Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
28m
Distance
21.4 mi
35 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oakland, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Concord, CA
Wikimedia Commons
This short 21.4-mile drive from Oakland, CA to Concord, CA takes about 28 minutes and is perfect for a single day trip. The estimated fuel cost is around $5, making it an economical option. You'll primarily travel on the Grove Shafter Freeway and the Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway, with a significant portion including the Caldecott Tunnel. Given its brevity, this route is best enjoyed as a quick transit rather than an extended overnight journey. Both the origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region of California.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 21.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive with a highway share of 27%. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9.8 miles through the Caldecott Tunnel. This route transitions from freeway driving to more local road navigation, so be prepared for changes in speed and traffic patterns. The experience behind the wheel involves navigating both enclosed tunnel sections and open road segments, requiring your attention throughout the relatively short journey.
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 0.6 miles in.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 21.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp toward I 980 East, CA 24: Walnut Creek, San Francisco, Hayward
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward Clayton Road, Concord
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Oakland, CA and Concord, CA, road signs point toward Walnut Creek and Pittsburg.
Walnut Creek
Pittsburg
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Caldecott Tunnel | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| Grove Shafter Freeway | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Willow Pass Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| CA 242 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| 14th Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| John B. Williams Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Castro Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Oakland, CA and Concord, CA.
Start on 14th Street
Turn right onto Castro Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 980
Continue on I 980
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 24
Continue on CA 24
Merge onto I 680
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 242
Take the exit
Turn left onto Market Street
Turn right onto Willow Pass Road
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$4.92 one way
$9.84 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $5.07 | $10.14 |
| premium | $6.18 | $5.20 | $10.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.72 | $9.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 57% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.25 | $1.03 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.87 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.00 | $1.37 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (57% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Oakland on Thursday
Local time
10:06 PM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Sunny
Destination
Night in Concord on Thursday
Local time
10:06 PM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Oakland, CA or browse trips ending in Concord, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
