Origin
Hayward, CA
Afternoon in Hayward on Sunday
Local time
1:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hayward, CA to Oakland, CA
Drive Time
22m
Distance
15.9 mi
26 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hayward, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Oakland, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Hayward, CA to Oakland, CA covers 15.9 miles and takes about 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Nimitz Freeway, Winton Avenue, Jackson Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13 miles on Nimitz Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.68 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
7.9 miles from Hayward, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 22m highway drive covering 15.9 miles, with most of the trip on Nimitz Freeway and Winton Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 13 miles on Nimitz Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Nimitz Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 13 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
105 ft
11 ft
Total Climb
63 ft
Total Descent
125 ft
Highest Point
105 ft
Elevation Range
94 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Nimitz Freeway and Winton Avenue. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 15.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Watkins Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Watkins Street
At end of road, turn right onto Watkins Street
Navigation decision point
8
14.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
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 41A
Toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
6
15.3 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
12th Street
Turn left onto 12th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
15.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Harrison Street
Turn right onto Harrison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Nimitz Freeway | 13 mi | 14m |
| Winton Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Jackson Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Oak Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 12th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 14th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Harrison Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Mission Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Nimitz Freeway
— 13 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hayward, CA and Oakland, CA.
1
Start on Mission Boulevard
304 ft
·
11 sec
·
Mission Boulevard
2
Turn right
269 ft
·
21 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto Watkins Street
93 ft
·
4 sec
·
Watkins Street
4
Turn left onto CA 92
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Jackson Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Turn slight right
177 ft
·
8 sec
6
Continue on Winton Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Winton Avenue
Use the straight lane.
7
At end of road, turn left onto Winton Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Winton Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 880 North: Oakland
Use the straight lane.
9
Merge onto I 880
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 41A
Toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Oak Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
12th Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto Harrison Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Harrison Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto 14th Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
14th Street
15
Arrive at destination
14th Street
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 7.9 miles from Hayward, CA, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13 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 15.9 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 7.9 miles or 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakland, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hayward, 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 Hayward, CA
This is one driving day of about 15.9 miles and 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hayward, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Nimitz Freeway for about 13 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 7.9 mi from Hayward, CA · 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 15.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 7.9 miles from Hayward, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Oakland, CA
The final approach into Oakland, 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 Oakland, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.68 one way
$7.36 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $3.80 | $7.59 |
| premium | $6.24 | $3.91 | $7.82 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.53 | $7.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.67 | $0.76 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.39 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.23 | $1.02 |
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
Oakland, CA
Afternoon in Oakland on Sunday
Local time
1:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
51°F
Union City, CA
8 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.
Temperature spread
4 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
22m 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 Hayward, CA to Oakland, CA covers 15.9 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Nimitz Freeway, Winton Avenue, Jackson Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.9 miles from Hayward, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.68 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 15.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Watkins Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Hayward, CA to Oakland, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 11 ft to 105 ft elevation with about 63 ft of total climbing.
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