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Trip from Jamestown, CA to San Francisco, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 47m

Distance

128.7 mi

207 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

22 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 36m ★
6 AM
2h 47m
8 AM
3h 9m
10 AM
2h 55m
12 PM
2h 53m
3 PM
2h 56m
5 PM
3h 8m
8 PM
2h 41m

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

Downtown Jamestown, CA, CA

Jamestown, CA

Stephen Leonardi

consolidated city and county in California, United States

San Francisco, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 128.7-mile drive from Jamestown, CA to San Francisco, CA takes approximately 2 hours and 47 minutes. It's a manageable one-day trip, with a fuel cost estimated at $30. The route is primarily highway-focused, with about 78% of the drive on major freeways like the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway and MacArthur Freeway. You'll be traveling within the Pacific Coast region for the entire journey, offering a consistent regional experience. This makes it an efficient option if you're looking for a straightforward transition between these two California locations.

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

64.3 miles from Jamestown, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 128.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 128.7-mile journey, with 78% of the route utilizing major freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 29.7 miles along the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. While much of the drive will be on these faster roads, you'll also navigate segments of CA 108. The character of the drive is largely about efficient travel, with the goal of covering distance smoothly on well-maintained roadways. It’s less about winding scenic byways and more about direct transit.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 29.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway and CA 108. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 50.7 miles in near CA 120.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 22 significant decision points across 128.7 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 50.7 miles (CA 120): Lane positioning matters here; at 51.2 miles (CA 120): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 91.7 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 22 key points

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

6
50.7 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in | CA 120

Turn left onto CA 120

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
51.2 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in | CA 120

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 120 toward CA 120 West: Manteca, San Francisco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward CA 120 West: Manteca, San Francisco
6
91.7 mi into trip | ~2h in | I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
103.4 mi into trip | ~2h 14m 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
8
127.2 mi into trip | ~2h 44m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 1B Toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway 29.7 mi 34m
CA 108 24.7 mi 33m
MacArthur Freeway 15.5 mi 17m
Robert T. Monagan Freeway 13.9 mi 15m
Yosemite Avenue 10.8 mi 16m
CA 120 7.9 mi 9m
Lon Dale Road 7.1 mi 10m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 6 mi 9m
Longest stretch: Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway — 29.7 mi, about 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jamestown, CA and San Francisco, CA.

1

Start on Seco Street

82 ft · 9 sec · Seco Street
2

Turn left onto Main Street

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Main Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto CA 49; CA 108

2.2 mi · 3 min · CA 49; CA 108
4

Enter roundabout onto CA 49; CA 108

105 ft · 1 sec · CA 49; CA 108
5

Continue on CA 49; CA 108

3.7 mi · 5 min · CA 49; CA 108
Use the left lane.
6

Continue on CA 108; CA 120

25 mi · 33 min · CA 108; CA 120
7

Turn right onto CA 120; J9; J14

0.9 mi · 2 min · North Yosemite Avenue
8

Continue on CA 120; J9; J14

0.9 mi · 1 min · Valley Home Road
9

Continue on CA 120; J9

7.1 mi · 10 min · Lon Dale Road
10

Continue on CA 120

0.2 mi · 30 sec · California Street
11

Continue on CA 120; J7

11 mi · 16 min · Yosemite Avenue
12

Turn left onto CA 120

0.5 mi · 51 sec · CA 120
Use the left lane.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 120

7.4 mi · 8 min · CA 120
Toward CA 120 West: Manteca, San Francisco Use the right lane.
14

Merge onto I 5

1.2 mi · 1 min · Westside Freeway
15

Keep slight right at fork onto I 205

14 mi · 15 min · Robert T. Monagan Freeway
16

Continue on I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

12 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

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.
19

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

7.2 mi · 8 min · MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 19A Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
21

Merge onto I 80

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Turn slight left onto I 80

0.4 mi · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
23

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
24

Continue on I 80

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
25

Continue on I 80

0.8 mi · 1 min · Route 80
Exit 2A Use the straight / slight left lanes.
26

Continue on I 80

0.4 mi · 32 sec · Route 80
Exit 1A Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 38 sec
Exit 1B Toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Merge onto US 101

0.3 mi · 25 sec · Central Freeway
29

Continue on Octavia Boulevard

0.5 mi · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434B Toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30

Turn right onto Market Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Market Street
Use the right lane.
31

Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Market Street
32

Arrive at destination

Market Street

Trip Plan

Given the 2 hour and 47 minute duration, this 128.7-mile trip is easily accomplished in a single day. Aim to depart Jamestown, CA earlier in the day to maximize daylight and potentially avoid heavier traffic as you approach San Francisco. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $30, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering longer stretches on the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. The primary roads include the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway and MacArthur Freeway, so be prepared for typical freeway conditions.

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.3 miles from Jamestown, CA, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.7 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 28 miles or 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 64.3 miles or 1h 29m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Francisco, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Jamestown, 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 Jamestown, CA

This is one driving day of about 128.7 miles and 2h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Jamestown, 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 Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway for about 29.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 64.3 mi from Jamestown, CA · 1h 29m into the drive

city in Contra Costa County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brentwood, CA

64 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

Modesto, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lathrop, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 64.3 miles from Jamestown, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in San Francisco, CA

The final approach into San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, CA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Crepevine Restaurants

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

San Francisco, California

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30 mile 128.7

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+14156815858

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Saint Frank Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

San Francisco, California

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 128.7

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+14158818062

Visit website

Roaming Bean Coffee

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Berkeley, California

2.6 mi

Crepevine Restaurants

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30 mile 128.7

San Francisco, California

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+14156815858

Visit website

Saint Frank Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 128.7

San Francisco, California

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+14158818062

Visit website

Roaming Bean Coffee

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 119.5

Berkeley, California

Hours: 8:30 am–1 pm

+19252572672

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.3 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Sonora, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

PanIQ Escape Room San Francisco

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 128.7

San Francisco, California

Hours: 2:30–9:30 pm

+14158293758

Visit website

Mission Dolores Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 128.7

San Francisco, CA

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14158312700

Visit website

Corona Heights Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 128.7

San Francisco, CA

Hours: 5 am–12 pm

+14158312700

Visit website

Helen Diller Playground

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 128.7

San Francisco, California

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14158312700

Visit website

Randall Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 128.7

San Francisco, California

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+14155549600

Visit website

Sulphur Creek Nature Center

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 101.1

Hayward, California

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+15108816747

Visit website

GLBT Historical Society Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 128.7

San Francisco, California

Hours: 11 am–1 pm

+14157775455

Visit website

The American Bookbinders Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 128.7

San Francisco, California

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+14158249754

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

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...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour Free near mile 128.6
Park Closure: Hyde Street Pier Closure
Caution: Sick Birds and Wildlife, H5N1
View on nps.gov
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

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...

7 mi from route ~17 min detour Free near mile 119.7
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area

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...

12 mi from route ~29 min detour Free near mile 128.6
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument

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,...

12 mi from route ~30 min detour $15 near mile 128.6
View on nps.gov
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

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 115.3
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$29.58 one way

$59.16 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $30.48 $60.97
premium $6.18 $31.30 $62.60
diesel $5.61 $28.42 $56.83

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 45 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

22 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

The Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley - Tesla Supercharger

Manteca, CA

Tesla

20 DCFC

Sizzler - Tesla Supercharger

Manteca, CA

Tesla

16 DCFC

MG Market - Tesla Supercharger

Ripon, CA

Tesla

12 DCFC

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Manteca, CA

Tesla

12 DCFC

Power Market - Tesla Supercharger

Lathrop, CA

Tesla

11 DCFC

Ashley Investments (Manteca, CA)

Manteca, CA

Electrify America

10 DCFC

Savemart - Tesla Supercharger

Sonora, CA

Tesla

8 DCFC

Stadium Shopping Center

Manteca, CA

eVgo Network

8 DCFC

Tesla: 6 ChargePoint Network: 6 eVgo Network: 3 EV Connect: 2 EVCS: 2 Non-Networked: 1 Electrify America: 1 RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38.6 0 $13.51 $6.18
Efficient EV 32.2 0 $11.26 $5.15
EV Truck/SUV 51.5 0 $18.02 $8.24

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 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

Jamestown, CA

Late night in Jamestown on Friday

Local time

4:33 AM

PDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

San Francisco, CA

Late night in San Francisco on Friday

Local time

4:33 AM

PDT

Current temp

44°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

2 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

2h 47m 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 Jamestown, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 128.7 miles and takes about 2h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, CA 108, MacArthur 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 64.3 miles from Jamestown, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.58 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.

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 22 significant decision points across 128.7 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 50.7 miles (CA 120): Lane positioning matters here; at 51.2 miles (CA 120): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 91.7 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Jamestown, CA to San Francisco, 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 5 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. EV charging comes from the NREL Alternative Fuels dataset. 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.

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