Origin
Willows, CA
Evening in Willows on Sunday
Local time
8:43 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Willows, CA to San Francisco, CA
Drive Time
2h 16m
Distance
140.5 mi
226 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 7m
★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 24m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Willows, CA
Gu Bra
San Francisco, CA
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
Traveling from Willows to San Francisco covers 140.5 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 16 minutes. Since the entire journey remains within the Pacific Coast region of California, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $19 on fuel for the trek, which relies on local roads rather than major interstates. Because this route avoids high-speed highways, it is best suited for drivers who prefer a slower, more deliberate pace. Consider this a straightforward, manageable drive that connects Northern California’s inland areas to the Bay Area.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
70.3 miles from Willows, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy, local experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise as you navigate via Route 99W, South Tehama Street, and Highway 99W. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be dealing with typical freeway monotony, but you should prepare for a more technical drive. There is no single long stretch of uninterrupted road here, meaning the route demands your full attention as you transition between local segments. The character of the drive is defined by these constant turns, providing a distinct contrast to more direct, high-capacity thoroughfares. Behind the wheel, you will find a steady rhythm on these local roads that requires frequent adjustments rather than cruise control.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Route 99W 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Willows, CA to San Francisco, CA is easy. At 2h 16m 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 Willows, CA to San Francisco, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Route 99W | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Tehama Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 99W | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road 57 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Westside Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 505 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dwight D | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Route 99W
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Willows, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on West Wood Street
102 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Wood Street
2
Turn left onto Old U.S. Route 99W
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Old U.S. Route 99W
3
Continue on South Tehama Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Tehama Street
4
Continue on Highway 99W
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 99W
5
Turn right onto County Road 57
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
County Road 57
6
Take the ramp slight right
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
7
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
48 mi
·
51 min
·
Westside Freeway
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
33 mi
·
35 min
·
I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: San Francisco
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 80 West: San Francisco
10
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
11
Continue on Carquinez Bridge
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Carquinez Bridge
12
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Eastshore Freeway
13
Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
14
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
15
Take the exit slight left toward San Francisco
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
San Francisco
16
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
17
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
18
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
19
Continue on Route 80
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Route 80
20
Continue on Route 80
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Route 80
21
Continue on Route 80
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Route 80
22
Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
23
Merge slight right onto Central Freeway
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Central Freeway
24
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Octavia Boulevard
25
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Market Street
26
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Market Street
27
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 16-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. Because the route consists entirely of local roads, you should factor in extra time for traffic or slower sections when navigating through the turning segments. We recommend fueling up before you leave Willows to keep your $19 budget on track, as local roads may offer fewer convenient stops than major highway corridors. Since there are no designated stops on this 140.5-mile path, be sure to handle your rest and supply needs before hitting the road. Prioritize a daytime departure to ensure you have the best visibility for the many turns you will encounter along the way.
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 70.3 miles from Willows, CA, or about 1h 8m 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 80 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.3 miles or 1h 8m 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 51m
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 Willows, 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 Willows, CA
This is one driving day of about 140.5 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Willows, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 70.3 mi from Willows, CA · 1h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 70.3 miles from Willows, 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.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.54 one way
$65.07 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $33.55 | $67.11 |
| premium | $6.24 | $34.53 | $69.07 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $31.21 | $62.43 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.00
Golden Gate Bridge
$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
$33
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.2 | 0 | $14.75 | $6.74 |
| Efficient EV | 35.1 | 0 | $12.29 | $5.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.2 | 0 | $19.67 | $8.99 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Evening in San Francisco on Sunday
Local time
8:43 PM
PDT
Current temp
70°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
20 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
2h 16m 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 Willows, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 140.5 miles and takes about 2h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Route 99W, South Tehama Street, Highway 99W. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.3 miles from Willows, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.54 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 Willows, CA to San Francisco, CA is easy. At 2h 16m 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 Willows, CA to San Francisco, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Willows, CA to San Francisco, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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