San Francisco to Riverdale Park is 86.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 47 minutes via the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, MacArthur Freeway, and William Elton Brown Freeway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive stays within California, connecting two points in the Pacific Coast region. Expect a straightforward journey primarily on major freeways, making it a practical option for a quick trip. It's a manageable distance for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.4 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 86.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is largely a highway-focused drive, with 75% of the journey on major freeways. You'll experience stretches of fast-paced driving, including a continuous 29.3 miles on the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. The character of the drive is consistent, characterized by its efficient freeway travel. While not explicitly scenic, the focus is on covering ground quickly and directly between your origin and destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.8 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 11 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.
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 Riverdale Park, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Hayward-Stockton along the way.
Hayward-Stockton
8 mi in|~13m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.3 mi
33m
MacArthur Freeway
15.9 mi
18m
William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi
11m
Paradise Road
7.1 mi
10m
Maze Boulevard
6.2 mi
8m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.8 mi
8m
Vernalis Freeway
5.1 mi
5m
State Highway 132
3.1 mi
4m
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 Riverdale Park, 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: OaklandUse 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 8BToward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-StocktonUse 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 right at fork onto CA 132
5.1 mi·5 min·Vernalis Freeway
Toward CA 132 East
13
Continue on CA 132
3.1 mi·4 min·State Highway 132
14
Continue on CA 132
6.2 mi·8 min·Maze Boulevard
15
Turn right onto Paradise Road
7.1 mi·10 min·Paradise Road
16
Arrive at destination
Paradise Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under two hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility for departure time. You can easily tackle this drive in a single day, so consider leaving in the morning to maximize your time at your destination or departing in the afternoon for a more relaxed start. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your own fuel and rest breaks as needed, keeping in mind the $20 fuel cost estimate. A good tip is to be aware of potential Bay Area traffic, especially if traveling during peak commute hours, which could extend your 1 hour 47 minute drive time.
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 43.4 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 54m 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.4 miles or 54m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverdale Park, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from San Francisco, CA
This is one driving day of about 86.8 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 43.4 mi from San Francisco, CA
· 54m into the drive
The midpoint is around 43.4 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Riverdale Park, CA
The final approach into Riverdale Park, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.95 one way
$39.90 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$20.56
$41.12
premium
$6.18
$21.11
$42.22
diesel
$5.61
$19.16
$38.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26
0
$9.11
$4.17
Efficient EV
21.7
0
$7.59
$3.47
EV Truck/SUV
34.7
0
$12.15
$5.56
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
San Francisco, CA
Evening
in San Francisco on Friday
Local time
5:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Sunny
N 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive 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
Riverdale Park, CA
Evening
in Riverdale Park on Friday
Local time
5:29 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
22 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
1h 47m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Riverdale Park, CA covers 86.8 miles and takes about 1h 47m 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, 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 43.4 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 $19.95 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.8 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
On the drive from San Francisco, CA to Riverdale Park, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Hayward-Stockton along the way.
