Origin
Oakland, CA
Late night in Oakland on Friday
Local time
1:28 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oakland, CA to Pleasant Hill, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
18.8 mi
30 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oakland, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Pleasant Hill, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 18.8-mile journey from Oakland to Pleasant Hill is a quick, 24-minute trip, making it an easy day trip. You'll primarily navigate via the Grove Shafter Freeway and the Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway, with a significant portion involving the Caldecott Tunnel. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, this drive is very budget-friendly. Given its short duration and lack of designated stops, it's a straightforward transit rather than an extensive exploration. Both locations are situated within California's Pacific Coast region.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 18.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for this route, despite 27% of it being on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9.8 miles through the Caldecott Tunnel. While there are highway segments, the overall feel suggests a need for attentiveness as you transition between freeway driving and more local road navigation. The route is characterized by its frequent changes in direction rather than long, sweeping vistas.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Caldecott Tunnel is the longest continuous segment at about 9.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 Castro Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 18.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (Castro Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.2 miles (I 980 / Grove Shafter Freeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Castro Street
Turn right onto Castro Street
Navigation decision point
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...
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 980 / Grove Shafter Freeway
Continue onto I 980 / Grove Shafter Freeway toward CA 24: Berkeley, Walnut Creek
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 24: Berkeley, Walnut Creek
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.
8
18 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward Contra Costa Boulevard, Pleasant Hill
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49A
Toward Contra Costa Boulevard, Pleasant Hill
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Oakland, CA to Pleasant Hill, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Walnut Creek along the way.
Walnut Creek
1.2 mi in
|
~2m
|
via I 980
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Caldecott Tunnel | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| Grove Shafter Freeway | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Contra Costa Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 14th Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| John B. Williams Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Castro Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Gregory Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Caldecott Tunnel
— 9.8 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakland, CA and Pleasant Hill, 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 Creek
Use 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
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 49A
Toward Contra Costa Boulevard, Pleasant Hill
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto Contra Costa Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Contra Costa Boulevard
11
Turn left onto Gregory Lane
260 ft
·
15 sec
·
Gregory Lane
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
Gregory Lane
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.32 one way
$8.64 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $4.45 | $8.91 |
| premium | $6.18 | $4.57 | $9.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.15 | $8.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.97 | $0.90 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Destination
Pleasant Hill, CA
Late night in Pleasant Hill on Friday
Local time
1:28 AM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
17 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
24m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 Pleasant Hill, CA covers 18.8 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Caldecott Tunnel, Grove Shafter Freeway, Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.4 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 $4.32 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 short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 18.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (Castro Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.2 miles (I 980 / Grove Shafter Freeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Oakland, CA to Pleasant Hill, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Walnut Creek along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. 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. 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.
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