Origin
Redding, CA
Evening in Redding on Thursday
Local time
5:50 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Redding, CA to San Francisco, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 3m
Distance
216.6 mi
349 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 50m
★
6 AM
4h 3m
8 AM
4h 29m
10 AM
4h 12m
12 PM
4h 10m
3 PM
4h 14m
5 PM
4h 28m
8 PM
3h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Redding, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 216.6-mile drive from Redding, CA to San Francisco, CA is a straightforward 4-hour journey, making it an excellent option for a single-day road trip. You'll primarily be on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and I-505, with 68% of the route being highway driving. Expect a fuel cost of around $50 for this trip. The drive is focused on efficient travel between the Pacific Coast regions of Northern California. Given its manageable length and duration, it's well-suited for a single-day adventure without the need for an overnight stop.
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
108.3 miles from Redding, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 3m. Total distance: 216.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 68% of the mileage spent on major freeways. You'll encounter the Westside Freeway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and I-505 for the bulk of your travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 93 miles on the Westside Freeway, offering a consistent pace. While primarily highway, the progression involves transitioning between these main arteries, maintaining a practical and efficient driving experience for most of the 216.6 miles.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 93 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CA 44; US 99 Hist / Tehama 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 216.6 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 0.1 miles (CA 44; US 99 Hist / Tehama Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 126.8 miles (I 505): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CA 44; US 99 Hist / Tehama Street
Turn left onto CA 44; US 99 Hist / Tehama Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Sacramento
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2A
Toward I 5 South: Sacramento
8
126.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m in
|
I 505
Keep slight right at fork onto I 505 toward I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
8
160 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 West: San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
8
215.2 mi into trip
|
~4h in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 93 mi | 1h 39m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 33.9 mi | 41m |
| I 505 | 33.2 mi | 35m |
| Cascade Wonderland Highway | 31.8 mi | 34m |
| Eastshore Freeway | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| Linus F. Claeys Freeway | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| Route 80 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Tehama Street | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 93 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Redding, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on CA 44; CA 273; US 99 Hist
448 ft
·
22 sec
·
South Market Street
2
Turn left onto CA 44; US 99 Hist
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Tehama Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
3
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 2A
Toward I 5 South: Sacramento
Use the slight right lane.
4
Merge onto I 5
32 mi
·
34 min
·
Cascade Wonderland Highway
5
Continue on I 5
93 mi
·
1 hr 39 min
·
Westside Freeway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 505
33 mi
·
35 min
·
I 505
Toward I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 1A
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 80
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Carquinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Eastshore Freeway
11
Continue on I 80
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 80
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Toward San Francisco
Use the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto I 80
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
17
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Route 80
Exit 2A
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Route 80
Exit 1A
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 1B
Toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Central Freeway
22
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434B
Toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Market Street
Use the right lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Market Street
25
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Redding to take advantage of lighter traffic as you approach San Francisco. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 93 miles, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to rest. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $50, and plan your refueling accordingly. Since this is a single-day trip, you can be flexible with your timing, but aiming to avoid peak commute hours into San Francisco is always a good strategy.
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 108.3 miles from Redding, CA, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93 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 48 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.3 miles or 1h 57m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Francisco, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Redding, 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 Redding, CA
This is one driving day of about 216.6 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Redding, 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 Westside Freeway for about 93 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 108.3 mi from Redding, CA · 1h 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 108.3 miles from Redding, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93 miles.
Arriving in San Francisco, CA
The final approach into San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, 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
$49.78 one way
$99.57 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $51.30 | $102.60 |
| premium | $6.18 | $52.67 | $105.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.82 | $95.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65 | 0 | $22.74 | $10.40 |
| Efficient EV | 54.2 | 0 | $18.95 | $8.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.6 | 1 | $30.32 | $13.86 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 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
San Francisco, CA
Evening in San Francisco on Thursday
Local time
5:50 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°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
4h 3m 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 Redding, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 216.6 miles and takes about 4h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, I 505. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 108.3 miles from Redding, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.78 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 16 significant decision points across 216.6 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 0.1 miles (CA 44; US 99 Hist / Tehama Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 126.8 miles (I 505): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Redding, CA to San Francisco, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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