Origin
Yuba City, CA
Afternoon in Yuba City on Sunday
Local time
1:00 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Yuba City, CA to San Francisco, CA
Drive Time
2h 31m
Distance
118.8 mi
191 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 21m
★
6 AM
2h 31m
8 AM
2h 52m
10 AM
2h 38m
12 PM
2h 36m
3 PM
2h 39m
5 PM
2h 51m
8 PM
2h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Yuba City, CA
Stephen Leonardi
San Francisco, CA
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
Traveling from Yuba City to San Francisco covers 118.8 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 31 minutes. Since this journey stays within the Pacific Coast region, it is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $28 for fuel to complete the trip. Utilizing a combination of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, the Eastshore Freeway, and the Sutter Causeway, you will navigate a transition from the inland areas toward the coast. This route offers a straightforward path for travelers looking to move efficiently between these two California locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
59.4 miles from Yuba City, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that balances highway efficiency with more technical sections. Only 24% of your total mileage is spent on highways, meaning you will spend a significant portion of the journey navigating local roads. Your longest uninterrupted segment is a 48.3-mile stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which provides the most consistent pace of the trip. As you transition between these different road types, the character of the drive shifts from high-speed transit to more focused, hands-on maneuvering. Stay alert, as the mix of fast freeway stretches and winding local paths requires consistent attention behind the wheel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 48.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near CA 99.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 118.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (CA 99): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.6 miles (East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 109 miles (Eastshore Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CA 99
Turn left onto CA 99
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
35.6 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
East Main Street
Turn right onto East Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
109 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m in
|
Eastshore Freeway
Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway toward San Francisco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward San Francisco
6
110.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
|
I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
117.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 28m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 48.3 mi | 58m |
| Eastshore Freeway | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| Sutter Causeway | 12.7 mi | 16m |
| Vic Fazio Highway | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| CA 99 | 8.7 mi | 10m |
| County Road 102 | 8 mi | 11m |
| Linus F. Claeys Freeway | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| South George Washington Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 48.3 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yuba City, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on this road
117 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
151 ft
·
16 sec
3
Turn left onto Plumas Street
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
Plumas Street
4
Turn right onto Bridge Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Bridge Street
Use the none lane.
5
Turn left onto CA 99
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward CA 113 South: Woodland, Tudor Road
7
Turn right onto CA 113
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Tudor Road
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on CA 113
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South George Washington Boulevard
9
Continue on CA 113
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Sutter Causeway
10
Continue on E8
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
County Road 102
11
Continue on E8
128 ft
·
6 sec
·
County Road 102
12
Turn right onto East Main Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward CA 113 South: Davis
14
Merge onto CA 113
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Vic Fazio Highway
Use the none lane.
15
Merge onto I 80; CA 113
42 mi
·
48 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the none lane.
16
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Carquinez Bridge
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Eastshore Freeway
18
Continue on I 80
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 80
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the none lane.
20
Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Toward San Francisco
Use the slight left lane.
21
Merge onto I 80
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
24
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
25
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Route 80
Exit 2A
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
26
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Route 80
Exit 1A
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
27
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.
28
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Central Freeway
29
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434B
Toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
30
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Market Street
Use the right lane.
31
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Market Street
32
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Planning for one scheduled stop is a smart way to break up the 2-hour and 31-minute travel time. Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits your schedule, though monitoring traffic patterns on the Eastshore Freeway is recommended to avoid delays. Keep your fuel budget of $28 in mind when planning your refueling stops along the way. Because the route features a high density of local, turn-heavy roads, ensure your vehicle is comfortable for frequent steering adjustments rather than just long-distance cruising. Prioritize your single stop during the longer stretches to stay refreshed before hitting the more technical local segments.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 59.4 miles from Yuba City, CA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.3 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 80 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.4 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 2m
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 Yuba City, 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 Yuba City, CA
This is one driving day of about 118.8 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Yuba City, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 48.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.4 mi from Yuba City, CA · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 59.4 miles from Yuba City, 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
$27.51 one way
$55.02 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $28.37 | $56.74 |
| premium | $6.24 | $29.20 | $58.40 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $26.39 | $52.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.6 | 0 | $12.47 | $5.70 |
| Efficient EV | 29.7 | 0 | $10.40 | $4.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.5 | 0 | $16.63 | $7.60 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Afternoon in San Francisco on Sunday
Local time
1:00 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
19 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 31m 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 Yuba City, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 118.8 miles and takes about 2h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Eastshore Freeway, Sutter Causeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.4 miles from Yuba City, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.51 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 118.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (CA 99): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.6 miles (East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 109 miles (Eastshore Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Yuba City, CA to San Francisco, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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