Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
84.3 mi
136 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
Photo: Abhishek Navlakha
The drive from Lodi, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 84.3 miles and takes about 1h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Lodi Avenue, South Hutchins Street, West Kettleman Lane for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.52 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
42.2 miles from Lodi, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 37m drive with frequent turns across 84.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Lodi, CA to San Francisco, CA is easy. At 1h 37m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lodi, CA to San Francisco, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Lodi Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Hutchins Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Kettleman Lane | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 4 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 242 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 24 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Caldecott Tunnel | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Lodi, CA and San Francisco, CA.
Start on South Sacramento Street
Turn left onto West Lodi Avenue
Turn left onto South Hutchins Street
Turn right onto West Kettleman Lane
Turn left
Keep slight right to continue on CA 4 West
Merge slight left
Keep slight right to continue on CA 242: Oakland, Concord
Merge slight left onto Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Take the exit slight right toward CA 24 West: Oakland, Lafayette, San Francisco
Keep slight right to continue on Caldecott Tunnel
Continue on Grove Shafter Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 580 West, I 580 East: San Francisco, Hayward
Keep slight right to continue on I 580 West: San Francisco
Keep slight left to continue on I 580: San Francisco, Sacramento
Merge slight left onto MacArthur Freeway
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: San Francisco
Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Continue on Route 80
Continue on Route 80
Continue on Route 80
Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Merge slight right onto Central Freeway
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
Turn right onto Market Street
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.2 miles or 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 1h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Francisco, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lodi, 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 Lodi, CA
This is one driving day of about 84.3 miles and 1h 37m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.2 mi from Lodi, CA · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42.2 miles from Lodi, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$19.52 one way
$39.04 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $20.13 | $40.26 |
| premium | $6.24 | $20.72 | $41.44 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.73 | $37.46 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.85 | $4.05 |
| Efficient EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.38 | $3.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.7 | 0 | $11.80 | $5.40 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Lodi on Saturday
Local time
2:42 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in San Francisco on Saturday
Local time
2:42 PM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
72°F
Mountain View, CA
42 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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