Trip from San Francisco, CA to Porterville, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 58m

Distance

254.6 mi

410 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$59

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 45m ★

6 AM

4h 59m

8 AM

5h 26m

10 AM

5h 8m

12 PM

5h 5m

3 PM

5h 9m

5 PM

5h 24m

8 PM

4h 50m

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

city in Tulare County, California, United States

Porterville, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from San Francisco, CA to Porterville, CA covers 254.6 miles and takes about 4h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on CA 99, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, Avenue 232 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 149.4 miles on CA 99. At current regular gas prices, budget about $58.52 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

127.3 miles from San Francisco, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 30m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
CA 99	149.4 mi	2h 48m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway	29.3 mi	33m
Avenue 232	16.8 mi	20m
MacArthur Freeway	15.9 mi	18m
Robert T. Monagan Freeway	14.6 mi	16m
CA 120	6.2 mi	7m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	5.8 mi	8m
Tulare Lindsay Highway	4.2 mi	5m

Longest stretch: CA 99 — 149.4 mi, about 2h 48m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Market Street

312 ft · 7 sec · Market Street

Turn right onto 11th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · 11th Street

Turn left onto Bryant Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Bryant Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 25 sec

Toward I 80 East: Oakland Use the left / straight lanes.

Merge onto I 80

0.9 mi · 1 min · Route 80

Continue on I 80

5.8 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min

Exit 8B Toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-Stockton Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 580

16 mi · 18 min · MacArthur Freeway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto I 580

12 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 205

3.9 mi · 4 min · Robert T. Monagan Freeway

Toward I 205 East: Tracy, Stockton

Keep slight left at fork onto I 205

11 mi · 11 min · Robert T. Monagan Freeway

Merge onto I 5

1.0 mi · 1 min · Westside Freeway

Take the exit

469 ft · 6 sec

Toward CA 120 East: Manteca, Sonora

Continue on CA 120

6.2 mi · 7 min · CA 120

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Exit 6 Toward CA 99 South: Modesto, Fresno Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto CA 99

108 mi · 2 hr 4 min · CA 99

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

41 mi · 44 min · CA 99

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

3.6 mi · 3 min · Golden State Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Exit 87 Toward CA 137: Tulare Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

At end of road, turn left onto CA 137

1.5 mi · 2 min · East Tulare Avenue

Use the straight lane.

Continue on CA 137

0.4 mi · 33 sec · East Tulare Avenue

Continue on CA 137

4.2 mi · 5 min · Tulare Lindsay Highway

Continue on CA 137

17 mi · 20 min · Avenue 232

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Toward Olive Avenue

Turn left onto J26

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Olive Avenue

Arrive at destination

West Olive Avenue

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 127.3 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 2h 30m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 149.4 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 56 miles or 1h 8m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 127.3 miles or 2h 30m 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 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Porterville, 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 254.6 miles and 4h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 149.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and county seat of Stanislaus County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Modesto, CA

127 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Winton, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 127.3 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 CA 99 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 149.4 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Crepevine Restaurants

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

San Francisco, California

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+14156815858

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Saint Frank Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

San Francisco, California

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+14158818062

Visit website

Crepevine Restaurants

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30

San Francisco, California

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+14156815858

Visit website

Saint Frank Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

San Francisco, California

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+14158818062

Visit website

EVCS Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 163.6

Madera, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18663003827

Visit website

Caltrans Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 163.6

Madera, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 127.3

Merced, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 90.9

Modesto, California

+12093382100

Visit website

PanIQ Escape Room San Francisco

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

San Francisco, California

Hours: 2:30–9:30 pm

+14158293758

Visit website

Mission Dolores Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Francisco, CA

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14158312700

Visit website

Corona Heights Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Francisco, CA

Hours: 5 am–12 pm

+14158312700

Visit website

Helen Diller Playground

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Francisco, California

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14158312700

Visit website

Randall Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Francisco, California

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+14155549600

Visit website

GLBT Historical Society Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Francisco, California

Hours: 11 am–1 pm

+14157775455

Visit website

The American Bookbinders Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Francisco, California

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+14158249754

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 229.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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...

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.

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

76.1 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in

Take the exit toward CA 99 South: Modesto, Fresno

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 6 Toward CA 99 South: Modesto, Fresno

229.8 mi into trip | ~4h 25m in

Take the exit toward CA 137: Tulare Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 87 Toward CA 137: Tulare Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$58.52 one way

$117.04 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 89 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.02	$60.30	$120.60
premium	$6.18	$61.92	$123.83
diesel	$5.61	$56.21	$112.42

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$59

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$84–$109

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 89.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	76.4	0	$26.73	$12.22
Efficient EV	63.7	0	$22.28	$10.18
EV Truck/SUV	101.8	1	$35.64	$16.29

Gas CO2

89 kg

EV CO2

30 kg (66% 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 14, 2026

Origin

San Francisco, CA

Afternoon in San Francisco on Saturday

Local time

1:55 PM

PDT

Current temp

65°F

Sunny

W 7 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Porterville, CA

Afternoon in Porterville on Saturday

Local time

1:55 PM

PDT

Current temp

48°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

17 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

4h 58m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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

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 8.8

View on nps.gov

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

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

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 17.6

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

254.6 mi in 4h 58m, mostly highway — 149.4 mi of that is on CA 99.

85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 149.4 mi on CA 99.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 99 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 8 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 19 significant decision points across 254.6 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 36.4 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.3 miles (I 205 / Robert T. Monagan Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Porterville, CA, road signs point toward Stockton, Sonora and Fresno.

Stockton

54.3 mi in | ~1h 6m | via I 205

Sonora

69.8 mi in | ~1h 24m

Fresno

76.1 mi in | ~1h 31m

About the Cities

Starting in San Francisco, CA

Full guide →

The centerpiece of the Bay Area, San Francisco is one of the most visited cities in the world, and with good reason. The cultural center of northern California, San Francisco is renowned for its mixture of scenic beauty and unique culture that makes it one of the most vibrant and desirable cities in the nation, if not the world. Sandwiched between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean on a small square of land seven miles (11 km) on each side, San Francisco offers a wealth of treasures for the visitor, from the windswept and often foggy bay to the steep hills lined with Victorian homes that overlook the spectacular scenery of the city.

Arriving in Porterville, CA

Full guide →

Porterville is a city in Tulare County in California's San Joaquin Valley.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 58m. Total distance: 254.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 149.4 miles on CA 99. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Porterville, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Yes — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Porterville, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

Porterville, CA to San Francisco, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

255.5 mi 5h

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.

Trip from San Francisco, CA to Porterville, CA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Crepevine Restaurants

Saint Frank Coffee

Crepevine Restaurants

Saint Frank Coffee

EVCS Charging Station

Caltrans Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

EVgo Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

EVgo Charging Station

Gallo Center for the Arts

PanIQ Escape Room San Francisco

Mission Dolores Park

Corona Heights Park

Helen Diller Playground

Randall Museum

GLBT Historical Society Museum

The American Bookbinders Museum

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

San Francisco, CA

Porterville, CA

Same local time

17 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 58m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Muir Woods National Monument

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in San Francisco, CA

Arriving in Porterville, CA

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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