Oakland, CA to Clay, CA is 89.8 miles and takes about 2h 8m via CA 160 and CA 4, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within California's Pacific Coast region, offering a mixed driving experience. It's a manageable distance, making it ideal for a single-day trip without feeling rushed. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward journey with a relatively low time commitment and fuel cost.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.9 miles from Oakland, 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 2h 8m. Total distance: 89.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This trip features a mixed drive profile, with 57% of the journey on highways. You'll experience stretches on CA 160, CA 4, and Twin Cities Road. The longest uninterrupted segment spans 18.2 miles on CA 160, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. The road character shifts as you progress, moving from more highway-focused sections to a blend of roads as you approach your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CA 160 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 89.8 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 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.6 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles (CA 242): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 980 East, CA 24: Walnut Creek, San Francisco, Hayward
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 980 East, CA 24: Walnut Creek, San Fra...
5
15.6 mi into trip|~19m in|I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Merge onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
19.4 mi into trip|~24m in|CA 242
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 242 toward CA 242 North: Concord, Pittsburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 50
Toward CA 242 North: Concord, Pittsburg
5
23.3 mi into trip|~28m in|CA 4
Merge onto CA 4
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
38.3 mi into trip|~45m in|CA 160
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 160 toward CA 160: Rio Vista, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 30
Toward CA 160: Rio Vista, Sacramento
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 Clay, CA, road signs point toward Pittsburg and Sacramento.
Pittsburg
19.4 mi in|~24m|via CA 242
Sacramento
38.3 mi in|~45m|via CA 160
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 160
18.2 mi
24m
CA 4
15 mi
17m
Twin Cities Road
12.3 mi
21m
Caldecott Tunnel
9.8 mi
11m
CA 104
9.3 mi
16m
Victory Highway
8.2 mi
13m
Grove Shafter Freeway
4.6 mi
5m
CA 242
3.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
CA 160
— 18.2 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakland, CA and Clay, CA.
1
Start on 14th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·14th Street
2
Turn right onto Castro Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·Castro Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 980 East, CA 24: Walnut Creek, San Francisco, Hayward
4
Merge onto I 980
0.4 mi·25 sec·John B. Williams Freeway
5
Continue on I 980
4.5 mi·5 min·Grove Shafter Freeway
Toward CA 24: Berkeley, Walnut CreekUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 24
0.2 mi·13 sec·Grove Shafter Freeway
7
Continue on CA 24
9.8 mi·11 min·Caldecott Tunnel
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 680
3.8 mi·4 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 242
3.9 mi·4 min·CA 242
Exit 50Toward CA 242 North: Concord, PittsburgUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto CA 4
15 mi·17 min·CA 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 160
18 mi·24 min·CA 160
Exit 30Toward CA 160: Rio Vista, SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto CA 160
1.2 mi·1 min·River Road
13
Turn left onto CA 160
0.1 mi·1 min·Victory Highway
14
Continue on CA 160
8.1 mi·12 min·Victory Highway
15
Turn right onto J11
461 ft·55 sec·Walnut Grove Bridge
16
Turn left onto E13
2.2 mi·3 min·River Road
17
Turn right onto E13
12 mi·21 min·Twin Cities Road
18
Enter roundabout onto Twin Cities Road
101 ft·2 sec·Twin Cities Road
19
Continue on Twin Cities Road
162 ft·3 sec·Twin Cities Road
20
Continue on CA 104
416 ft·8 sec·CA 104
21
Enter roundabout onto CA 104
94 ft·2 sec·CA 104
22
Continue on CA 104
9.2 mi·16 min·CA 104
23
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 104
66 ft·1 sec·CA 104
24
Arrive at destination
CA 104
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 8m duration, this is comfortably a one-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps around the 18.2-mile stretch on CA 160. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $21, and ensure you have enough before departing Oakland, CA, as the route data doesn't specify available services along the way.
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 44.9 miles from Oakland, CA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.2 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 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.9 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clay, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Oakland, CA
This is one driving day of about 89.8 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Oakland, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on CA 160 for about 18.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.9 mi from Oakland, CA
· 54m into the drive
The midpoint is around 44.9 miles from Oakland, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Clay, CA
The final approach into Clay, 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 Clay, CA.
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.64 one way
$41.28 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$21.27
$42.54
premium
$6.18
$21.84
$43.68
diesel
$5.61
$19.83
$39.65
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: 31.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.9
0
$9.43
$4.31
Efficient EV
22.5
0
$7.86
$3.59
EV Truck/SUV
35.9
0
$12.57
$5.75
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (65% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Oakland, CA
Morning
in Oakland on Friday
Local time
10:29 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
N 3 to 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Clay, CA
Morning
in Clay on Friday
Local time
10:29 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°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
22 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
2h 8m 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 Oakland, CA to Clay, CA covers 89.8 miles and takes about 2h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 160, CA 4, Twin Cities Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.9 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 $20.64 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 is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 89.8 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 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.6 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles (CA 242): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Oakland, CA and Clay, CA, road signs point toward Pittsburg and Sacramento.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
