Origin
San Bernardino, CA
Afternoon in San Bernardino on Sunday
Local time
12:28 PM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Bernardino, CA to Clearlake, CA
Drive Time
9h 49m
Distance
514 mi
827 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$119
one way
Clearlake, CA
Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Overview
The drive from San Bernardino, CA to Clearlake, CA covers 514 miles and takes about 9h 49m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 215 North, San Bernardino Freeway, Barstow Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $119.03 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
257 miles from San Bernardino, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 55m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 514 miles and 9h 49m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are I 215 North and San Bernardino Freeway.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 51 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 215 North is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 9h 49m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 9h 49m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Bernardino, CA to Clearlake, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 215 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| San Bernardino Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Barstow Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 210 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Foothill Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Golden State Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Westside Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
I 215 North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Bernardino, CA and Clearlake, CA.
1
Start on West 5th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West 5th Street
2
Take the ramp right toward I 215 North: Barstow
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 215 North: Barstow
3
Merge slight left onto San Bernardino Freeway
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
4
Continue on Barstow Freeway
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Barstow Freeway
5
Take the exit slight right toward CA 210 West: Pasadena
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
CA 210 West: Pasadena
6
Merge slight left onto Foothill Freeway
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Foothill Freeway
7
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
8
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
9
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
10
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
11
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Foothill Freeway
12
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Foothill Freeway
13
Keep slight right
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
14
Merge slight right
1.0 mi
·
1 min
15
Keep slight left
36 mi
·
41 min
16
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
17
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
18
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
19
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
20
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
21
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
22
Take the exit slight right toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
23
Keep slight right to continue on I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
24
Merge slight left onto Donald D Doyle Highway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
25
Continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
26
Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
27
Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
243 ft
·
3 sec
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
28
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
29
Keep slight left to continue on I 780: Benicia
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 780: Benicia
30
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Sacramento
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
I 80 East: Sacramento
31
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Sacramento
449 ft
·
11 sec
·
I 80 East: Sacramento
32
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
33
Take the exit slight right toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus Parkway
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus Parkway
34
Keep slight left to continue on CA 37: Napa
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 37: Napa
35
Continue on CA 37
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 37
36
Take the exit slight right toward CA 29: Napa, Sonoma Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
CA 29: Napa, Sonoma Boulevard
37
Turn right onto Sonoma Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Sonoma Boulevard
38
Continue on Broadway Street
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Broadway Street
39
Continue on Napa–Vallejo Highway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Napa–Vallejo Highway
40
Continue on Saint Helena Highway
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
41
Continue on Main Street
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
42
Continue on Saint Helena Highway
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
43
Turn right onto Lincoln Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Avenue
44
Continue on Lake County Highway
21 mi
·
30 min
·
Lake County Highway
45
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
240 ft
·
4 sec
·
the route
46
Exit the roundabout
10 mi
·
15 min
47
Continue straight
3.6 mi
·
5 min
48
Turn left onto Polk Avenue
331 ft
·
18 sec
·
Polk Avenue
49
Turn left onto Lincoln Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Lincoln Avenue
50
Continue on Duncan Avenue
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Duncan Avenue
51
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 257 miles from San Bernardino, CA, or about 4h 55m into the drive.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 113 miles or 2h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 257 miles or 4h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 257 miles or 4h 55m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clearlake, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Bernardino, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from San Bernardino, CA
Aim for roughly 257 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Clearlake, CA
Aim for roughly 257 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 113 miles from San Bernardino, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 257 mi from San Bernardino, CA · 4h 55m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
170 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
339 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Santa Rosa, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
257 mi · about 4.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Mountain View, CA after about 257 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 113 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 257 miles from San Bernardino, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 257 miles or 4.9 hours on the road.
Arriving in Clearlake, CA
The final approach into Clearlake, 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 Clearlake, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Clearlake, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$119.03 one way
$238.06 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
180 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $122.75 | $245.51 |
| premium | $6.24 | $126.33 | $252.67 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $114.19 | $228.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$119
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$249–$359
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 179.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 154.2 | 1 | $53.97 | $24.67 |
| Efficient EV | 128.5 | 1 | $44.97 | $20.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 205.6 | 2 | $71.96 | $32.90 |
Gas CO2
180 kg
EV CO2
60 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Clearlake, CA
Afternoon in Clearlake on Sunday
Local time
12:28 PM
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
4 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
9h 49m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from San Bernardino, CA to Clearlake, CA covers 514 miles and takes about 9h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 215 North, San Bernardino Freeway, Barstow Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 257 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 257 miles from San Bernardino, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $119.03 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 9h 49m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Bernardino, CA to Clearlake, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Bernardino, CA to Clearlake, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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