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Trip from San Francisco, CA to Berkeley, CA

Drive Time

23m

Distance

13.1 mi

21 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min
4 AM
0h 21m ★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown San Francisco, CA, CA

San Francisco, CA

Abhishek Navlakha

Downtown Berkeley, CA, CA

Berkeley, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from San Francisco, CA to Berkeley, CA covers 13.1 miles and takes about 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Eastshore Freeway, University Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 6.4 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.03 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

6.5 miles from San Francisco, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 23m drive with frequent turns across 13.1 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.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 6.4 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

169 ft -4 ft

Total Climb

180 ft

Total Descent

65 ft

Highest Point

169 ft

~13.1 mi in

Elevation Range

172 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 11th Street.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 13.1 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 (11th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | 11th Street

Turn right onto 11th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
5
1 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward I 80 East: Oakland

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes. Toward I 80 East: Oakland
6
8.7 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the exit toward I 80 East

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 80 East
8
11.2 mi into trip | ~17m in

Take the exit toward University Avenue, Berkeley

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 11 Toward University Avenue, Berkeley
6
11.2 mi into trip | ~17m in

Keep slight left at fork toward University Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward University Avenue

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 6.4 mi 9m
Eastshore Freeway 1.9 mi 2m
University Avenue 1.7 mi 5m
Route 80 0.9 mi 1m
11th Street 0.6 mi 1m
Bryant Street 0.3 mi 1m
Nimitz Freeway <0.1 mi <1m
Market Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 6.4 mi, about 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Berkeley, CA.

1

Start on Market Street

312 ft · 7 sec · Market Street
2

Turn right onto 11th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · 11th Street
Use the none lane.
3

Turn left onto Bryant Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Bryant Street
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 25 sec
Toward I 80 East: Oakland Use the left / straight lanes.
5

Merge onto I 80

0.9 mi · 1 min · Route 80
Use the none lane.
6

Continue on I 80

6.4 mi · 9 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the none lane.
7

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 45 sec
Toward I 80 East Use the slight left lane.
8

Merge onto I 880

407 ft · 6 sec · Nimitz Freeway
9

Continue on I 80; I 580

1.9 mi · 2 min · Eastshore Freeway
10

Take the exit

360 ft · 8 sec
Exit 11 Toward University Avenue, Berkeley Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Toward University Avenue
12

Turn straight onto University Avenue

1.7 mi · 5 min · University Avenue
Use the none lane.
13

Arrive at destination

University Avenue

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 6.5 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.4 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 13.1 miles or 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 6.5 miles or 11m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Berkeley, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, CA

This is one driving day of about 13.1 miles and 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from San Francisco, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 6.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 6.5 mi from San Francisco, CA · 11m into the drive

Downtown Richmond, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Richmond, CA

7 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

Richmond, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Richmond, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 6.5 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Berkeley, CA

The final approach into Berkeley, 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 Berkeley, CA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour Free
Park Closure: Hyde Street Pier Closure
Caution: Sick Birds and Wildlife, H5N1
View on nps.gov
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...

4 mi from route ~11 min detour Free near mile 11.3
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...

12 mi from route ~29 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods National Monument

National Monument

Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...

12 mi from route ~30 min detour $15
View on nps.gov
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

National Memorial

On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...

18 mi from route ~46 min detour Free near mile 13.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.03 one way

$6.07 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 5 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $3.13 $6.26
premium $6.24 $3.22 $6.44
diesel $5.64 $2.91 $5.82

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$28–$53

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 4.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.9 0 $1.38 $0.63
Efficient EV 3.3 0 $1.15 $0.52
EV Truck/SUV 5.2 0 $1.83 $0.84

Gas CO2

5 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (60% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 4 hours ago

Origin

San Francisco, CA

Afternoon in San Francisco on Sunday

Local time

1:52 PM

PDT

Current temp

61°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 13 mph 80% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 8:16AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 6:49AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Destination

Berkeley, CA

Afternoon in Berkeley on Sunday

Local time

1:52 PM

PDT

Current temp

59°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 12 to 15 mph 83% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 8:16AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 6:49AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Along the Route

46°F

Richmond, CA

7 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

2 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

23m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from San Francisco, CA to Berkeley, CA covers 13.1 miles and takes about 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Eastshore Freeway, University Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.5 miles from San Francisco, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.03 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 is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 13.1 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 (11th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from San Francisco, CA to Berkeley, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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