Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from San Francisco, CA to Lost Hills, CA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

4h 28m

Distance

240.8 mi

388 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$55

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 15m ★
6 AM
4h 28m
8 AM
4h 55m
10 AM
4h 37m
12 PM
4h 35m
3 PM
4h 39m
5 PM
4h 53m
8 PM
4h 20m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
consolidated city and county in California, United States

San Francisco, CA

Wikimedia Commons

census-designated place in Kern County, California

Lost Hills, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from San Francisco, CA to Lost Hills, CA covers 240.8 miles and takes about 4h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, William Elton Brown Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 167 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.35 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

120.4 miles from San Francisco, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 28m. Total distance: 240.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 4h 28m highway drive covering 240.8 miles, with most of the trip on Westside Freeway and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 167 miles on Westside Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 167 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Arthur H. Breed Junior 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 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 15 significant decision points across 240.8 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 15 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...
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.
5
24.9 mi into trip | ~32m in | I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Merge onto I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right 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.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 167 mi 2h 58m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway 29.3 mi 33m
William Elton Brown Freeway 17 mi 18m
MacArthur Freeway 15.9 mi 18m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 5.8 mi 8m
Paso Robles Highway 2.2 mi 3m
Route 80 0.9 mi 1m
11th Street 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 167 mi, about 2h 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Lost Hills, 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 right at fork onto I 580

11 mi · 11 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
13

Merge onto I 5

167 mi · 2 hr 58 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 25 sec
Toward CA 46: Lost Hills, Wasco
15

Turn right onto CA 46

2.2 mi · 3 min · Paso Robles Highway
16

Turn right onto Farnsworth Avenue

112 ft · 10 sec · Farnsworth Avenue
17

Turn left

26 ft · 2 sec
18

Arrive at destination

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 120.4 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 167 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 53 miles or 1h 5m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 120.4 miles or 2h 17m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lost Hills, 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 240.8 miles and 4h 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 Westside Freeway for about 167 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 120.4 mi from San Francisco, CA · 2h 17m into the drive

city in Alameda County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dublin, CA

120 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

Brentwood, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Turlock, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 120.4 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 167 miles.

Arriving in Lost Hills, CA

The final approach into Lost Hills, 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 Lost Hills, CA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour Free
Park Closure: Hyde Street Pier Closure
Caution: Sick Birds and Wildlife, H5N1
View on nps.gov
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...

7 mi from route ~17 min detour Free near mile 8.3
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...

12 mi from route ~29 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods National Monument

National Monument

Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...

12 mi from route ~30 min detour $15
View on nps.gov
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

National Memorial

On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...

21 mi from route ~52 min detour Free near mile 16.6
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$55.35 one way

$110.69 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 84 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $57.03 $114.07
premium $6.18 $58.56 $117.12
diesel $5.61 $53.17 $106.33

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$55

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$80–$105

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 84.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 72.2 0 $25.28 $11.56
Efficient EV 60.2 0 $21.07 $9.63
EV Truck/SUV 96.3 1 $33.71 $15.41

Gas CO2

84 kg

EV CO2

28 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 15, 2026

Origin

San Francisco, CA

Night in San Francisco on Thursday

Local time

9:55 PM

PDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lost Hills, CA

Night in Lost Hills on Thursday

Local time

9:55 PM

PDT

Current temp

50°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

6 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

4h 28m 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 Lost Hills, CA covers 240.8 miles and takes about 4h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, William Elton Brown 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 120.4 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 $55.35 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 15 significant decision points across 240.8 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.
The route from San Francisco, CA to Lost Hills, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Lost Hills, CA to San Francisco, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

242 mi 4h 29m

Continue From Lost Hills, CA

San Diego, CA 265.5 mi · 5h 8m Laguna, CA 234.9 mi · 4h 19m Oakland, CA 230.4 mi · 4h 14m Long Beach, CA 168.6 mi · 3h 13m

More from San Francisco, CA

Desert Shores, CA 532.5 mi · 9h 56m Alpine, CA 520.1 mi · 9h 52m Rancho San Diego, CA 511.8 mi · 9h 42m Chula Vista, CA 509 mi · 9h 38m San Diego, CA 501.9 mi · 9h 29m Anza, CA 497.5 mi · 9h 29m

More trips to Lost Hills, CA

Los Angeles, CA 144.9 mi Bakersfield, CA 46.4 mi
Overnight trips from San Francisco, CA Scenic drives in CA

Explore more options from San Francisco, CA or browse trips ending in Lost Hills, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.