Auberry, CA to San Francisco, CA is 204.4 miles and takes about 4h 18m via Northbound California State Route 99, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Pacific Coast region to another part of the Pacific Coast, primarily on highways. With a highway share of 76%, you'll spend most of your time on faster roads, making it an efficient trip. It's a straightforward drive suitable for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
102.2 miles from Auberry, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Northbound California State Route 99
74.7 mi
1h 27m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.7 mi
34m
145
19 mi
28m
MacArthur Freeway
15.5 mi
17m
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
13.9 mi
15m
Auberry Road
13.3 mi
21m
CA 99
11.2 mi
12m
CA 120
6.8 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Northbound California State Route 99
— 74.7 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auberry, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Auberry Road
2.9 mi·5 min·Auberry Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto CA 168
1.1 mi·1 min·Auberry Road
3
Enter roundabout onto Auberry Road
113 ft·2 sec·Auberry Road
4
Continue on Auberry Road
9.2 mi·14 min·Auberry Road
5
Turn slight right
194 ft·8 sec
6
Turn slight right onto Millerton Road
5.6 mi·9 min·Millerton Road
7
Turn right onto North Fork Road
0.2 mi·19 sec·North Fork Road
8
Continue on 206
2.1 mi·3 min·206
9
At end of road, turn left onto 145
19 mi·28 min·145
10
Turn right onto North Gateway Drive
0.2 mi·19 sec·North Gateway Drive
11
Turn left onto West 4th Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·West 4th Street
12
Turn right onto North H Street
0.2 mi·16 sec·North H Street
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
14
Merge onto CA 99
11 mi·12 min·CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99
75 mi·1 hr 27 min·Northbound California State Route 99
Toward CA 99Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward CA 120 West: Manteca, San Francisco
17
Merge onto CA 120
6.8 mi·7 min·CA 120
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 5
1.2 mi·1 min·Westside Freeway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205
14 mi·15 min·Robert T. Monagan Freeway
20
Continue on I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi·13 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
8.3 mi·9 min·MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Oakland, San FranciscoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
7.2 mi·8 min·MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 19AToward I 80 West: San Francisco
25
Merge onto I 80
0.2 mi·17 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Toward I 80 West: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi·33 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
28
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
29
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi·1 min·Route 80
Exit 2AUse the straight / slight left lanes.
30
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi·32 sec·Route 80
Exit 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 1BToward US 101 North: Golden Gate BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi·25 sec·Central Freeway
33
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi·42 sec·Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434BToward Octavia Boulevard, Fell StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Market Street
Use the right lane.
35
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
36
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 18m drive time, leaving Auberry in the morning is your best bet to arrive in San Francisco with daylight to spare. You'll want to make one planned stop, and the 74.7-mile stretch on Highway 99 is a good candidate for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach San Francisco, as urban areas can sometimes have fewer immediate fuel options. The relatively short duration means you have flexibility; you can depart a bit later if needed, but an early start is generally recommended for a smoother arrival.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 102.2 miles from Auberry, CA, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.7 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 45 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.2 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 31m
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 Auberry, 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 Auberry, CA
This is one driving day of about 204.4 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Auberry, 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 Northbound California State Route 99 for about 74.7 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 52.1 and 203 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
52.1 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99 toward CA 99
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 99
6
167.5 mi into trip|~3h 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
179.1 mi into trip|~3h 45m 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
187.5 mi into trip|~3h 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.
8
203 mi into trip|~4h 15m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.98 one way
$93.96 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$48.41
$96.82
premium
$6.18
$49.71
$99.42
diesel
$5.61
$45.13
$90.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.3
0
$21.46
$9.81
Efficient EV
51.1
0
$17.88
$8.18
EV Truck/SUV
81.8
1
$28.62
$13.08
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026
Origin
Auberry, CA
Late night
in Auberry on Tuesday
Local time
3:19 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Late night
in San Francisco on Tuesday
Local time
3:19 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°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
21 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
4h 18m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 204.4
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 197.4
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 204.4
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,...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
$15
near mile 204.4
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...
21 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 190.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 76% of the drive on freeways. You'll encounter your longest stretch without a significant change in road type on Northbound California State Route 99, covering 74.7 miles. The transition from highway to surface roads occurs around the 145 designation. Expect a fair number of exits and merges as you navigate through various built-up areas.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 74.7 mi on Northbound California State Route 99.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Northbound California State Route 99 and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 52.1 miles in near CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 204.4 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 52.1 miles (CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.5 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 179.1 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The centerpiece of the Bay Area, San Francisco is one of the most visited cities in the world, and with good reason. The cultural center of northern California, San Francisco is renowned for its mixture of scenic beauty and unique culture that makes it one of the most vibrant and desirable cities in the nation, if not the world.
Sandwiched between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean on a small square of land seven miles (11 km) on each side, San Francisco offers a wealth of treasures for the visitor, from the windswept and often foggy bay to the steep hills lined with Victorian homes that overlook the spectacular scenery of the city.
Top landmarks
•Golden Gate Bridge — suspension bridge on the San Francisco Bay
•Alcatraz Island — island in San Francisco, California, United States of America
•San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge — suspension bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland, California, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 18m. Total distance: 204.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.7 miles on Northbound California State Route 99. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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 San Francisco, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 52.1 miles (CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.5 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 179.1 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at San Francisco, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
