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Trip from Stockton, CA to Richmond, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 36m

Distance

72.5 mi

117 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 29m ★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

county seat of San Joaquin County, California, United States

Stockton, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Contra Costa County, California, United States

Richmond, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Stockton, CA to Richmond, CA covers 72.5 miles and takes about 1h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Center Street, West Charter Way, Marsh Creek Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.66 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

36.2 miles from Stockton, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

About the Cities

Starting in Stockton, CA

Full guide →

Stockton is a city in the San Joaquin Valley in northern California. Sitting on the San Joaquin Delta, Stockton is the world's most inland natural port and used to be a major port city. One of the larger cities along I-5 through the Central Valley, it is a convenient stop and offers a variety of restaurants and accommodations for road-trippers. There are several shopping centers and movie theaters and one art museum but few major attractions.

Arriving in Richmond, CA

Full guide →

Though it was a booming industrial center during World War II, the subsequent decades were not kind to Richmond, California. After the war, deindustrialization hit hard. The shipyards closed. Desperation set in. A reputation for violent crime kept visitors away. But in the 21st century crime has gone down, and a revitalization has begun. Richmond still isn't on any tourism shortlists, but its historic sites, nature, and strategic location between the East Bay and Marin County do attract some interest to this often-overlooked part of the San Francisco Bay Area. Areas of note include the charming and historic Point Richmond neighborhood on the bay in the southwest of Richmond, as well as the World War II sites at the southern edge of the city. This article also covers Richmond's near-enclave of San Pablo.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 72.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 36m drive with frequent turns across 72.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Center Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Stockton, CA to Richmond, CA is easy. At 1h 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Stockton, CA to Richmond, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Center Street
West Charter Way
Marsh Creek Road
CA 4
I 80
I 80 West
Eastshore Freeway
San Pablo Avenue

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: North Center Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Stockton, CA and Richmond, CA.

1

Start on East Fremont Street

502 ft · 31 sec · East Fremont Street
2

Turn left onto North Center Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · North Center Street
3

Turn right onto West Charter Way

4.5 mi · 7 min · West Charter Way
4

Continue straight

15 mi · 22 min
5

Continue straight

1.5 mi · 2 min
6

Turn left onto Marsh Creek Road

3.9 mi · 5 min · Marsh Creek Road
7

Turn right

23 mi · 26 min
8

Keep slight left to continue on CA 4: Richmond, Martinez

14 mi · 16 min · CA 4: Richmond, Martinez
9

Take the exit slight right toward I 80: San Francisco, Sacramento

0.5 mi · 32 sec · I 80: San Francisco, Sacramento
10

Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: Oakland, San Francisco

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 80 West: Oakland, San Francisco
11

Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway

6.3 mi · 7 min · Eastshore Freeway
12

Take the exit slight right toward San Pablo Avenue, Barrett Avenue

0.3 mi · 51 sec · San Pablo Avenue, Barrett Avenue
13

Turn sharp right onto Barrett Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · Barrett Avenue
14

Turn left onto 25th Street

0.2 mi · 46 sec · 25th Street
15

Turn right onto Macdonald Avenue

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Macdonald Avenue
16

Arrive at your destination

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 36.2 miles from Stockton, CA, or about 48m into the drive.

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 16 miles or 21m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 36.2 miles or 48m 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 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, 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 72.5 miles and 1h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Stockton, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 36.2 mi from Stockton, CA · 48m into the drive

city in Contra Costa County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Concord, CA

36 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Brentwood, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Concord, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.2 miles from Stockton, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Richmond, CA

The final approach into Richmond, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.66 one way

$33.33 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $17.17 $34.34
premium $6.18 $17.63 $35.26
diesel $5.61 $16.01 $32.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.4 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 21.8 0 $7.61 $3.48
Efficient EV 18.1 0 $6.34 $2.90
EV Truck/SUV 29 0 $10.15 $4.64

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 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 15, 2026

Origin

Stockton, CA

Evening in Stockton on Friday

Local time

8:45 PM

PDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Richmond, CA

Evening in Richmond on Friday

Local time

8:45 PM

PDT

Current temp

47°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

22 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 36m 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 Stockton, CA to Richmond, CA covers 72.5 miles and takes about 1h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Center Street, West Charter Way, Marsh Creek Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 36.2 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 $16.66 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.

The drive from Stockton, CA to Richmond, CA is easy. At 1h 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Stockton, CA to Richmond, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Stockton, CA to Richmond, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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