Origin
Tracy, CA
Afternoon in Tracy on Thursday
Local time
2:44 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tracy, CA to San Francisco, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
63.1 mi
101 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tracy, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick getaway from the Central Valley to the coast, this 63.1-mile journey from Tracy to San Francisco is a straightforward option. You can expect a drive time of roughly 1 hour and 17 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. Budget about $15 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Pacific Coast locations. Since the entire route stays within California, you won't have to worry about crossing state lines or navigating complex border logistics. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, the trip is short enough that you won't need to plan for overnight stays. It is a highly practical connection that gets you from the interior valley into the heart of the city with minimal fuss.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 63.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m 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
This trip is heavily focused on highway travel, with 74% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend a significant portion of the drive navigating the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of 29.7 miles. As you transition from the local streets of West 11th Street onto the MacArthur Freeway, the pace of the drive shifts noticeably. Expect a consistent, highway-focused experience that prioritizes efficiency over technical, winding backroads. Being behind the wheel here means settling into a steady flow of traffic as you move toward the coast, with the road character remaining largely uniform throughout the duration of the trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
993 ft
-4 ft
Total Climb
1,594 ft
Total Descent
1,590 ft
Highest Point
993 ft
~13.5 mi in
Elevation Range
997 ft
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 26.1 miles in near I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.1 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 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 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
46.1 mi into trip
|
~54m 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.
6
54.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway toward I 80 West: San Francisco
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
8
61.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.7 mi | 34m |
| MacArthur Freeway | 15.5 mi | 17m |
| West 11th Street | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 6 mi | 9m |
| Route 80 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Octavia Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Central Freeway | 0.3 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 San Francisco, 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 right at fork onto I 580
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Oakland, San Francisco
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19A
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
7
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.
8
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
10
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Route 80
Exit 2A
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Route 80
Exit 1A
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Central Freeway
15
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434B
Toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Market Street
Use the right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Market Street
18
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.5 mi from Tracy, CA · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.5 miles from Tracy, 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
$14.50 one way
$29.01 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $14.95 | $29.89 |
| premium | $6.18 | $15.35 | $30.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.93 | $27.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.63 | $3.03 |
| Efficient EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.2 | 0 | $8.83 | $4.04 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Afternoon in San Francisco on Thursday
Local time
2:44 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°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
25 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 17m 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 San Francisco, CA covers 63.1 miles and takes about 1h 17m 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, 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 31.5 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 $14.50 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 63.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.1 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tracy, CA to San Francisco, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from -4 ft to 993 ft elevation with about 1,594 ft of total climbing.
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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