Origin
Grabtown, CA
Morning in Grabtown on Thursday
Local time
8:43 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Grabtown, CA to San Mateo, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
29m
Distance
17.4 mi
28 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Mateo, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Grabtown, CA to San Mateo, CA covers 17.4 miles and takes about 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Skyline Boulevard, J Arthur Younger Freeway, Half Moon Bay Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 6.9 miles on Skyline Boulevard. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.00 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 17.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (22%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 29m drive with frequent turns across 17.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Skyline Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 6.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near CA 35 / Skyline Boulevard.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 29m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (CA 35 / Skyline Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 9.5 miles (CA 92; CA 35 / Half Moon Bay Road): Navigation decision point; at 16 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
2.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
CA 35 / Skyline Boulevard
Turn left onto CA 35 / Skyline Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
9.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
CA 92; CA 35 / Half Moon Bay Road
At end of road, turn right onto CA 92; CA 35 / Half Moon Bay Road
Navigation decision point
7
16 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward CA 82 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12A
Toward CA 82 South
5
16.2 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
CA 82 / South El Camino Real
Turn left onto CA 82 / South El Camino Real
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Skyline Boulevard | 6.9 mi | 10m |
| J Arthur Younger Freeway | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Half Moon Bay Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Tunitas Creek Road | 2.6 mi | 6m |
| South El Camino Real | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Skyline Boulevard
— 6.9 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grabtown, CA and San Mateo, CA.
1
Start on Tunitas Creek Road
2.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Tunitas Creek Road
2
Turn left onto CA 35
6.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Skyline Boulevard
3
At end of road, turn right onto CA 92; CA 35
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Half Moon Bay Road
4
Continue on CA 92
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
J Arthur Younger Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 12A
Toward CA 82 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left onto CA 82
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South El Camino Real
Use the left lane.
7
Arrive at destination
CA 82
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.00 one way
$8.00 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $4.12 | $8.24 |
| premium | $6.18 | $4.23 | $8.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.84 | $7.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.83 | $0.84 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.52 | $0.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.11 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
San Mateo, CA
Morning in San Mateo on Thursday
Local time
8:43 AM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
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
29m 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 Grabtown, CA to San Mateo, CA covers 17.4 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Skyline Boulevard, J Arthur Younger Freeway, Half Moon Bay Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.7 miles from Grabtown, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.00 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 straightforward 29m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (CA 35 / Skyline Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 9.5 miles (CA 92; CA 35 / Half Moon Bay Road): Navigation decision point; at 16 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Grabtown, CA to San Mateo, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
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