Origin
Hillsborough Park, CA
Night in Hillsborough Park on Wednesday
Local time
9:15 PM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Hillsborough Park, CA to Menlo Park, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
28m
Distance
16.9 mi
27 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Menlo Park, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Hillsborough Park, CA to Menlo Park, CA covers 16.9 miles and takes about 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Bayshore Freeway, Marsh Road, West Santa Inez Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 10.4 miles on Bayshore Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.88 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
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
8.5 miles from Hillsborough Park, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 28m highway drive covering 16.9 miles, with most of the trip on Bayshore Freeway and Marsh Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 10.4 miles on Bayshore Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Bayshore Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 10.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bayshore Freeway and Marsh Road. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near CA 82 / North El Camino Real.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 16.9 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 2.4 miles (CA 82 / North El Camino Real): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (East Poplar Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
CA 82 / North El Camino Real
At end of road, turn left onto CA 82 / North El Camino Real
Navigation decision point
7
2.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
East Poplar Avenue
Turn sharp right onto East Poplar Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
14 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward CA 84 East: Marsh Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 406
Toward CA 84 East: Marsh Road
6
14.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Marsh Road
Turn right onto Marsh Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
15.3 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
Middlefield Road
At end of road, turn left onto Middlefield Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bayshore Freeway | 10.4 mi | 12m |
| Marsh Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| West Santa Inez Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Middlefield Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| East Poplar Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Hayne Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Ravenswood Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Black Mountain Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Bayshore Freeway
— 10.4 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hillsborough Park, CA and Menlo Park, CA.
1
Start on San Raymundo Road
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
San Raymundo Road
2
Continue on Sandra Road
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Sandra Road
3
Turn left onto Hayne Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Hayne Road
4
Continue on Black Mountain Road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Black Mountain Road
5
Continue on West Santa Inez Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Santa Inez Avenue
6
At end of road, turn left onto CA 82
404 ft
·
17 sec
·
North El Camino Real
7
Turn sharp right onto East Poplar Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Poplar Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
Toward US 101 South: San Jose
9
Merge onto US 101
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 406
Toward CA 84 East: Marsh Road
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto Marsh Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Marsh Road
Use the right lane.
12
At end of road, turn left onto Middlefield Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Middlefield Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Ravenswood Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Ravenswood Avenue
14
Turn right onto Merrill Street
197 ft
·
15 sec
·
Merrill Street
15
Turn left
38 ft
·
4 sec
16
Turn right
121 ft
·
9 sec
17
Arrive at destination
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 8.5 miles from Hillsborough Park, CA, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.4 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 16.9 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.5 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Menlo Park, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Hillsborough Park, CA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hillsborough Park, CA
This is one driving day of about 16.9 miles and 28m.
At 16.9 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Bayshore Freeway for about 10.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.5 mi from Hillsborough Park, CA · 14m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.5 miles from Hillsborough Park, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Menlo Park, CA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Menlo Park, CA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.88 one way
$7.77 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $4.00 | $8.01 |
| premium | $6.18 | $4.11 | $8.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.73 | $7.46 |
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: 5.9 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 | 5.1 | 0 | $1.77 | $0.81 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.48 | $0.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.37 | $1.08 |
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
Menlo Park, CA
Night in Menlo Park on Wednesday
Local time
9:15 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
28m 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 Hillsborough Park, CA to Menlo Park, CA covers 16.9 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bayshore Freeway, Marsh Road, West Santa Inez Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.5 miles from Hillsborough Park, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.88 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 16.9 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 2.4 miles (CA 82 / North El Camino Real): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (East Poplar Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Hillsborough Park, CA to Menlo Park, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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