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Trip from San Francisco, CA to Tracy, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 17m

Distance

62.4 mi

100 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 12m ★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

consolidated city and county in California, United States

San Francisco, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city in San Joaquin County, California, United States

Tracy, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

San Francisco to Tracy is 62.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 17 minutes via the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, MacArthur Freeway, and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route primarily stays within the Pacific Coast region, keeping you in California for the entire journey. It's a straightforward, highway-focused drive that's perfect for a quick trip, whether you're heading out for a day or just need to get from point A to point B efficiently. Consider this a practical option when you need to cover ground without a lot of fuss.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 62.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 87% of the journey on major freeways. You'll spend most of your time on the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, MacArthur Freeway, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 29.3 miles on the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, offering a solid period of consistent travel. While it's largely a freeway cruise, expect the typical traffic flow and urban transitions common to this part of California.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 10 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.
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

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 Tracy, CA, road signs point toward Hayward-Stockton and Stockton.

Hayward-Stockton

8 mi in | ~13m

Stockton

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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway 29.3 mi 33m
MacArthur Freeway 15.9 mi 18m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 5.8 mi 8m
I 205 Bus 4.3 mi 6m
Robert T. Monagan Freeway 3.9 mi 4m
Route 80 0.9 mi 1m
11th Street 0.6 mi 1m
Bryant Street 0.3 mi 1m
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 Tracy, 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 right at fork onto I 205 Bus

4.3 mi · 6 min · I 205 Bus
Toward Eleventh Street
13

Arrive at destination

I 205 Bus

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 31.2 mi from San Francisco, CA · 40m into the drive

Downtown Cherryland, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cherryland, CA

31 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

Oakland, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Castro Valley, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.2 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Tracy, CA

The final approach into Tracy, 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

$14.34 one way

$28.68 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $14.78 $29.56
premium $6.18 $15.17 $30.35
diesel $5.61 $13.78 $27.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$14

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.7 0 $6.55 $3.00
Efficient EV 15.6 0 $5.46 $2.50
EV Truck/SUV 25 0 $8.74 $3.99

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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 15, 2026

Origin

San Francisco, CA

Late night in San Francisco on Friday

Local time

3:48 AM

PDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tracy, CA

Late night in Tracy on Friday

Local time

3:48 AM

PDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

25 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

1h 17m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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 Tracy, CA covers 62.4 miles and takes about 1h 17m 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, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 31.2 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 $14.34 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 62.4 miles you will encounter 10 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.

Between San Francisco, CA and Tracy, CA, road signs point toward Hayward-Stockton and Stockton.

Yes. Nearby national parks include San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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Return Trip

Tracy, CA to San Francisco, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

63.1 mi 1h 17m

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