Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
4h 8m
Distance
208.8 mi
336 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Reedley, CA
Wikimedia Commons
This 208.8-mile drive from San Francisco to Reedley, California, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 8 minutes. You'll spend about 90% of your time on major highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 119.6 miles on CA 99. With an estimated fuel cost of $48, this highway-focused route offers a straightforward journey through the Pacific Coast region. It's a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently, making it ideal for a quick trip or as part of a larger adventure.
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
104.4 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 4m into the drive .
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 90% of the drive utilizing major freeways. You'll navigate on roads like the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway and the MacArthur Freeway before merging onto the extensive CA 99. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 119.6 miles on CA 99, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. This profile suggests a journey characterized by speed and efficiency rather than winding scenic byways.
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.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 208.8 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 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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
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
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between San Francisco, CA and Reedley, CA, road signs point toward Stockton, Sonora and Fresno.
Stockton
Sonora
Fresno
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 99 | 119.6 mi | 2h 16m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.3 mi | 33m |
| MacArthur Freeway | 15.9 mi | 18m |
| Robert T. Monagan Freeway | 14.6 mi | 16m |
| East Manning Avenue | 11.2 mi | 17m |
| CA 120 | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| Westside Freeway | 1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Reedley, CA.
Start on Market Street
Turn right onto 11th Street
Turn left onto Bryant Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 80
Continue on I 80
Take the exit
Merge onto I 580
Merge onto I 580
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
Keep slight left at fork onto I 205
Keep slight left at fork onto I 205
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Continue on CA 120
Take the exit
Merge onto CA 99
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Take the exit
Turn right
Turn straight onto East Manning Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto East Manning Avenue
Continue on I Street
Turn left onto 11th Street
Turn right onto G Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 4-hour duration, this trip is best tackled in one day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Plan for a single stop to refuel and stretch your legs, especially considering the 119.6-mile stretch on CA 99. Leaving early in the morning can help you avoid potential traffic, particularly as you depart the San Francisco area. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be more spread out on longer highway segments.
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.
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 46 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.4 miles or 2h 4m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Reedley, CA than in the middle of the route.
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 208.8 miles and 4h 8m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 104.4 mi from San Francisco, CA · 2h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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.
A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 104.4 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before CA 99 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 119.6 miles.
The final approach into Reedley, 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 Reedley, 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.
Regular Gas
$47.99 one way
$95.98 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $49.45 | $98.91 |
| premium | $6.18 | $50.78 | $101.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.10 | $92.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.6 | 0 | $21.92 | $10.02 |
| Efficient EV | 52.2 | 0 | $18.27 | $8.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.5 | 1 | $29.23 | $13.36 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in San Francisco on Wednesday
Local time
1:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Reedley on Wednesday
Local time
1:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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