Origin
San Francisco, CA
Late night in San Francisco on Wednesday
Local time
3:28 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Francisco, CA to Chico, CA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 28m
Distance
162.4 mi
261 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 17m
★
6 AM
3h 29m
8 AM
3h 53m
10 AM
3h 37m
12 PM
3h 35m
3 PM
3h 39m
5 PM
3h 52m
8 PM
3h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Chico, CA
Efrem Efre
Trip Overview
The drive from San Francisco, CA to Chico, CA covers 162.4 miles and takes about 3h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CA 99, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, CA 113 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.6 miles on CA 99. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.33 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
81.2 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from San Francisco, CA to Chico, CA covers 162.4 miles and takes about 3h 28m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
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.
CA 99 is the longest continuous segment at about 51.6 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 8.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 162.4 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 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles (I 80 / Eastshore Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.5 miles (I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
12.6 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 80 / Eastshore Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 / Eastshore Freeway toward I 80 East: Vallejo, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 East: Vallejo, Sacramento
6
42.5 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
69.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
CA 113 / Vic Fazio Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 113 / Vic Fazio Highway toward CA 113 North: Woodland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 70
Toward CA 113 North: Woodland
7
80.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 37
Toward I 5 South: Main Street
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from San Francisco, CA to Chico, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Sacramento along the way.
Sacramento
12.6 mi in
|
~19m
|
via I 80
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 99 | 51.6 mi | 1h 6m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 48.2 mi | 57m |
| CA 113 | 17.4 mi | 23m |
| Eastshore Freeway | 14.3 mi | 16m |
| Vic Fazio Highway | 11.1 mi | 12m |
| County Road 102 | 8 mi | 11m |
| Linus F. Claeys Freeway | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| Park Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
CA 99
— 51.6 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Chico, 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
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
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
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Toward I 80 East: Vallejo, Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 80
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Exit 21
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Continue on I 80
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Eastshore Freeway
14
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Carquinez Bridge
15
Continue on I 80
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
27 mi
·
31 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 113
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Vic Fazio Highway
Exit 70
Toward CA 113 North: Woodland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 37
Toward I 5 South: Main Street
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn right onto I 5 BUS
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto E8
227 ft
·
9 sec
·
County Road 102
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on E8
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
County Road 102
22
Continue on CA 113
17 mi
·
23 min
·
CA 113
Use the straight lane.
23
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward CA 99 North: Yuba City
Use the slight right lane.
24
Merge onto CA 99
52 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight lane.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Toward Skyway
26
Turn left onto Skyway Road
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Skyway Road
27
Continue on East Park Avenue
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
East Park Avenue
28
Turn slight right
150 ft
·
6 sec
29
Turn straight onto Park Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Park Avenue
30
Continue on Main Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Turn right onto East 5th Street
165 ft
·
7 sec
·
East 5th Street
32
Arrive at destination
East 5th 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 81.2 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.6 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.2 miles or 1h 39m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chico, 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 162.4 miles and 3h 28m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on CA 99 for about 51.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 81.2 mi from San Francisco, CA · 1h 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
81 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
Arriving in Chico, CA
The final approach into Chico, 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 Chico, 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
$37.33 one way
$74.65 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
57 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $38.46 | $76.93 |
| premium | $6.18 | $39.49 | $78.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.86 | $71.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.7 | 0 | $17.05 | $7.80 |
| Efficient EV | 40.6 | 0 | $14.21 | $6.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65 | 0 | $22.74 | $10.39 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Chico, CA
Late night in Chico on Wednesday
Local time
3:28 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°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
23 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 28m 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 Chico, CA covers 162.4 miles and takes about 3h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 99, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, CA 113. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 81.2 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 $37.33 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 18 significant decision points across 162.4 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 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles (I 80 / Eastshore Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.5 miles (I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from San Francisco, CA to Chico, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Sacramento along the way.
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