Trip from Maricopa, CA to San Francisco, CA

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

5h 34m

Distance

295.9 mi

476 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$68

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 21m ★

6 AM

5h 34m

8 AM

6h 1m

10 AM

5h 43m

12 PM

5h 41m

3 PM

5h 45m

5 PM

5h 59m

8 PM

5h 26m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Maricopa, CA

Efrem Efre

consolidated city and county in California, United States

San Francisco, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 295.9-mile drive from Maricopa, CA to San Francisco, CA will take approximately 5 hours and 34 minutes. It's a manageable single-day trip, and you can expect the majority of your journey to be on major freeways, making it a straightforward commute. With an estimated fuel cost of $68, this route is an efficient way to travel between the Pacific Coast regions of California. The drive is primarily highway-focused, so plan for consistent travel speeds. You'll spend most of your time on the Westside Freeway, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, and William Elton Brown Freeway.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

147.9 miles from Maricopa, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 34m. Total distance: 295.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for 89% of this 295.9-mile route. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 199.1 miles, primarily on the Westside Freeway. This means you'll be on fast-paced, multi-lane roads for the bulk of your journey. While the roads are predominantly high-speed freeways, the transition between them as you progress toward San Francisco offers a consistent driving rhythm. This route offers a direct and efficient passage, prioritizing miles covered over winding scenic detours.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 199.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 224 miles in near I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway.

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 19 significant decision points across 295.9 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 224 miles (I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 259 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 270.6 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

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

224 mi into trip | ~4h 8m in | I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco

259 mi into trip | ~4h 47m 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.

270.6 mi into trip | ~5h 1m 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

278.9 mi into trip | ~5h 10m in | I 580 / MacArthur Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

294.5 mi into trip | ~5h 31m 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
Westside Freeway	199.1 mi	3h 33m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway	29.6 mi	34m
William Elton Brown Freeway	17 mi	18m
Taft Highway	16.7 mi	23m
MacArthur Freeway	15.5 mi	17m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	6 mi	9m
West Side Highway	5.7 mi	7m
Enos Lane	2 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 199.1 mi, about 3h 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on CA 33

0.4 mi · 47 sec · California Street

Continue on CA 33

5.7 mi · 7 min · West Side Highway

Continue on CA 119

17 mi · 23 min · Taft Highway

Enter roundabout onto CA 43

310 ft · 4 sec · Enos Lane

Continue on CA 43

1.9 mi · 2 min · Enos Lane

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Merge onto I 5

199 mi · 3 hr 33 min · Westside Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

16 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass

1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

Merge onto I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

12 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

7.2 mi · 8 min · MacArthur Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min

Exit 19A Toward I 80 West: San Francisco

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.

Turn slight left onto I 80

0.4 mi · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the slight left lane.

Continue on I 80

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Route 80

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Continue on I 80

0.8 mi · 1 min · Route 80

Exit 2A Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Continue on I 80

0.4 mi · 32 sec · Route 80

Exit 1A Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Merge onto US 101

0.3 mi · 25 sec · Central Freeway

Continue on Octavia Boulevard

0.5 mi · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard

Exit 434B Toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto Market Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Market Street

Use the right lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Market Street

Arrive at destination

Market Street

Trip Plan

Given the 5-hour 34-minute duration, leaving Maricopa in the morning is recommended to reach San Francisco with daylight. You'll have one major stretch of 199.1 miles without needing to exit, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before embarking on that segment. The fuel cost is estimated at $68, so ensure your tank is sufficiently filled. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but be mindful of potential traffic as you approach the San Francisco Bay Area. A specific tip: monitor real-time traffic conditions as you approach your destination, as freeway speeds can significantly decrease during peak hours.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 147.9 miles from Maricopa, CA, or about 2h 47m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 199.1 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 65 miles or 1h 18m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 147.9 miles or 2h 47m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 28m

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 Maricopa, 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 Maricopa, CA

This is one driving day of about 295.9 miles and 5h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Maricopa, 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 Westside Freeway for about 199.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 147.9 mi from Maricopa, CA · 2h 47m into the drive

city in Alameda County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dublin, CA

148 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

Avenal, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Turlock, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 147.9 miles from Maricopa, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 199.1 miles.

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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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 295.9

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

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 ~18 min detour Free near mile 285.7

View on nps.gov

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 295.9

View on nps.gov

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 295.9

View on nps.gov

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 285.7

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$68.01 one way

$136.02 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 104 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.02	$70.08	$140.17
premium	$6.18	$71.96	$143.92
diesel	$5.61	$65.33	$130.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$68

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$93–$118

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 103.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	88.8	1	$31.07	$14.20
Efficient EV	74	0	$25.89	$11.84
EV Truck/SUV	118.4	1	$41.43	$18.94

Gas CO2

104 kg

EV CO2

35 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Maricopa, CA

Night in Maricopa on Thursday

Local time

11:50 PM

PDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

San Francisco, CA

Night in San Francisco on Thursday

Local time

11:50 PM

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

7 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

5h 34m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Maricopa, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 295.9 miles and takes about 5h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Westside Freeway, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, William Elton Brown 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 147.9 miles from Maricopa, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $68.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

The route from Maricopa, 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.

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Explore more options from Maricopa, CA or browse trips ending in San Francisco, CA.

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Trip from Maricopa, CA to San Francisco, CA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in San Francisco, CA

National Parks Near This Route

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Muir Woods National Monument

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Maricopa, CA

San Francisco, CA

Same local time

7 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 34m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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