Skip to main content

Trip from San Francisco, CA to Cedar Ridge, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 15m

Distance

144.7 mi

233 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
3h 4m ★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 39m
10 AM
3h 24m
12 PM
3h 21m
3 PM
3h 25m
5 PM
3h 38m
8 PM
3h 8m

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

consolidated city and county in California, United States

San Francisco, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Cedar Ridge, CA, CA

Cedar Ridge, CA

Moussa Idrissi

Trip Overview

This 144.7-mile drive from San Francisco, CA to Cedar Ridge, CA is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway and the MacArthur Freeway, with 57% of the journey on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $33 for this excursion. The route offers a mixed driving profile, making it suitable for a single day's adventure without the need for an overnight stop. Given its relatively short duration, you'll have plenty of flexibility to depart and arrive at your convenience.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

72.4 miles from San Francisco, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .

About the Cities

Starting in San Francisco, CA

Full guide →

The centerpiece of the Bay Area, San Francisco is one of the most visited cities in the world, and with good reason. The cultural center of northern California, San Francisco is renowned for its mixture of scenic beauty and unique culture that makes it one of the most vibrant and desirable cities in the nation, if not the world. Sandwiched between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean on a small square of land seven miles (11 km) on each side, San Francisco offers a wealth of treasures for the visitor, from the windswept and often foggy bay to the steep hills lined with Victorian homes that overlook the spectacular scenery of the city.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 144.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Drive Character

The drive presents a mixed profile, blending highway speeds with more local road segments. With 57% of the route on highways, you’ll experience some stretches of faster travel. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 29.3 miles on the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. As you progress, the road character will shift, moving from urban-focused freeways to potentially less congested arteries as you approach Cedar Ridge. This variation means you won't be stuck in a monotonous interstate grind for the entire journey.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 29.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 10/10

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 23 significant decision points across 144.7 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 36.4 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 23 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...
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.
6
54.3 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | I 205 / Robert T. Monagan Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 205 / Robert T. Monagan Freeway toward I 205 East: Tracy, Stockton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 205 East: Tracy, Stockton
7
77.8 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in | CA 120

Take the exit onto CA 120 toward CA 120 East: Sonora, Yosemite Avenue

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

Use the right lane. Toward CA 120 East: Sonora, Yosemite Avenue

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between San Francisco, CA and Cedar Ridge, CA, road signs point toward Hayward-Stockton, Stockton and Sonora.

Hayward-Stockton

8 mi in | ~13m

Stockton

54.3 mi in | ~1h 6m | via I 205

Sonora

69.8 mi in | ~1h 24m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway 29.3 mi 33m
East F Street 28.3 mi 38m
MacArthur Freeway 15.9 mi 18m
Robert T. Monagan Freeway 14.6 mi 16m
CA 49 11.9 mi 17m
East Yosemite Avenue 10.7 mi 15m
CA 120 8.1 mi 9m
Jackson Avenue 7.1 mi 10m
Longest stretch: Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway — 29.3 mi, about 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Cedar Ridge, 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 left at fork onto I 205

3.9 mi · 4 min · Robert T. Monagan Freeway
Toward I 205 East: Tracy, Stockton
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 205

11 mi · 11 min · Robert T. Monagan Freeway
13

Merge onto I 5

1.0 mi · 1 min · Westside Freeway
14

Take the exit

469 ft · 6 sec
Toward CA 120 East: Manteca, Sonora
15

Continue on CA 120

7.8 mi · 8 min · CA 120
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit onto CA 120

0.3 mi · 36 sec · CA 120
Toward CA 120 East: Sonora, Yosemite Avenue Use the right lane.
17

Turn right onto CA 120

11 mi · 15 min · East Yosemite Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Continue on CA 120

0.2 mi · 27 sec · California Street
19

Continue on CA 120

7.1 mi · 10 min · Jackson Avenue
20

Continue on CA 120; J9; J14

0.9 mi · 1 min · Valley Home Road
21

Continue on CA 120; J9; J14

0.9 mi · 2 min · North Yosemite Avenue
22

Turn left onto CA 108; CA 120

28 mi · 38 min · East F Street
23

Enter roundabout onto CA 49; CA 108

116 ft · 2 sec · CA 49; CA 108
24

Continue on CA 49; CA 108

12 mi · 17 min · CA 49; CA 108
25

Turn left onto Soulsbyville Road

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Soulsbyville Road
26

Turn right onto Longeway Road

3.2 mi · 6 min · Longeway Road
27

At end of road, turn left onto Longeway Road

0.4 mi · 55 sec · Longeway Road
28

Turn right onto Big Hill Road

347 ft · 9 sec · Big Hill Road
29

Turn right onto Kewin Mill Road

2.6 mi · 6 min · Kewin Mill Road
30

At end of road, turn right onto Kewin Mill Road

157 ft · 9 sec · Kewin Mill Road
31

Turn left onto Estralita Drive

443 ft · 19 sec · Estralita Drive
32

Arrive at destination

Estralita Drive

Trip Plan

For this 3-hour and 15-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from San Francisco to maximize your daylight and avoid potential traffic. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. The estimated fuel cost is $33, so ensure your tank is full before you leave urban areas. Keep an eye out for transitions between the main freeways and local roads, as this is where the drive's character changes. Planning for a brief stop to stretch your legs about halfway through is a good idea, especially during the 29.3-mile stretch on the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway.

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 72.4 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.3 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 32 miles or 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 72.4 miles or 1h 27m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Ridge, 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 144.7 miles and 3h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway for about 29.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 72.4 mi from San Francisco, CA · 1h 27m into the drive

city in San Joaquin County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Manteca, CA

72 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

Castro Valley, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lathrop, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72.4 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Cedar Ridge, CA

The final approach into Cedar Ridge, 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 Cedar Ridge, CA.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$33.26 one way

$66.52 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $34.27 $68.54
premium $6.18 $35.19 $70.38
diesel $5.61 $31.95 $63.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 43.4 0 $15.19 $6.95
Efficient EV 36.2 0 $12.66 $5.79
EV Truck/SUV 57.9 0 $20.26 $9.26

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

San Francisco, CA

Late night in San Francisco on Saturday

Local time

4:32 AM

PDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cedar Ridge, CA

Late night in Cedar Ridge on Saturday

Local time

4:32 AM

PDT

Current temp

62°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

18 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 15m 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 San Francisco, CA to Cedar Ridge, CA covers 144.7 miles and takes about 3h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, East F Street, MacArthur Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 72.4 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 $33.26 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 144.7 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 36.4 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Between San Francisco, CA and Cedar Ridge, CA, road signs point toward Hayward-Stockton, Stockton and Sonora.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from San Francisco, CA or browse trips ending in Cedar Ridge, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.