The drive from Modesto, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 92.4 miles and takes about 1h 51m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, MacArthur Freeway, CA 99 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.7 miles on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.24 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.
Midpoint
46.2 miles from Modesto, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 92.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 51m highway drive covering 92.4 miles, with most of the trip on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway and MacArthur Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 29.7 miles on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway.
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.
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 29.7 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
597 ft-4 ft
Total Climb
810 ft
Total Descent
844 ft
Highest Point
597 ft
~59.4 mi in
Elevation Range
600 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway and MacArthur Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 55.5 miles in near I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.4 miles you will encounter 21 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 55.5 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.1 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.4 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
55.5 mi into trip|~1h 5m 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
67.1 mi into trip|~1h 18m 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
6
75.4 mi into trip|~1h 28m 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.
6
83.5 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway toward I 80 West: San Francisco
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
8
91 mi into trip|~1h 49m 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
MacArthur Freeway
15.5 mi
17m
CA 99
14 mi
16m
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
13.9 mi
15m
CA 120
6.8 mi
7m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6 mi
9m
Route 80
1.4 mi
2m
Westside Freeway
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
— 29.7 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Modesto, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on 11th Street
81 ft·10 sec·11th Street
2
Turn left onto H Street
0.4 mi·1 min·H Street
3
Turn right onto 6th Street
486 ft·15 sec·6th Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
5
Merge onto CA 99
14 mi·16 min·CA 99
6
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward CA 120 West: Manteca, San Francisco
7
Merge onto CA 120
6.8 mi·7 min·CA 120
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 5
1.2 mi·1 min·Westside Freeway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205
14 mi·15 min·Robert T. Monagan Freeway
10
Continue on I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi·13 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
8.3 mi·9 min·MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Oakland, San FranciscoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
7.2 mi·8 min·MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 19AToward I 80 West: San Francisco
15
Merge onto I 80
0.2 mi·17 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Toward I 80 West: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi·33 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
18
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi·1 min·Route 80
Exit 2AUse the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi·32 sec·Route 80
Exit 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 1BToward US 101 North: Golden Gate BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi·25 sec·Central Freeway
23
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi·42 sec·Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434BToward Octavia Boulevard, Fell StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Market Street
Use the right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
26
Arrive at destination
Market Street
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 46.2 miles from Modesto, CA, or about 54m 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.2 miles or 54m 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 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 Modesto, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Modesto, CA
This is one driving day of about 92.4 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Modesto, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 46.2 mi from Modesto, CA
· 54m into the drive
The midpoint is around 46.2 miles from Modesto, 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.
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...
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...
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 92.4
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 92.4
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 79.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.24 one way
$42.47 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$21.88
$43.77
premium
$6.18
$22.47
$44.94
diesel
$5.61
$20.40
$40.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.7
0
$9.70
$4.44
Efficient EV
23.1
0
$8.09
$3.70
EV Truck/SUV
37
0
$12.94
$5.91
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Modesto, CA
Late night
in Modesto on Friday
Local time
4:27 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Late night
in San Francisco on Friday
Local time
4:27 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 2 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Modesto, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 92.4 miles and takes about 1h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, MacArthur Freeway, CA 99. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.2 miles from Modesto, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.24 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 92.4 miles you will encounter 21 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 55.5 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.1 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.4 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Modesto, CA to San Francisco, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from -4 ft to 597 ft elevation with about 810 ft of total climbing.
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.
Elevation is sampled from
USGS 3DEP.
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.
