Origin
Los Banos, CA
Afternoon in Los Banos on Sunday
Local time
4:45 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Los Banos, CA to San Francisco, CA
Drive Time
1h 59m
Distance
121.6 mi
196 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 51m
★
6 AM
2h 0m
8 AM
2h 17m
10 AM
2h 6m
12 PM
2h 4m
3 PM
2h 7m
5 PM
2h 16m
8 PM
1h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Banos, CA
César O'neill
San Francisco, CA
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
Traveling from Los Banos to San Francisco covers 121.6 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 59 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a relatively short trek, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $17 on fuel, making this a budget-friendly way to reach the coast. Your journey primarily utilizes East Pacheco Boulevard, I-5, and the Westside Freeway to navigate out of the Central Valley. Both locations sit within the Pacific Coast region, ensuring a consistent climate as you travel between these two California points.
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
60.8 miles from Los Banos, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight-line interstate cruise for much of your journey. While you will utilize major thoroughfares like the Westside Freeway and I-5, the route maintains a 0% highway share, emphasizing the technical nature of the navigation. There isn't a long, monotonous stretch here; in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on East Pacheco Boulevard, requiring your full attention as you transition between roads. This profile creates a more active driving experience compared to a standard high-speed highway commute. Be prepared for constant adjustments and frequent turns as you navigate the path toward the city.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Pacheco Boulevard is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Los Banos, CA to San Francisco, CA is easy. At 1h 59m 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 Los Banos, CA to San Francisco, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Pacheco Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Westside Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Arthur H | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MacArthur Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dwight D | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Pacheco Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Banos, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on 6th Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
6th Street
2
Turn right onto East Pacheco Boulevard
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
East Pacheco Boulevard
3
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Sacramento, San Francisco
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 5: Sacramento, San Francisco
4
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
43 mi
·
45 min
·
Westside Freeway
5
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
6
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
7
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
8
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
9
Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
10
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
11
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: San Francisco
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 West: San Francisco
12
Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
14
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
15
Continue on Route 80
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Route 80
16
Continue on Route 80
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Route 80
17
Continue on Route 80
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Route 80
18
Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
19
Merge slight right onto Central Freeway
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Central Freeway
20
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Octavia Boulevard
21
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Market Street
22
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Market Street
23
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick sub-two-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to avoid peak congestion. While the route is short enough that you don't necessarily need to plan for lengthy rest stops, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise, especially with the $17 estimated cost. Given the turn-heavy nature of this specific path, try to depart during daylight hours to ensure you have maximum visibility for navigating local road transitions. As you prepare for the trip, keep your navigation system ready to assist with the frequent turns required throughout the 121.6-mile distance. Your best bet is to treat this as a direct run, allowing you to arrive in San Francisco refreshed and ready to go.
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 60.8 miles from Los Banos, CA, or about 59m into the drive.
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 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.8 miles or 59m 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 38m
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 Los Banos, 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 Los Banos, CA
This is one driving day of about 121.6 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Los Banos, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 60.8 mi from Los Banos, CA · 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.8 miles from Los Banos, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.16 one way
$56.32 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $29.04 | $58.08 |
| premium | $6.24 | $29.89 | $59.78 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $27.02 | $54.03 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.00
Golden Gate Bridge
$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
$28
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.5 | 0 | $12.77 | $5.84 |
| Efficient EV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.64 | $4.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.6 | 0 | $17.02 | $7.78 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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 Francisco, CA
Afternoon in San Francisco on Sunday
Local time
4:45 PM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
38°F
Hayward, CA
61 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
20 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 59m 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 Los Banos, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 121.6 miles and takes about 1h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Pacheco Boulevard, I 5, Westside Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.8 miles from Los Banos, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.16 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.
The drive from Los Banos, CA to San Francisco, CA is easy. At 1h 59m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Los Banos, CA to San Francisco, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Los Banos, CA to San Francisco, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From San Francisco, CA
More from Los Banos, CA
More trips to San Francisco, CA
Explore more options from Los Banos, CA or browse trips ending in San Francisco, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Los Banos, CA or San Francisco, CA on MapSof.net.