Origin
Thornton, CA
Morning in Thornton on Thursday
Local time
11:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thornton, CA to San Francisco, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 49m
Distance
84.7 mi
136 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 42m
★
6 AM
1h 50m
8 AM
2h 6m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 54m
3 PM
1h 56m
5 PM
2h 5m
8 PM
1h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thornton, CA
Stephen Leonardi
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 84.7-mile drive from Thornton to San Francisco is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 49 minutes. With 83% of the route on highways, it's a straightforward journey focused on efficient travel. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $19, making it an economical option. Both your starting point in the Pacific Coast region and your destination in San Francisco are within California, so you won't be crossing state lines. This route offers a practical way to get from the Central Valley area to the Bay Area.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.4 miles from Thornton, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 84.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 84.7-mile trip, with 83% of the drive taking place on main roads like CA 12, CA 4, and CA 160. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 15.7 miles on CA 12, providing a solid period of consistent driving. While primarily a highway route, it connects you through various parts of California, transitioning from more rural or suburban areas to the denser Bay Area. The drive's character is geared towards getting you to your destination efficiently.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CA 12 is the longest continuous segment at about 15.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 12 and CA 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 36.7 miles in near CA 160.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.7 miles you will encounter 24 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 36.7 miles (CA 160): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.1 miles (CA 242): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.9 miles (CA 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
36.7 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
CA 160
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 160 toward CA 4 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 4 West
8
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
CA 242
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 242 toward CA 242: Oakland, Concord
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 242: Oakland, Concord
8
59.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
CA 24
Take the exit onto CA 24 toward CA 24 West: Oakland, Lafayette, San Francisco
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 46A
Toward CA 24 West: Oakland, Lafayette, San Fran...
8
74.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 580: San Francisco, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580: San Francisco, Sacramento
8
83.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Thornton, CA and San Francisco, CA, road signs point toward Fairfield, Concord, Lafayette, Hayward and Sacramento.
Fairfield
8.1 mi in
|
~9m
Concord
52.1 mi in
|
~1h 6m
|
via CA 242
Lafayette
59.9 mi in
|
~1h 14m
|
via CA 24
Hayward
73.5 mi in
|
~1h 32m
Sacramento
74.3 mi in
|
~1h 33m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 12 | 15.7 mi | 21m |
| CA 4 | 14.6 mi | 16m |
| CA 160 | 13.4 mi | 17m |
| CA 24 | 9.4 mi | 11m |
| Westside Freeway | 7.4 mi | 7m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 6 mi | 9m |
| CA 242 | 4.6 mi | 4m |
| Grove Shafter Freeway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
CA 12
— 15.7 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thornton, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on J8
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Thornton Road
2
Turn straight onto J11
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
West Walnut Grove Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
4
Merge onto I 5
7.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Westside Freeway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Toward CA 12: Lodi, Fairfield
6
Turn right onto CA 12
16 mi
·
21 min
·
CA 12
7
Turn left onto CA 160
13 mi
·
16 min
·
CA 160
Use the left lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 160
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 160
Toward CA 4 West
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto CA 4
15 mi
·
16 min
·
CA 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 242
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
CA 242
Toward CA 242: Oakland, Concord
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 680
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto CA 24
9.4 mi
·
11 min
·
CA 24
Exit 46A
Toward CA 24 West: Oakland, Lafayette, San Francisco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 24
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Caldecott Tunnel
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on CA 24
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Grove Shafter Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 580 West, I 580 East: San Francisco, Hayward
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 580 West: San Francisco
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 580: San Francisco, Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 580
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
MacArthur Freeway
19
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19A
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
20
Merge onto I 80
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
23
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
24
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Route 80
Exit 2A
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
25
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Route 80
Exit 1A
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 1B
Toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Central Freeway
28
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434B
Toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Market Street
Use the right lane.
30
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Market Street
31
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under two hours, this 84.7-mile drive offers great flexibility. You can leave Thornton whenever it suits your schedule, as there are no mandatory overnight stops. With a fuel cost estimate of $19, you'll want to ensure your tank is full before you depart, as the longest stretch without a major town might be the 15.7 miles on CA 12. Keep an eye on traffic conditions as you approach the San Francisco Bay Area, especially if traveling during peak commuting hours, as this can significantly impact your 1 hour and 49-minute estimated travel time.
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 42.4 miles from Thornton, CA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.7 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.4 miles or 55m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Francisco, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Thornton, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Thornton, CA
This is one driving day of about 84.7 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Thornton, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on CA 12 for about 15.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.4 mi from Thornton, CA · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.4 miles from Thornton, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in San Francisco, CA
The final approach into San Francisco, 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
$19.47 one way
$38.94 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $20.06 | $40.12 |
| premium | $6.18 | $20.60 | $41.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.70 | $37.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.89 | $4.07 |
| Efficient EV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.41 | $3.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.9 | 0 | $11.86 | $5.42 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
San Francisco, CA
Morning in San Francisco on Thursday
Local time
11:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Sunny
N 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:43AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 10:32AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
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 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 49m 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 Thornton, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 84.7 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 12, CA 4, CA 160. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.4 miles from Thornton, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.47 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 84.7 miles you will encounter 24 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 36.7 miles (CA 160): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.1 miles (CA 242): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.9 miles (CA 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Thornton, CA and San Francisco, CA, road signs point toward Fairfield, Concord, Lafayette, Hayward and Sacramento.
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