Origin
Oakland, CA
Morning in Oakland on Thursday
Local time
8:44 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oakland, CA to Thornton, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 35m
Distance
76 mi
122 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 28m
★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oakland, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Thornton, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
This straightforward 76-mile drive from Oakland, CA to Thornton, CA will take you approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, it's a quick hop within the Pacific Coast region, so no overnight stays are necessary. You'll primarily navigate California State Routes 12, 4, and 160. Budget around $17 for fuel, making it an economical option. The profile suggests a highway-focused experience, so expect efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. This route is ideal if you're looking for a direct and uncomplicated journey between these two points in California.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38 miles from Oakland, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 76 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
With an 80% highway share, this drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience. You'll find yourself on faster-paced roads for the majority of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 15.8 miles along CA 12, offering a good period of consistent travel. While the data doesn't specify dramatic shifts, a highway-heavy profile suggests a generally efficient and direct progression through the landscape. Expect a smooth ride on well-maintained state routes designed for steady movement.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CA 12 is the longest continuous segment at about 15.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 12 and CA 4. 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 Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 14 key pointsThese 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
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
6
67.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 Thornton, 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 12 | 15.8 mi | 21m |
| CA 4 | 15 mi | 17m |
| CA 160 | 13.6 mi | 18m |
| Caldecott Tunnel | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| Westside Freeway | 7.4 mi | 7m |
| Grove Shafter Freeway | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| CA 242 | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
CA 12
— 15.8 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakland, CA and Thornton, 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
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 50
Toward CA 242 North: Concord, Pittsburg
Use 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
14 mi
·
18 min
·
CA 160
Exit 30
Toward CA 160: Rio Vista, Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto CA 12
16 mi
·
21 min
·
CA 12
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Use the left lane.
14
Merge onto I 5
7.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Westside Freeway
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward Walnut Grove Road
16
Turn right onto J11
417 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Walnut Grove Road
17
Continue on J8
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Thornton Road
18
Arrive at destination
J8
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 1-hour-and-35-minute drive covering 76 miles, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best. Consider an early start to avoid any potential local traffic, especially as you depart Oakland. With a fuel cost of around $17, you can easily complete the trip on a single tank. There are no designated stops mentioned, so feel free to pull over if you need a break. A helpful tip for this route is to be aware of the transition points between CA 12, CA 4, and CA 160, as these are where the road character might subtly change.
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 38 miles from Oakland, CA, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.8 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38 miles or 45m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thornton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Oakland, CA
This is one driving day of about 76 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Oakland, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on CA 12 for about 15.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38 mi from Oakland, CA · 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38 miles from Oakland, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Thornton, CA
The final approach into Thornton, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.47 one way
$34.94 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $18.00 | $36.00 |
| premium | $6.18 | $18.48 | $36.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.78 | $33.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.98 | $3.65 |
| Efficient EV | 19 | 0 | $6.65 | $3.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.64 | $4.86 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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
Thornton, CA
Morning in Thornton on Thursday
Local time
8:44 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°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
19 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
1h 35m 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 Thornton, CA covers 76 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 12, CA 4, CA 160. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38 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 $17.47 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 76 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 Thornton, CA, road signs point toward Pittsburg and Sacramento.
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