Origin
Tracy, CA
Afternoon in Tracy on Thursday
Local time
4:58 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tracy, CA to Oakland, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
51.5 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tracy, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Oakland, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 51.5-mile drive from Tracy, CA, to Oakland, CA, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 2 minutes. You'll be spending a significant 81% of your time on the highway, primarily utilizing the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway and the Nimitz Freeway. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this route is budget-friendly for a quick transition between the Pacific Coast regions. Given its short duration and focused highway profile, it's best suited as a direct transit rather than an extended exploration trip.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 51.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this journey. Over 80% of the route consists of freeway travel, meaning you'll encounter consistent speeds and limited opportunities for spontaneous stops. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 29.7 miles on the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. This segment is characterized by its directness, connecting you efficiently between your origin and destination without significant detours or changes in road type.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 Nimitz Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.1 miles in near I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.5 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: at 26.1 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.8 miles (I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
26.1 mi into trip
|
~31m 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
37.8 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway toward I 238
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 34
Toward I 238
7
40.2 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 880 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 880 North
8
50.4 mi into trip
|
~59m 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
7
51.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
Harrison Street
Turn right onto Harrison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.7 mi | 34m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| West 11th Street | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| Castro Valley Freeway | 2.4 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 |
Longest stretch:
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
— 29.7 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tracy, CA and Oakland, CA.
1
Start on I 205 Bus
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
West 11th Street
2
Continue on I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 238
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Castro Valley Freeway
Exit 34
Toward I 238
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 880 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 880
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 41A
Toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Oak Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
12th Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto Harrison Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Harrison Street
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto 14th Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
14th Street
12
Arrive at destination
14th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.7 mi from Tracy, CA · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.7 miles from Tracy, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Oakland, CA
The final approach into Oakland, 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
$11.84 one way
$23.67 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $12.20 | $24.40 |
| premium | $6.18 | $12.52 | $25.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.37 | $22.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 18 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.41 | $2.47 |
| Efficient EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.51 | $2.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.21 | $3.30 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Afternoon in Oakland on Thursday
Local time
4:58 PM
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
2 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 2m 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 Tracy, CA to Oakland, CA covers 51.5 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, Nimitz Freeway, West 11th 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 25.7 miles from Tracy, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.84 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 51.5 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: at 26.1 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.8 miles (I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tracy, 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.
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