The drive from Stockton, CA to Albany, CA covers 78.7 miles and takes about 1h 33m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, MacArthur Freeway, Robert T. Monagan Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.7 miles on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.09 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.4 miles from Stockton, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 78.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 33m highway drive covering 78.7 miles, with most of the trip on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway and MacArthur Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 29.7 miles on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 29.7 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 46.3 miles in near I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 46.3 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.3 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
46.3 mi into trip|~54m 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.
8
58 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Oakland, San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580: Oakland, San Francisco
6
66.3 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
77.8 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward Buchanan Street, Albany
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 13A
Toward Buchanan Street, Albany
6
78.1 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|Buchanan Street
Turn right onto Buchanan Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Stockton, CA to Albany, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco along the way.
San Francisco
58 mi in|~1h 7m|via I 580
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.7 mi
34m
MacArthur Freeway
16.7 mi
19m
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
13.9 mi
15m
Westside Freeway
12.9 mi
14m
Eastshore Freeway
3.2 mi
3m
CA 4
0.7 mi
1m
North Center Street
0.5 mi
1m
Buchanan Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
— 29.7 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stockton, CA and Albany, CA.
1
Start on East Fremont Street
501 ft·31 sec·East Fremont Street
2
Turn left onto North Center Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Center Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 4
0.7 mi·1 min·CA 4
Toward I 5 South
5
Merge onto I 5; CA 4
13 mi·14 min·Westside Freeway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205
14 mi·15 min·Robert T. Monagan Freeway
7
Continue on I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi·13 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
8.3 mi·9 min·MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Oakland, San FranciscoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
8.3 mi·9 min·MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 80; I 580
3.2 mi·3 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Exit 13AToward Buchanan Street, AlbanyUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto Buchanan Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Buchanan Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on Marin Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·Marin Avenue
15
Turn left onto CA 123
98 ft·13 sec·San Pablo Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
CA 123
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.4 miles from Stockton, CA, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.7 miles.
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 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.4 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albany, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Stockton, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Stockton, CA
This is one driving day of about 78.7 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Stockton, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway for about 29.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.4 mi from Stockton, CA
· 46m into the drive
The midpoint is around 39.4 miles from Stockton, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Albany, CA
The final approach into Albany, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
$15
near mile 78.7
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 78.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.09 one way
$36.18 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$18.64
$37.28
premium
$6.18
$19.14
$38.28
diesel
$5.61
$17.38
$34.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.6
0
$8.26
$3.78
Efficient EV
19.7
0
$6.89
$3.15
EV Truck/SUV
31.5
0
$11.02
$5.04
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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 17, 2026
Origin
Stockton, CA
Afternoon
in Stockton on Friday
Local time
12:51 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
NW 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 5:29AM PDT until April 17 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 5:29AM PDT until April 17 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Albany, CA
Afternoon
in Albany on Friday
Local time
12:51 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
24 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 33m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Stockton, CA to Albany, CA covers 78.7 miles and takes about 1h 33m 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, Robert T. Monagan Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.4 miles from Stockton, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.09 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 78.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 46.3 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.3 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Stockton, CA to Albany, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Muir Woods National Monument. 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.
