Origin
San Leandro, CA
Morning in San Leandro on Friday
Local time
10:32 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Leandro, CA to Oakland, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
15m
Distance
9.6 mi
15 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 15m
8 AM
0h 18m
10 AM
0h 16m
12 PM
0h 16m
3 PM
0h 16m
5 PM
0h 18m
8 PM
0h 14m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Leandro, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Oakland, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick commute between San Leandro and Oakland, this 9.6-mile trip is an efficient way to navigate the Pacific Coast region. The journey typically takes about 15 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion or a simple local transit. You will spend roughly $2 on fuel, keeping this trip exceptionally budget-friendly. Because of the short distance, you do not need to worry about overnight logistics or complex planning. Whether you are running errands or heading into the city, the route is straightforward and reliable.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 15m. Total distance: 9.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience with 74% of your travel spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Nimitz Freeway, which accounts for a 7.1-mile stretch of the trip. After leaving the freeway, the character of the road shifts as you transition onto Davis Street and eventually Oak Street. This combination of high-speed transit and local navigation ensures you get to your destination quickly. The drive feels like a standard urban commute, prioritizing speed and direct access over winding, scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Nimitz Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 7.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Nimitz Freeway and Davis Street. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CA 185 / East 14th Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 9.6 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (CA 185 / East 14th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (CA 61 / Davis Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CA 185 / East 14th Street
Turn left onto CA 185 / East 14th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CA 61 / Davis Street
Turn left onto CA 61 / Davis Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
8.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
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 41A
Toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
6
9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
12th Street
Turn left onto 12th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
9.3 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
Harrison Street
Turn right onto Harrison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Nimitz Freeway | 7.1 mi | 7m |
| Davis Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Oak Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 12th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 14th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Harrison Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 14th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Estudillo Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Nimitz Freeway
— 7.1 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Leandro, CA and Oakland, CA.
1
Start on West Estudillo Avenue
61 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Estudillo Avenue
2
Turn left onto CA 185
399 ft
·
11 sec
·
East 14th Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto CA 61
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Davis Street
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 880 North: Oakland
5
Merge onto I 880
7.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 41A
Toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Oak Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
12th Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto Harrison Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Harrison Street
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto 14th Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
14th Street
11
Arrive at destination
14th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.21 one way
$4.41 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $2.27 | $4.55 |
| premium | $6.18 | $2.33 | $4.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.12 | $4.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.01 | $0.46 |
| Efficient EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.84 | $0.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.34 | $0.61 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Oakland, CA
Morning in Oakland on Friday
Local time
10:32 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°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
18 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
15m 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 Leandro, CA to Oakland, CA covers 9.6 miles and takes about 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Nimitz Freeway, Davis Street, Oak Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.8 miles from San Leandro, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.21 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 9.6 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (CA 185 / East 14th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (CA 61 / Davis Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from San Leandro, CA to Oakland, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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 by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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