Origin
San Francisco, CA
Afternoon in San Francisco on Thursday
Local time
2:18 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Francisco, CA to Tipton, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 39m
Distance
242.2 mi
390 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 26m
★
6 AM
4h 39m
8 AM
5h 6m
10 AM
4h 49m
12 PM
4h 46m
3 PM
4h 50m
5 PM
5h 5m
8 PM
4h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Tipton, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
This 242.2-mile journey from San Francisco to Tipton, California, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 39 minutes to complete. Primarily following CA 99, with initial segments on the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway and MacArthur Freeway, this route is heavily highway-focused, with 90% of the drive on freeways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $56. Given its manageable duration and highway-centric profile, it's a straightforward drive that doesn't necessitate an overnight stop, making it an efficient option for reaching your destination within the Pacific Coast region.
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
121.1 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 242.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive on this route, with 90% of your travel time spent on freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 149.4 miles along CA 99. This highway-centric profile means you'll likely experience consistent speeds and straightforward navigation for the majority of your trip. While the specific road conditions may vary, the overall character is one of efficient travel across the state.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CA 99 is the longest continuous segment at about 149.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 21 significant decision points across 242.2 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese 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...
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.
6
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
8
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
8
240.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 37m in
Take the exit toward CA 190: Porterville, Springville
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 76
Toward CA 190: Porterville, Springville
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 Tipton, 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 99 | 149.4 mi | 2h 48m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.3 mi | 33m |
| MacArthur Freeway | 15.9 mi | 18m |
| Golden State Highway | 15.3 mi | 16m |
| Robert T. Monagan Freeway | 14.6 mi | 16m |
| CA 120 | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| Westside Freeway | 1 mi | 1m |
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 Tipton, 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 left at fork onto I 205
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
Toward I 205 East: Tracy, Stockton
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 205
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
13
Merge onto I 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Westside Freeway
14
Take the exit
469 ft
·
6 sec
Toward CA 120 East: Manteca, Sonora
15
Continue on CA 120
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
CA 120
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 6
Toward CA 99 South: Modesto, Fresno
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto CA 99
108 mi
·
2 hr 4 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
41 mi
·
44 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
15 mi
·
15 min
·
Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 76
Toward CA 190: Porterville, Springville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn left onto Burnett Road
245 ft
·
8 sec
·
Burnett Road
22
Turn left onto CA 190
409 ft
·
6 sec
·
Avenue 144
23
Continue on CA 190
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Poplar Avenue
24
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
25
Merge onto CA 99
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
Golden State Highway
26
Arrive at destination
CA 99
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour, 39-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from San Francisco to bypass potential Bay Area traffic. With a longest stretch of 149.4 miles on CA 99, plan for one strategic stop about midway to stretch your legs and refuel, ensuring you arrive in Tipton feeling refreshed. The $56 fuel cost is a reasonable budget for this single-day trip, but always check current prices. Keep an eye out for variable speed limits on CA 99, which can change frequently as you transition between different stretches of highway.
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 121.1 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 2h 23m 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 53 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.1 miles or 2h 23m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tipton, 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 242.2 miles and 4h 39m.
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 CA 99 for about 149.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 121.1 mi from San Francisco, CA · 2h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 121.1 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 149.4 miles.
Arriving in Tipton, CA
The final approach into Tipton, 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 Tipton, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.67 one way
$111.34 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $57.37 | $114.73 |
| premium | $6.18 | $58.90 | $117.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.47 | $106.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.7 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 | 72.7 | 0 | $25.43 | $11.63 |
| Efficient EV | 60.6 | 0 | $21.19 | $9.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.9 | 1 | $33.91 | $15.50 |
Gas CO2
85 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.
Destination
Tipton, CA
Afternoon in Tipton on Thursday
Local time
2:18 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°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
2 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 39m 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 Tipton, CA covers 242.2 miles and takes about 4h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 99, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, MacArthur 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 121.1 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 $55.67 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 21 significant decision points across 242.2 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 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.
Between San Francisco, CA and Tipton, CA, road signs point toward Stockton, Sonora and Fresno.
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