Origin
San Francisco, CA
Afternoon in San Francisco on Sunday
Local time
1:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Francisco, CA to Hayward, CA
Drive Time
37m
Distance
26.4 mi
42 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Francisco, CA
Abhishek Navlakha
Hayward, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Spanning 26.4 miles, this direct route from San Francisco to Hayward is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 37 minutes. Because of the short duration, you can easily complete this drive as a quick day trip without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $4 on fuel for the journey, making it a very economical choice for cross-bay travel. You will navigate through the Pacific Coast region, transitioning from the city environment of San Francisco into the East Bay. Since there are no required stops, the trip is efficient and well-suited for travelers looking to move between these two California hubs quickly.
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
13.2 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
This journey is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than an open highway cruise. You will spend your time navigating surface streets like 11th Street and Bryant Street before transitioning onto I-80 East. With 0% of the route categorized as highway-share, you should prepare for a more involved driving experience through urban intersections. The longest stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on 11th Street, emphasizing the frequent turns required to navigate your way out of the city. Behind the wheel, you will notice the road feels more technical than a standard interstate grind, requiring your full attention as you transition between local roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MacArthur Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 14.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MacArthur Freeway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 26.4 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 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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...
8
23.8 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward CA 238 South, I 238 North: Hayward, San Jose, San Mateo Bridge
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 34
Toward CA 238 South, I 238 North: Hayward, San...
7
24.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 238 South: Hayward
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 238 South: Hayward
8
24.5 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CA 238: Hayward, Mattox Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward CA 238: Hayward, Mattox Road
6
25.8 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
A Street
At end of road, turn right onto A Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Along This Route
Between San Francisco, CA and Hayward, CA, road signs point toward Hayward-Stockton and San Jose.
Hayward-Stockton
8 mi in
|
~13m
San Jose
23.8 mi in
|
~31m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MacArthur Freeway | 14.9 mi | 17m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| CA 238 | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Route 80 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| 11th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Mission Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Bryant Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| A Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MacArthur Freeway
— 14.9 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Hayward, 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
15 mi
·
17 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 34
Toward CA 238 South, I 238 North: Hayward, San Jose, San Mateo Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward CA 238 South: Hayward
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
416 ft
·
10 sec
Toward CA 238: Hayward, Mattox Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on CA 238
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
CA 238
Toward Hayward, Mattox Road
Use the straight lane.
13
At end of road, turn right onto A Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
A Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto Mission Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Mission Boulevard
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
Mission Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the short 37-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility when choosing your departure time. However, because this path relies heavily on local streets, it is wise to monitor real-time traffic conditions before you head out to avoid congestion on city corridors. You won't need to plan for any formal stops, allowing you to drive straight through to your destination in Hayward. Keep your $4 fuel budget in mind, but otherwise, the lack of long highway stretches means you don't need to worry about extended rest breaks. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay alert for the frequent turns required when navigating off 11th Street, as the lack of long straightaways means you will need to keep a close eye on your navigation to stay on track.
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 13.2 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.9 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 26.4 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.2 miles or 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hayward, 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 26.4 miles and 37m.
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 MacArthur Freeway for about 14.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.2 mi from San Francisco, CA · 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 26.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.2 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hayward, CA
The final approach into Hayward, 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 Hayward, 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
$6.11 one way
$12.23 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $6.30 | $12.61 |
| premium | $6.24 | $6.49 | $12.98 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.87 | $11.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.31 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Hayward, CA
Afternoon in Hayward on Sunday
Local time
1:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
46°F
Richmond, CA
13 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
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
37m 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 Hayward, CA covers 26.4 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MacArthur Freeway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, CA 238. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.2 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 $6.11 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 12 significant decision points across 26.4 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 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between San Francisco, CA and Hayward, CA, road signs point toward Hayward-Stockton and San Jose.
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