Drive Time
6h 14m
Distance
311.5 mi
501 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
The drive from San Francisco, CA to Alta Sierra, CA covers 311.5 miles and takes about 6h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 11th Street, Bryant Street, I 80 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.31 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
155.7 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 7m into the drive .
Expect a 6h 14m drive with frequent turns across 311.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 11th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bryant Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Route 80 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dwight D | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 580 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MacArthur Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Arthur H | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Alta Sierra, CA.
Start on Market Street
Turn right onto 11th Street
Turn left onto Bryant Street
Take the ramp left toward I 80 East: Oakland
Merge slight right onto Route 80
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Take the exit slight right toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-Stockton
Merge slight left onto MacArthur Freeway
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Robert T. Monagan Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Robert T. Monagan Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward CA 120 East: Manteca, Sonora
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward CA 99 South: Modesto, Fresno
Merge slight left
Keep slight left
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway
Take the exit slight right toward CA 155 east
Turn left onto Ellington Street
Turn left onto Garces Highway
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Garces Highway
Exit the roundabout onto Garces Highway
Continue on Bakersfield-Glennville Road
Continue on Evans Road
Continue on Evans Road
Continue on Evans Road
Turn right onto Old State Road
Continue on Old State Road
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.7 miles or 3h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alta Sierra, 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 311.5 miles and 6h 14m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 155.7 mi from San Francisco, CA · 3h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
156 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 155.7 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Alta Sierra, 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 Alta Sierra, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$42.31 one way
$84.62 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $47.22 | $94.43 |
| premium | $4.15 | $50.89 | $101.79 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $45.99 | $91.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 93.5 | 1 | $32.71 | $14.95 |
| Efficient EV | 77.9 | 0 | $27.26 | $12.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 124.6 | 1 | $43.61 | $19.94 |
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in San Francisco on Saturday
Local time
9:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Alta Sierra on Saturday
Local time
9:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
76°F
Fresno, CA
156 mi in
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
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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