.5

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$66.10 one way

$132.21 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 101 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.02	$68.12	$136.24
premium	$6.18	$69.94	$139.88
diesel	$5.61	$63.50	$127.00

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$66

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$91–$116

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 100.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	86.3	1	$30.20	$13.80
Efficient EV	71.9	0	$25.17	$11.50
EV Truck/SUV	115	1	$40.26	$18.41

Gas CO2

101 kg

EV CO2

34 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 17 minutes from now

Origin

Fresno, CA

Evening in Fresno on Tuesday

Local time

5:41 PM

PDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sea Ranch, CA

Evening in Sea Ranch on Tuesday

Local time

5:41 PM

PDT

Current temp

Unavailable

46°F

Richmond, CA

144 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.

Road read

5h 58m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Sea Ranch, CA covers 287.6 miles and takes about 5h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Northbound California State Route 99, Coast Highway, CA 99. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 143.8 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 $66.10 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.