Origin
San Francisco, CA
Morning in San Francisco on Thursday
Local time
9:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 26m
Distance
289.5 mi
466 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$67
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from San Francisco, CA to South Taft, CA covers 289.5 miles and takes about 5h 26m 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 $66.54 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
144.7 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 43m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 26m. Total distance: 289.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 5h 26m drive with frequent turns across 289.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 26m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Francisco, CA to South Taft, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 11th Street | — | — |
| Bryant Street | — | — |
| I 80 East | — | — |
| Route 80 | — | — |
| Dwight D | — | — |
| I 580 East | — | — |
| MacArthur Freeway | — | — |
| Arthur H | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and South Taft, 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
Take the exit slight right toward CA 43: Taft, Maricopa
Keep slight right
Turn straight onto Enos Lane
Keep slight right to continue on Enos Lane
Turn straight onto Taft Highway
Turn right onto Gardner Field Road
Continue on Main Street
Turn left onto 2nd Street
Continue on Olive Avenue
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 64 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.7 miles or 2h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Taft, 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 289.5 miles and 5h 26m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 144.7 mi from San Francisco, CA · 2h 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
145 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 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 144.7 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into South Taft, 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 South Taft, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$66.54 one way
$133.08 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $68.57 | $137.14 |
| premium | $6.18 | $70.40 | $140.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $63.92 | $127.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$67
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$92–$117
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.9 | 1 | $30.40 | $13.90 |
| Efficient EV | 72.4 | 0 | $25.33 | $11.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115.8 | 1 | $40.53 | $18.53 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in San Francisco on Thursday
Local time
9:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in South Taft on Thursday
Local time
9:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
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
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.
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