Origin
Redwood City, CA
Night in Redwood City on Wednesday
Local time
10:43 PM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Redwood City, CA to Foster City, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
12m
Distance
7.4 mi
12 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 11m
★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 15m
10 AM
0h 13m
12 PM
0h 13m
3 PM
0h 13m
5 PM
0h 15m
8 PM
0h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Redwood City, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Foster City, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Redwood City, CA to Foster City, CA covers 7.4 miles and takes about 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Broadway, Arch Street, Brewster Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.70 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
3.7 miles from Redwood City, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 12m drive with frequent turns across 7.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Broadway is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Redwood City, CA to Foster City, CA is easy. At 12m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Redwood City, CA to Foster City, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Broadway | — | — |
| Arch Street | — | — |
| Brewster Avenue | — | — |
| Veterans Boulevard | — | — |
| Whipple Avenue | — | — |
| US 101 North | — | — |
| Bayshore Freeway | — | — |
| Hillsdale Boulevard | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Broadway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Redwood City, CA and Foster City, CA.
1
Start on the route
479 ft
·
26 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto Broadway
315 ft
·
16 sec
·
Broadway
3
Turn sharp left onto Arch Street
207 ft
·
13 sec
·
Arch Street
4
Turn right onto Brewster Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Brewster Avenue
5
Turn left onto Veterans Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Veterans Boulevard
6
Turn right onto Whipple Avenue
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Whipple Avenue
7
Take the ramp slight right toward US 101 North: San Francisco
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
US 101 North: San Francisco
8
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
9
Take the exit slight right toward Hillsdale Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Hillsdale Boulevard
10
Turn right onto East Hillsdale Boulevard
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Hillsdale Boulevard
11
Turn right onto Shell Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Shell Boulevard
12
Continue on Shell Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Shell Boulevard
13
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 3.7 miles from Redwood City, CA, or about 6m into the drive.
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 7 miles or 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 3.7 miles or 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Foster City, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Redwood City, CA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Redwood City, CA
This is one driving day of about 7.4 miles and 12m.
At 7.4 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 3.7 mi from Redwood City, CA · 6m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 3.7 miles from Redwood City, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Foster City, CA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Foster City, CA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.70 one way
$3.40 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $1.75 | $3.51 |
| premium | $6.18 | $1.80 | $3.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.63 | $3.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.2 | 0 | $0.78 | $0.36 |
| Efficient EV | 1.9 | 0 | $0.65 | $0.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3 | 0 | $1.04 | $0.47 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
Foster City, CA
Night in Foster City on Wednesday
Local time
10:43 PM
PDT
Current temp
66°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
12m 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 Redwood City, CA to Foster City, CA covers 7.4 miles and takes about 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Broadway, Arch Street, Brewster Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 3.7 miles from Redwood City, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.70 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.
The drive from Redwood City, CA to Foster City, CA is easy. At 12m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Redwood City, CA to Foster City, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Redwood City, CA to Foster City, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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