Origin
Oakland, CA
Morning in Oakland on Saturday
Local time
11:44 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oakland, CA to Channel Islands Beach, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 5m
Distance
354.9 mi
571 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$82
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
46 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 54m
★
6 AM
7h 6m
8 AM
7h 28m
10 AM
7h 13m
12 PM
7h 11m
3 PM
7h 14m
5 PM
7h 27m
8 PM
6h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oakland, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Channel Islands Beach, CA
Tori Pezzulla❤️
Trip Overview
The drive from Oakland, CA to Channel Islands Beach, CA covers 354.9 miles and takes about 7h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on El Camino Real, Bayshore Freeway, Chumash Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 207.8 miles on El Camino Real. At current regular gas prices, budget about $81.57 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
177.4 miles from Oakland, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| El Camino Real | 207.8 mi | 3h 59m |
| Bayshore Freeway | 38.6 mi | 44m |
| Chumash Highway | 32.6 mi | 45m |
| I 880 | 27.2 mi | 30m |
| Ventura Freeway | 15.6 mi | 17m |
| Cabrillo Highway | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 9.9 mi | 12m |
| East Harbor Boulevard | 7 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
El Camino Real
— 207.8 mi, about 3h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakland, CA and Channel Islands Beach, CA.
1
Start on 14th Street
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
·
14th Street
2
Turn right onto Harrison Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Harrison Street
3
Turn left onto 11th Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
11th Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto Madison Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Madison Street
5
Turn left onto 5th Street
381 ft
·
8 sec
·
5th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 880 South: San Jose
7
Merge onto I 880
9.9 mi
·
12 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 880
Use the slight left lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
I 880
Use the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
19 mi
·
21 min
·
I 880
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Merge onto US 101
39 mi
·
44 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on US 101
10 mi
·
11 min
·
El Camino Real
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
15
Merge onto US 101; CA 156
136 mi
·
2 hr 36 min
·
El Camino Real
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 101
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Cabrillo Highway
17
Continue on US 101
45 mi
·
51 min
·
El Camino Real
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
Toward CA 154: Los Olivos, Lake Cachuma
19
Turn left onto CA 154
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Chumash Highway
20
Enter roundabout onto CA 154
127 ft
·
2 sec
·
Chumash Highway
21
Continue on CA 154
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Chumash Highway
22
Enter roundabout onto CA 154
113 ft
·
2 sec
·
Chumash Highway
Toward CA 154 East: Cachuma Lake, Santa Barbara
23
Continue on CA 154
24 mi
·
32 min
·
Chumash Highway
Toward CA 154 East: Cachuma Lake, Santa Barbara
Use the straight lane.
24
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward US 101 South
Use the slight left lane.
25
Merge onto US 101
17 mi
·
19 min
·
El Camino Real
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on US 101
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 68
Toward Seaward Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Turn left onto East Harbor Boulevard
7.0 mi
·
10 min
·
East Harbor Boulevard
29
Continue on West Channel Islands Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
West Channel Islands Boulevard
30
Turn right onto South Victoria Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Victoria Avenue
31
Turn right onto Anacapa Avenue
360 ft
·
15 sec
·
Anacapa Avenue
32
Arrive at destination
Anacapa Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 177.4 miles from Oakland, CA, or about 3h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 207.8 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 78 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.4 miles or 3h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Channel Islands Beach, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Oakland, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Oakland, CA
This is one driving day of about 354.9 miles and 7h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Oakland, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on El Camino Real for about 207.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
177 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 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 177.4 miles from Oakland, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before El Camino Real if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 207.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 245 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 345.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
11th Street
Turn left onto 11th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
11 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 880
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
16.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 880
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
7
38.2 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
7
345.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 50m in
Take the exit toward Seaward Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 68
Toward Seaward Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$81.57 one way
$163.14 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
124 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $84.06 | $168.12 |
| premium | $6.18 | $86.31 | $172.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $78.36 | $156.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$82
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$107–$132
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
46 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
EVgo Charging Station
Santa Maria, California
EVgo
1 DCFC
Schneider EV Stations
Santa Maria, California
Other
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Santa Maria, California
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Santa Maria, California
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Salinas, California
Blink
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Soledad, California
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
San Luis Obispo, California
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Santa Maria, California
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 20
Other: 8
Tesla: 5
Blink: 3
EVCS: 3
EVgo: 2
Electrify America: 2
Tesla Destination: 1
EV Connect: 1
Shell Recharge: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106.5 | 1 | $37.26 | $17.04 |
| Efficient EV | 88.7 | 1 | $31.05 | $14.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 142 | 1 | $49.69 | $22.71 |
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
42 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.
Destination
Channel Islands Beach, CA
Morning in Channel Islands Beach on Saturday
Local time
11:44 AM
PDT
Current temp
62°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
5 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
7h 5m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
Park Closure: Hyde Street Pier Closure
Caution: Sick Birds and Wildlife, H5N1
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Pinnacles National Park
National Park
Around 23 million years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions shaped the landscape that is now Pinnacles National Park. The remnants of these ancient eruptions have formed a striking terrain of rocky sp...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
$30
near mile 122.4
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...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
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,...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
$15
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 7h 5m drive with frequent turns across 354.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
El Camino Real is the longest continuous segment at about 207.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near 11th Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 24 significant decision points across 354.9 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 0.4 miles (11th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Oakland, CA and Channel Islands Beach, CA, road signs point toward Lake Cachuma and Santa Barbara.
Lake Cachuma
280.3 mi in
|
~5h 25m
Santa Barbara
289.1 mi in
|
~5h 39m
|
via CA 154
About the Cities
Starting in Oakland, CA
Full guide →Oakland is a port city in the Bay Area of California in the United States. Once an industrial area overshadowed by San Francisco, its larger neighbor to the west, this city of 440,000 people (2020) has begun to step out from under San Francisco's shadow with its notable natural and architectural features and its rise as the multicultural "hipster" city of the Bay Area.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 5m. Total distance: 354.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 5m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Oakland, CA to Channel Islands Beach, CA covers 354.9 miles and takes about 7h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are El Camino Real, Bayshore Freeway, Chumash Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 177.4 miles from Oakland, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $81.57 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 354.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (11th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Oakland, CA and Channel Islands Beach, CA, road signs point toward Lake Cachuma and Santa Barbara.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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