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Trip from San Francisco, CA to Johnstonville, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 49m

Distance

266.2 mi

428 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$61

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 37m ★
6 AM
5h 50m
8 AM
6h 16m
10 AM
5h 59m
12 PM
5h 56m
3 PM
6h 0m
5 PM
6h 15m
8 PM
5h 42m

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 Johnstonville, CA, CA

Johnstonville, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from San Francisco, CA to Johnstonville, CA covers 266.2 miles and takes about 5h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on CA 99, Deer Creek Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.5 miles on CA 99. At current regular gas prices, budget about $61.18 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

133.1 miles from San Francisco, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 48m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 49m. Total distance: 266.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Drive Character

The drive from San Francisco, CA to Johnstonville, CA covers 266.2 miles and takes about 5h 49m, 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 53.5 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.

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 22 significant decision points across 266.2 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 22 key points

These 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 Johnstonville, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Chester along the way.

Chester

161.5 mi in | ~3h 25m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
CA 99 53.5 mi 1h 8m
Deer Creek Highway 52.3 mi 1h 9m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 48.2 mi 57m
CA 36 33.8 mi 47m
State Highway 36 East 18.1 mi 26m
CA 113 17.4 mi 23m
Eastshore Freeway 14.3 mi 16m
Vic Fazio Highway 11.1 mi 12m
Longest stretch: CA 99 — 53.5 mi, about 1h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

54 mi · 1 hr 8 min · CA 99
Use the straight lane.
25

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 15 sec
Toward CA 32: Orland, Chester
26

Turn right onto CA 32

52 mi · 1 hr 9 min · Deer Creek Highway
Use the right lane.
27

At end of road, turn right onto CA 36; CA 89

18 mi · 26 min · State Highway 36 East
28

Enter roundabout onto CA 36

92 ft · 6 sec · CA 36
29

Continue on CA 36

34 mi · 47 min · CA 36
Use the straight / right lanes.
30

Turn left onto US 395

0.4 mi · 30 sec · Route 395
31

Turn left onto Johnstonville Road

163 ft · 3 sec · Johnstonville Road
32

Arrive at destination

Johnstonville Road

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 133.1 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.5 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 59 miles or 1h 13m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 133.1 miles or 2h 48m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Johnstonville, 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 266.2 miles and 5h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 53.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 133.1 mi from San Francisco, CA · 2h 48m into the drive

town in Butte County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Paradise, CA

133 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

Davis, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gridley, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 133.1 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Johnstonville, CA

The final approach into Johnstonville, 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 Johnstonville, 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

$61.18 one way

$122.37 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 93 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $63.05 $126.10
premium $6.18 $64.74 $129.47
diesel $5.61 $58.77 $117.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$61

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$86–$111

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 93.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 79.9 0 $27.95 $12.78
Efficient EV 66.6 0 $23.29 $10.65
EV Truck/SUV 106.5 1 $37.27 $17.04

Gas CO2

93 kg

EV CO2

31 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

Morning in San Francisco on Thursday

Local time

11:43 AM

PDT

Current temp

70°F

Sunny

N 5 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:43AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Medford OR

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 10:32AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Destination

Johnstonville, CA

Morning in Johnstonville on Thursday

Local time

11:43 AM

PDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

53°F

Paradise, CA

133 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

14 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

5h 49m 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 Johnstonville, CA covers 266.2 miles and takes about 5h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 99, Deer Creek Highway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 133.1 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 $61.18 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 22 significant decision points across 266.2 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 Johnstonville, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Chester along the way.

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