Drive Time
1h 41m
Distance
94.3 mi
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
Photo: Abhishek Navlakha
The drive from Riverbank, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 94.3 miles and takes about 1h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 3rd Street, Patterson Road, Ladd Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.81 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
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
47.1 miles from Riverbank, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 41m drive with frequent turns across 94.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Patterson Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ladd Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tully Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Kiernan Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 120 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Westside Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Robert T | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Riverbank, CA and San Francisco, CA.
Start on Santa Fe Street
Turn left onto 3rd Street
At the end of the road, turn right onto Patterson Road
At the end of the road, turn left onto Patterson Road
Continue on Ladd Road
Turn left onto Tully Road
Turn right onto Kiernan Avenue
Take the ramp right
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward CA 120 West: Manteca, San Francisco
Merge slight right
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Robert T. Monagan Freeway
Continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: San Francisco
Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Continue on Route 80
Continue on Route 80
Continue on Route 80
Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Merge slight right onto Central Freeway
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
Turn right onto Market Street
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.1 miles or 50m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Francisco, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Riverbank, 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 Riverbank, CA
This is one driving day of about 94.3 miles and 1h 41m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.1 mi from Riverbank, CA · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 47.1 miles from Riverbank, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$12.81 one way
$25.62 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $14.29 | $28.59 |
| premium | $4.15 | $15.41 | $30.81 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $13.92 | $27.84 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.90 | $4.53 |
| Efficient EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.25 | $3.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.7 | 0 | $13.20 | $6.04 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Riverbank on Saturday
Local time
5:33 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in San Francisco on Saturday
Local time
5:33 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
50°F
Hayward, CA
47 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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