Origin
San Francisco, CA
Evening in San Francisco on Thursday
Local time
6:17 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Francisco, CA to Linden, CA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
2h 3m
Distance
97.3 mi
157 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 55m
★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 21m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 20m
8 PM
1h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Linden, CA
Aziz Hasan AY
Trip Overview
The drive from San Francisco, CA to Linden, CA covers 97.3 miles and takes about 2h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, MacArthur Freeway, Robert T. Monagan Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.3 miles on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.36 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.
Midpoint
48.7 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 97.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 3m highway drive covering 97.3 miles, with most of the trip on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway and MacArthur Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 29.3 miles on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 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 is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway and MacArthur 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
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 20 significant decision points across 97.3 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 20 key pointsThese 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.
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
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 Linden, CA, road signs point toward Hayward-Stockton and Stockton.
Hayward-Stockton
8 mi in
|
~13m
Stockton
54.3 mi in
|
~1h 6m
|
via I 205
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.3 mi | 33m |
| MacArthur Freeway | 15.9 mi | 18m |
| Robert T. Monagan Freeway | 14.6 mi | 16m |
| Westside Freeway | 11.6 mi | 12m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| Farmington Road | 5.6 mi | 8m |
| South Jack Tone Road | 4 mi | 7m |
| CA 26 | 3.8 mi | 6m |
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 Linden, 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
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Westside Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 471
Toward CA 4 West
15
Keep slight right at fork
407 ft
·
5 sec
16
Turn straight onto West Charter Way
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
West Charter Way
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Continue on Old U.S. Route 99W
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Old U.S. Route 99W
18
Continue on Charter Way
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
Charter Way
19
Keep slight right at fork onto East Mariposa Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Mariposa Road
20
Turn left onto Farmington Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Farmington Road
Use the left lane.
21
At end of road, turn right onto CA 4
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Farmington Road
22
Turn left onto J5
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Tone Road
23
Turn right onto CA 26
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
CA 26
24
Turn left onto North Mill Street
70 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Mill Street
25
Arrive at destination
North Mill Street
Trip Plan
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 48.7 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 1h 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.7 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Linden, 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 97.3 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from San Francisco, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 48.7 mi from San Francisco, CA · 1h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.7 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Linden, CA
The final approach into Linden, 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 Linden, 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
$22.36 one way
$44.73 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $23.05 | $46.09 |
| premium | $6.18 | $23.66 | $47.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.48 | $42.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.22 | $4.67 |
| Efficient EV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.51 | $3.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.9 | 0 | $13.62 | $6.23 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Linden, CA
Evening in Linden on Thursday
Local time
6:17 PM
PDT
Current temp
71°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
27 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
2h 3m 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 Linden, CA covers 97.3 miles and takes about 2h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, MacArthur Freeway, Robert T. Monagan 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 48.7 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 $22.36 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 20 significant decision points across 97.3 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.
Between San Francisco, CA and Linden, CA, road signs point toward Hayward-Stockton and Stockton.
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