Drive Time
7h 19m
Distance
391.4 mi
630 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
The drive from San Francisco, CA to Bell Gardens, CA covers 391.4 miles and takes about 7h 19m 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 $53.16 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
195.7 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 39m into the drive .
Expect a 7h 19m drive with frequent turns across 391.4 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 Bell Gardens, 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 right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
Keep slight right
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
Keep slight left
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Merge slight left onto Long Beach Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Huntington Park, Bell Gardens, Cudahy
Keep slight left to continue on Florence Avenue East
Keep slight right to continue on Florence Avenue East
Turn straight onto Florence Avenue
Continue on Florence Avenue
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 86 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 195.7 miles or 3h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bell Gardens, 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from San Francisco, CA
This is one driving day of about 391.4 miles and 7h 19m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 195.7 mi from San Francisco, CA · 3h 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
196 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 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 195.7 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Bell Gardens, 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 Bell Gardens, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$53.16 one way
$106.33 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $59.33 | $118.65 |
| premium | $4.15 | $63.95 | $127.90 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $57.79 | $115.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 136.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 117.4 | 1 | $41.10 | $18.79 |
| Efficient EV | 97.9 | 1 | $34.25 | $15.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 156.6 | 1 | $54.80 | $25.05 |
Gas CO2
137 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (66% 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 Bell Gardens on Saturday
Local time
9:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
76°F
Fresno, CA
196 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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Return Trip
Bell Gardens, CA to San Francisco, CAPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from San Francisco, CA or browse trips ending in Bell Gardens, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
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