Alturas to Oakland is 351.7 miles and takes about 7h 8m via Westside Freeway, with a fuel budget near $80 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive covers ground across California's Pacific Coast region, transitioning from more rural landscapes to the urban environment of the Bay Area. With a recommended one-day trip, it's a straightforward route for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Plan for a mix of highway and surface roads as you make your way south. The estimated fuel cost is around $80, so factor that into your budget.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
175.9 miles from Alturas, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
93 mi
1h 39m
West 12th Street
88.5 mi
2h 1m
Cascade Wonderland Highway
33.8 mi
36m
I 505
33.2 mi
35m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27.6 mi
32m
State Route 299
26.1 mi
35m
CA 299
23.1 mi
29m
Eastshore Freeway
14.7 mi
17m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 93 mi, about 1h 39m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 56 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,717 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,033
Quietest
2 AM
~158 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 48 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alturas, CA and Oakland, CA.
1
Start on North Howard Street
74 ft·5 sec·North Howard Street
2
Turn right onto West 4th Street
277 ft·13 sec·West 4th Street
3
Turn left onto US 395
0.5 mi·1 min·North Main Street
4
Turn left onto CA 299
89 mi·2 hr 1 min·West 12th Street
5
Continue on CA 299
3.0 mi·6 min·Main Street
6
Continue on CA 299
26 mi·35 min·State Route 299
7
Turn right onto CA 299
23 mi·29 min·CA 299
8
Turn left
0.3 mi·42 sec
9
Merge onto I 5
34 mi·36 min·Cascade Wonderland Highway
10
Continue on I 5
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·Westside Freeway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 505
33 mi·35 min·I 505
Toward I 505 South: Winters, San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 1AToward I 80 West: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 80
28 mi·32 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi·1 min·Carquinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Eastshore Freeway
16
Continue on I 80
3.4 mi·3 min·Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 80
14 mi·16 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
0.3 mi·21 sec·Interstate Highway 80
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San JoseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
0.5 mi·42 sec·MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, StocktonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·13 sec
Exit 19AToward MacArthur Boulevard, San Pablo Avenue, Emery StreetUse the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward San Pablo Avenue, Emery StreetUse the slight right lane.
22
Turn right onto Watts Street
216 ft·11 sec·Watts Street
23
Turn right onto Peralta Street
182 ft·11 sec·Peralta Street
24
Turn left onto 35th Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·35th Street
25
Turn right onto San Pablo Avenue
1.1 mi·2 min·San Pablo Avenue
26
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Junior Way
0.3 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Junior Way
27
Turn left onto 14th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·14th Street
28
Arrive at destination
14th Street
Trip Plan
Aim to depart Alturas early in the morning to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you get closer to Oakland. With a driving time of just over 7 hours, this route is best tackled in a single day, with two planned stops to break up the 351.7 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch without a clear exit point is 93 miles on Westside Freeway. The estimated fuel cost of $80 should help you budget for gas along the way.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 175.9 miles from Alturas, CA, or about 3h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93 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 77 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 175.9 miles or 3h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakland, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alturas, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alturas, CA
This is one driving day of about 351.7 miles and 7h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Alturas, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 93 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 268.3 and 349.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
268.3 mi into trip|~5h 31m in|I 505
Keep slight right at fork onto I 505 toward I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
8
301.5 mi into trip|~6h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 West: San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
8
348.6 mi into trip|~7h 2m in|I 580 / Interstate Highway 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / Interstate Highway 80 toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oaklan...
8
348.9 mi into trip|~7h 2m in|I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton
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: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockt...
9
349.6 mi into trip|~7h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward San Pablo Avenue, Emery Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward San Pablo Avenue, Emery Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$73.58 one way
$147.16 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg123 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$76.42
$152.84
premium
$5.67
$78.44
$156.88
diesel
$4.80
$66.41
$132.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$99–$124
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.5
1
$36.93
$16.88
Efficient EV
87.9
1
$30.77
$14.07
EV Truck/SUV
140.7
1
$49.24
$22.51
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Alturas, CA
Night
in Alturas on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Areas Of Smoke
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 1:44AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 1:44AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Destination
Oakland, CA
Night
in Oakland on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 1:44AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 1:44AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
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
8 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
7h 8m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 339.6
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 351.7
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 327.5
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
$15
near mile 339.6
Whiskeytown Lake’s crystal-clear waters are iconic, but this 42,000-acre National Recreation Area offers much more. Explore waterfalls, hike rugged trails, uncover Gold Rush history, and witness the r...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
$15
near mile 145.5
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 339.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 351.7-mile drive is 55% highway, with a significant 93-mile stretch on Westside Freeway. You'll experience a shift from highway cruising to surface streets as you approach your destination. Expect to encounter denser traffic and more frequent intersections once you leave the main highway segments. The profile is mixed highway and surface, meaning you'll have distinct periods of higher-speed driving and slower, more stop-and-go travel.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 268.3 miles in near I 505.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 351.7 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 268.3 miles (I 505): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 301.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 348.6 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,574 ft42 ft
Total Climb
822 ft
Total Descent
5,150 ft
Highest Point
4,574 ft
~25.1 mi in
Elevation Range
4,532 ft
Notable High Points
4,574 ft at ~25.1 miles+203 ft prominence
3,919 ft at ~100.5 miles+548 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Alturas, CA to Oakland, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco along the way.
Oakland is a port city in the Bay Area of California in the United States. Once an industrial area overshadowed by San Francisco, its larger neighbor to the west, this city of 440,000 people (2020) has begun to step out from under San Francisco's shadow with its notable natural and architectural features and its rise as the multicultural "hipster" city of the Bay Area.
Top landmarks
•San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge — suspension bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland, California, USA
•Lake Merritt — lagoon in Oakland, California, USA
•Oakland Museum of California — art museum in Oakland, California
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 8m. Total distance: 351.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 8m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 21 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Oakland, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 268.3 miles (I 505): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 301.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 348.6 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Oakland, CA before the return drive.
