Origin
Oakland, CA
Afternoon in Oakland on Thursday
Local time
2:17 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oakland, CA to Templeton, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 56m
Distance
201.7 mi
325 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 43m
★
6 AM
3h 56m
8 AM
4h 22m
10 AM
4h 5m
12 PM
4h 3m
3 PM
4h 7m
5 PM
4h 21m
8 PM
3h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oakland, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Templeton, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
This 201.7-mile drive from Oakland, CA to Templeton, CA is a manageable 3-hour and 56-minute trip, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day adventure. You'll navigate primarily via the Bayshore Freeway and I-880, with a significant portion on El Camino Real, making for a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $46, this journey through California's Pacific Coast region offers a straightforward path south. You can expect one recommended stop along the way, allowing you to break up the drive comfortably. This route is well-suited for a day trip, letting you reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
100.8 miles from Oakland, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 201.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive features a 38% highway share, blending faster freeway sections with the historic El Camino Real. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of 122.4 miles on El Camino Real, which offers a more local feel compared to the interstate segments. This mixed profile means you'll experience varying speeds and road conditions, transitioning from the efficiency of the Bayshore Freeway and I-880 to the charm of a well-traveled historic road. Be prepared for this change in pace as you progress south.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 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 122.4 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 0.4 miles in near 11th Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 201.7 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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.
6
19 mi into trip
|
~24m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| El Camino Real | 122.4 mi | 2h 21m |
| Bayshore Freeway | 38.6 mi | 44m |
| I 880 | 27.2 mi | 30m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 9.9 mi | 12m |
| North Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Madison Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 11th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 14th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
El Camino Real
— 122.4 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakland, CA and Templeton, 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
112 mi
·
2 hr 9 min
·
El Camino Real
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward North Main Street
17
Turn left onto North Main Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
18
Turn right
160 ft
·
11 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 56-minute duration, starting your journey from Oakland in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. While only one stop is recommended, factor in additional brief pauses as needed, especially during the 122.4-mile stretch on El Camino Real. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $46, and plan your refueling accordingly. The flexibility of this route means you can depart at your leisure, but an early start ensures a relaxed arrival in Templeton.
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 100.8 miles from Oakland, CA, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.4 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 44 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.8 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Templeton, 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 201.7 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 El Camino Real for about 122.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 100.8 mi from Oakland, CA · 1h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
101 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 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 100.8 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 122.4 miles.
Arriving in Templeton, CA
The final approach into Templeton, 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 Templeton, CA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.36 one way
$92.72 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
71 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $47.77 | $95.55 |
| premium | $6.18 | $49.05 | $98.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $44.53 | $89.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60.5 | 0 | $21.18 | $9.68 |
| Efficient EV | 50.4 | 0 | $17.65 | $8.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 80.7 | 1 | $28.24 | $12.91 |
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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
Templeton, CA
Afternoon in Templeton on Thursday
Local time
2:17 PM
PDT
Current temp
43°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
24 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
3h 56m 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 Templeton, CA covers 201.7 miles and takes about 3h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are El Camino Real, Bayshore Freeway, I 880. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 100.8 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 $46.36 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 201.7 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.
The route from Oakland, CA to Templeton, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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