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Trip from San Francisco, CA to Buttonwillow, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 48m

Distance

257.7 mi

415 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$59

one way

EV Charging

Good

5 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 35m ★
6 AM
4h 49m
8 AM
5h 15m
10 AM
4h 58m
12 PM
4h 55m
3 PM
4h 59m
5 PM
5h 14m
8 PM
4h 40m

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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consolidated city and county in California, United States

San Francisco, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Buttonwillow, CA, CA

Buttonwillow, CA

Anna Arysheva

Trip Overview

The drive from San Francisco, CA to Buttonwillow, CA covers 257.7 miles and takes about 4h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, William Elton Brown Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 182.1 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $59.23 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

128.8 miles from San Francisco, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 48m. Total distance: 257.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 4h 48m highway drive covering 257.7 miles, with most of the trip on Westside Freeway and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 182.1 miles on Westside Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 182.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.

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 13 significant decision points across 257.7 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 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

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
8
8 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-Stockton

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 8B Toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-St...
5
9 mi into trip | ~14m in | I 580 / MacArthur Freeway

Merge onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
36.4 mi into trip | ~46m in | I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
253.4 mi into trip | ~4h 40m in

Take the exit toward Buttonwillow, McKittrick

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 263 Toward Buttonwillow, McKittrick

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 182.1 mi 3h 15m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway 29.3 mi 33m
William Elton Brown Freeway 17 mi 18m
MacArthur Freeway 15.9 mi 18m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 5.8 mi 8m
Buttonwillow Drive 3.6 mi 6m
Route 80 0.9 mi 1m
11th Street 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 182.1 mi, about 3h 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Buttonwillow, 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
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
6

Continue on I 80

5.8 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 8B Toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-Stockton Use the slight right lane.
8

Merge onto I 580

16 mi · 18 min · MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9

Merge onto I 580

12 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

11 mi · 11 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
13

Merge onto I 5

182 mi · 3 hr 15 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Exit 263 Toward Buttonwillow, McKittrick Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Turn straight onto Buttonwillow Drive

3.6 mi · 6 min · Buttonwillow Drive
16

Turn left onto West 1st Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · West 1st Street
17

Arrive at destination

East 1st Street

Trip Plan

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 128.8 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.1 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 57 miles or 1h 9m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 128.8 miles or 2h 26m 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 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buttonwillow, 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 257.7 miles and 4h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from San Francisco, 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 182.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 128.8 mi from San Francisco, CA · 2h 26m into the drive

city in Alameda County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dublin, CA

129 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

Brentwood, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Turlock, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 128.8 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 182.1 miles.

Arriving in Buttonwillow, CA

The final approach into Buttonwillow, 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 Buttonwillow, CA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Crepevine Restaurants

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

San Francisco, California

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+14156815858

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Saint Frank Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

San Francisco, California

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+14158818062

Visit website

Crepevine Restaurants

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30

San Francisco, California

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+14156815858

Visit website

Saint Frank Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

San Francisco, California

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+14158818062

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 147.2

Firebaugh, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 184.1

Coalinga, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 184.1

Coalinga, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Rivian Adventure Network

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 147.2

Firebaugh, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18337484267

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.1 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 147.2

Firebaugh, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

PanIQ Escape Room San Francisco

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

San Francisco, California

Hours: 2:30–9:30 pm

+14158293758

Visit website

Mission Dolores Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Francisco, CA

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14158312700

Visit website

Corona Heights Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Francisco, CA

Hours: 5 am–12 pm

+14158312700

Visit website

Helen Diller Playground

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Francisco, California

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14158312700

Visit website

Randall Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Francisco, California

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+14155549600

Visit website

GLBT Historical Society Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Francisco, California

Hours: 11 am–1 pm

+14157775455

Visit website

The American Bookbinders Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Francisco, California

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+14158249754

Visit website

Mission Bay Kids Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

San Francisco, CA

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14158312700

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

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...

7 mi from route ~17 min detour Free near mile 8.9
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...

21 mi from route ~53 min detour Free near mile 17.8
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$59.23 one way

$118.46 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 90 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $61.04 $122.07
premium $6.18 $62.67 $125.34
diesel $5.61 $56.90 $113.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$59

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$84–$109

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 90.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

5 DC fast chargers · Coverage: good

Rivian Adventure Network

Firebaugh, California

Rivian

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Firebaugh, California

Tesla

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Coalinga, California

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Electrify America Charging Station

Coalinga, California

Electrify America

1 DCFC

Electrify America Charging Station

Firebaugh, California

Electrify America

1 DCFC

Electrify America: 2 Rivian: 1 Tesla: 1 ChargePoint: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 77.3 0 $27.06 $12.37
Efficient EV 64.4 0 $22.55 $10.31
EV Truck/SUV 103.1 1 $36.08 $16.49

Gas CO2

90 kg

EV CO2

30 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

San Francisco, CA

Evening in San Francisco on Thursday

Local time

7:45 PM

PDT

Current temp

70°F

Sunny

NNW 8 to 12 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Lake Wind Advisory

Lake Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 2:48PM PDT until April 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 2:48PM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Destination

Buttonwillow, CA

Evening in Buttonwillow on Thursday

Local time

7:45 PM

PDT

Current temp

50°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

20 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 48m 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 San Francisco, CA to Buttonwillow, CA covers 257.7 miles and takes about 4h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, William Elton Brown Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 128.8 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 $59.23 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 13 significant decision points across 257.7 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 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from San Francisco, CA to Buttonwillow, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Buttonwillow, CA to San Francisco, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

258.5 mi 4h 49m

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