The drive from San Francisco, CA to Thornton, CA covers 84.4 miles and takes about 1h 48m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CA 12, CA 4, CA 160 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.8 miles on CA 12.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.40 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
42.2 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 84.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 48m highway drive covering 84.4 miles, with most of the trip on CA 12 and CA 4. The longest continuous stretch is about 15.8 miles on CA 12.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CA 12 is the longest continuous segment at about 15.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 12 and CA 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.4 miles you will encounter 19 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 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.7 miles (CA 242): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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...
8
9.6 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward CA 24 East: Berkeley, Walnut Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19B
Toward CA 24 East: Berkeley, Walnut Creek
9
27.7 mi into trip|~37m in|CA 242
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 242 toward CA 242 North: Concord, Pittsburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 50
Toward CA 242 North: Concord, Pittsburg
9
46.6 mi into trip|~59m in|CA 160
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 160 toward CA 160: Rio Vista, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 30
Toward CA 160: Rio Vista, Sacramento
6
76.1 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 Thornton, CA, road signs point toward Hayward-Stockton, Walnut Creek, Pittsburg and Sacramento.
Hayward-Stockton
8 mi in|~13m
Walnut Creek
9.6 mi in|~15m
Pittsburg
27.7 mi in|~37m|via CA 242
Sacramento
46.6 mi in|~59m|via CA 160
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 12
15.8 mi
21m
CA 4
15 mi
17m
CA 160
13.6 mi
18m
Caldecott Tunnel
9.8 mi
11m
Westside Freeway
7.4 mi
7m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.8 mi
8m
CA 242
3.9 mi
4m
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
3.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
CA 12
— 15.8 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Thornton, 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
0.6 mi·42 sec·MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 19BToward CA 24 East: Berkeley, Walnut CreekUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward CA 24 East: Walnut Creek
11
Merge onto CA 24
3.3 mi·3 min·Grove Shafter Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 24
0.2 mi·13 sec·Grove Shafter Freeway
13
Continue on CA 24
9.8 mi·11 min·Caldecott Tunnel
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 680
3.8 mi·4 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 242
3.9 mi·4 min·CA 242
Exit 50Toward CA 242 North: Concord, PittsburgUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto CA 4
15 mi·17 min·CA 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 160
14 mi·18 min·CA 160
Exit 30Toward CA 160: Rio Vista, SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto CA 12
16 mi·21 min·CA 12
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn left
0.4 mi·52 sec
Use the left lane.
20
Merge onto I 5
7.4 mi·7 min·Westside Freeway
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward Walnut Grove Road
22
Turn right onto J11
417 ft·8 sec·West Walnut Grove Road
23
Continue on J8
0.2 mi·20 sec·Thornton Road
24
Arrive at destination
J8
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 42.2 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.8 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.2 miles or 53m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thornton, 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 84.4 miles and 1h 48m.
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 CA 12 for about 15.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.2 mi from San Francisco, CA
· 53m into the drive
The midpoint is around 42.2 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Thornton, CA
The final approach into Thornton, 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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.40 one way
$38.80 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$19.99
$39.98
premium
$6.18
$20.53
$41.05
diesel
$5.61
$18.63
$37.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 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
25.3
0
$8.86
$4.05
Efficient EV
21.1
0
$7.39
$3.38
EV Truck/SUV
33.8
0
$11.82
$5.40
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
Morning
in San Francisco on Thursday
Local time
11:49 AM
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
Thornton, CA
Morning
in Thornton on Thursday
Local time
11:49 AM
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 48m 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 Thornton, CA covers 84.4 miles and takes about 1h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 12, CA 4, CA 160. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.2 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 $19.40 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 84.4 miles you will encounter 19 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 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.7 miles (CA 242): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between San Francisco, CA and Thornton, CA, road signs point toward Hayward-Stockton, Walnut Creek, Pittsburg and Sacramento.
Yes. Nearby national parks include San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial and Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.
