Drive Time
5h 42m
Distance
316.1 mi
509 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
Photo: Abhishek Navlakha
The drive from Willow Creek, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 316.1 miles and takes about 5h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Hwy 299, Court Street, Tehama Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.93 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
158.1 miles from Willow Creek, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 51m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 42m drive with frequent turns across 316.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hwy 299 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Court Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tehama Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cascade Wonderland Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Westside Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 505 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Willow Creek, CA and San Francisco, CA.
Start on Bigfoot Scenic Byway
Turn left onto Trinity Highway / CA Hwy 299
Turn right onto Court Street
Turn left onto Tehama Street
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South: Sacramento
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
Continue on Westside Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: San Francisco
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Continue on Carquinez Bridge
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
Take the exit slight left toward San Francisco
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Continue on Route 80
Continue on Route 80
Continue on Route 80
Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Merge slight right onto Central Freeway
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
Turn right onto Market Street
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 80 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.1 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Francisco, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Willow Creek, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Willow Creek, CA
This is one driving day of about 316.1 miles and 5h 42m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 158.1 mi from Willow Creek, CA · 2h 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
158 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 158.1 miles from Willow Creek, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around San Francisco, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$42.93 one way
$85.87 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $47.91 | $95.83 |
| premium | $4.15 | $51.65 | $103.29 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $46.67 | $93.34 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.6 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 94.8 | 1 | $33.19 | $15.17 |
| Efficient EV | 79 | 0 | $27.66 | $12.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 126.4 | 1 | $44.25 | $20.23 |
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Willow Creek on Saturday
Local time
8:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in San Francisco on Saturday
Local time
8:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
49°F
Red Bluff, CA
158 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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