Origin
Azusa, CA
Late night in Azusa on Tuesday
Local time
5:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Azusa, CA to Oakland, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 8m
Distance
385.6 mi
621 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$89
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 58m
★
6 AM
7h 9m
8 AM
7h 31m
10 AM
7h 17m
12 PM
7h 14m
3 PM
7h 18m
5 PM
7h 30m
8 PM
7h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Azusa, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Oakland, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embark on a 385.8-mile journey from Azusa, California, to Oakland, California, a drive that will take approximately 6 hours and 1 minute to complete. This route is designed for a single day of travel, offering a direct path between the Pacific Coast regions of Southern and Northern California. Expect a fuel cost of around $89 for this trip. With a profile described as a 'turn-heavy local drive' and zero highway share, this isn't a typical interstate cruise, but rather a more engaging experience through local thoroughfares. Planning for one stop along the way should suffice for this relatively straightforward trip.
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
192.8 miles from Azusa, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 36m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 225.6 mi | 4h 1m |
| Foothill Freeway | 38.9 mi | 44m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.1 mi | 42m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.6 mi | 34m |
| Golden State Freeway | 22.3 mi | 25m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| Castro Valley Freeway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Azusa, CA and Oakland, CA.
1
Start on CA 39
286 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Azusa Avenue
2
Turn left
282 ft
·
23 sec
3
Turn right
152 ft
·
16 sec
4
At end of road, turn left onto CA 39
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
San Gabriel Avenue
5
Turn right onto West 4th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 4th Street
6
Turn left onto North Vernon Avenue
329 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Vernon Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 210 West: Pasadena
8
Merge onto I 210
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Exit 26A
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
17
Merge onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 238
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Castro Valley Freeway
Exit 34
Toward I 238
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 880 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 880
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 41A
Toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Oak Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
12th Street
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn right onto Harrison Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Harrison Street
Use the right lane.
26
Turn left onto 14th Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
14th Street
27
Arrive at destination
14th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration and the 'turn-heavy local drive' nature, starting your journey from Azusa early in the morning is advisable to minimize potential traffic delays. While this route is manageable in a single day, factor in your single recommended stop for fuel or a brief rest. The estimated fuel cost is $89, so ensure your tank is full before departing Azusa. Pay close attention to local speed limits and traffic patterns, especially as you navigate the numerous turns indicated in the route profile. This drive's local focus means being mindful of your surroundings and ready to adapt to changing road conditions.
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 192.8 miles from Azusa, CA, or about 3h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 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 85 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 192.8 miles or 3h 36m 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 59m
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 Azusa, 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 Azusa, CA
This is one driving day of about 385.6 miles and 7h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Azusa, 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 225.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
193 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 85 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 192.8 miles from Azusa, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 225.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 255 decision points cluster between mile 14.6 and 384.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
14.6 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26A
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
7
99.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
|
I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North
8
371.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 50m in
|
I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway toward I 238
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 34
Toward I 238
7
374.3 mi into trip
|
~6h 53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 880 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 880 North
8
384.5 mi into trip
|
~7h 5m in
Take the exit toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 41A
Toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$88.63 one way
$177.25 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
135 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $91.33 | $182.66 |
| premium | $6.18 | $93.77 | $187.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $85.14 | $170.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$89
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$114–$139
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 134.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 115.7 | 1 | $40.49 | $18.51 |
| Efficient EV | 96.4 | 1 | $33.74 | $15.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 154.2 | 1 | $53.98 | $24.68 |
Gas CO2
135 kg
EV CO2
45 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.
Destination
Oakland, CA
Late night in Oakland on Tuesday
Local time
5:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°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
23 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
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.
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 385.6
Park Closure: Hyde Street Pier Closure
Caution: Sick Birds and Wildlife, H5N1
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 385.6
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
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...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 385.6
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument
National Monument
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,...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
$15
near mile 385.6
View on nps.gov
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 385.6
View on nps.gov
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 39.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll be navigating numerous intersections and local roads rather than cruising on open highways. With a 0% highway share, expect a consistent pace dictated by city streets and local traffic signals. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the nature of the route suggests frequent adjustments in speed and direction. As you progress from the Pacific Coast region near Azusa towards Oakland, the road will evolve from urban landscapes to potentially more varied local settings, requiring your full attention.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 225.6 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Foothill Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.6 miles in near I 210 / Foothill Freeway.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 25 significant decision points across 385.6 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 14.6 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 99.7 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 371.9 miles (I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Azusa, CA to Oakland, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco along the way.
San Francisco
325.3 mi in
|
~5h 58m
|
via I 580
About the Cities
Starting in Azusa, CA
Full guide →Founded 1887
Arriving in Oakland, CA
Full guide →Founded 1852
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 8m. Total distance: 385.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 8m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 225.6 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 14.6 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 99.7 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 371.9 miles (I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area (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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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