Origin
Oakland, CA
Afternoon in Oakland on Sunday
Local time
12:55 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oakland, CA to Susanville, CA
Drive Time
5h 33m
Distance
256.1 mi
412 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$59
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 20m
★
6 AM
5h 33m
8 AM
6h 0m
10 AM
5h 43m
12 PM
5h 40m
3 PM
5h 44m
5 PM
5h 59m
8 PM
5h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oakland, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Susanville, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Oakland, CA to Susanville, CA covers 256.1 miles and takes about 5h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CA 99, Deer Creek Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.5 miles on CA 99. At current regular gas prices, budget about $59.31 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
128 miles from Oakland, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Oakland, CA to Susanville, CA covers 256.1 miles and takes about 5h 33m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CA 99 is the longest continuous segment at about 53.5 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 1.2 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 256.1 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 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles (I 80 / Eastshore Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the exit toward I 580: San Francisco, Hayward
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 580: San Francisco, Hayward
8
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 580 West: San Francisco, MacArthur Freeway
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 West: San Francisco, MacArthur Fre...
8
7.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 80 / Eastshore Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 / Eastshore Freeway toward I 80 East: Vallejo, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 East: Vallejo, Sacramento
8
64.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
CA 113 / Vic Fazio Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 113 / Vic Fazio Highway toward CA 113 North: Woodland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 70
Toward CA 113 North: Woodland
7
75.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 37
Toward I 5 South: Main Street
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Oakland, CA to Susanville, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Chester along the way.
Chester
156 mi in
|
~3h 16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 99 | 53.5 mi | 1h 8m |
| Deer Creek Highway | 52.3 mi | 1h 9m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 41.7 mi | 48m |
| CA 36 | 29.5 mi | 40m |
| State Highway 36 East | 18.1 mi | 26m |
| CA 113 | 17.4 mi | 23m |
| Eastshore Freeway | 14.3 mi | 16m |
| Vic Fazio Highway | 11.1 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
CA 99
— 53.5 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakland, CA and Susanville, 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
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 580: San Francisco, Hayward
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 580 West: San Francisco, MacArthur Freeway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 580
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 80; I 580
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Toward I 80 East: Vallejo, Sacramento
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 80
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Exit 21
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
11
Continue on I 80
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the none lane.
12
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the none lane.
13
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Carquinez Bridge
14
Continue on I 80
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
27 mi
·
31 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 113
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Vic Fazio Highway
Exit 70
Toward CA 113 North: Woodland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 37
Toward I 5 South: Main Street
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto I 5 BUS
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
Use the straight / none lanes.
19
Turn left onto E8
227 ft
·
9 sec
·
County Road 102
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on E8
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
County Road 102
21
Continue on CA 113
17 mi
·
23 min
·
CA 113
Use the straight lane.
22
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward CA 99 North: Yuba City
Use the slight right lane.
23
Merge onto CA 99
54 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight lane.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Toward CA 32: Orland, Chester
25
Turn right onto CA 32
52 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
Deer Creek Highway
Use the right lane.
26
At end of road, turn right onto CA 36; CA 89
18 mi
·
26 min
·
State Highway 36 East
27
Enter roundabout onto CA 36
92 ft
·
6 sec
·
CA 36
28
Continue on CA 36
29 mi
·
39 min
·
CA 36
29
Turn right onto Foss Street
61 ft
·
2 sec
·
Foss Street
30
Arrive at destination
Foss Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 128 miles from Oakland, CA, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.5 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128 miles or 2h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Susanville, 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 256.1 miles and 5h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Oakland, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on CA 99 for about 53.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 128 mi from Oakland, CA · 2h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
128 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
Arriving in Susanville, CA
The final approach into Susanville, 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 Susanville, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.31 one way
$118.61 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
90 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $61.16 | $122.32 |
| premium | $6.24 | $62.95 | $125.89 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $56.90 | $113.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.8 | 0 | $26.89 | $12.29 |
| Efficient EV | 64 | 0 | $22.41 | $10.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 102.4 | 1 | $35.85 | $16.39 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Susanville, CA
Afternoon in Susanville on Sunday
Local time
12:55 PM
PDT
Current temp
63°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
17 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 33m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Susanville, CA covers 256.1 miles and takes about 5h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 99, Deer Creek Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 128 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 $59.31 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break 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 20 significant decision points across 256.1 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 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles (I 80 / Eastshore Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Oakland, CA to Susanville, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Chester along the way.
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