This 403.3-mile drive from Bloomington, CA to Fremont, CA takes approximately 7 hours and 36 minutes, making it a feasible one-day trip. You'll primarily be on the Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, and CA 152, with 99% of the journey on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $93 for this Pacific Coast to Pacific Coast transit within California. With two recommended stops, this is a straightforward, highway-focused journey designed for efficient travel.
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
201.6 miles from Bloomington, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
182.5 mi
3h 15m
Foothill Freeway
43.9 mi
50m
CA 152
41.1 mi
51m
I 5 Truck
37.1 mi
42m
Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi
25m
South Valley Freeway
19.9 mi
22m
San Bernardino Freeway
14.2 mi
16m
Nimitz Freeway
13 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 182.5 mi, about 3h 15m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 138 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,524 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,324
Quietest
2 AM
~316 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
4.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 44 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 Bloomington, CA and Fremont, CA.
1
Start on Cedar Avenue
470 ft·10 sec·Cedar Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·33 sec
Toward Cedar Avenue
3
Merge onto I 10
8.2 mi·9 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR
9.3 mi·9 min·I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 10
1.2 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.9 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.3 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.9 mi·2 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.8 mi·55 sec·San Bernardino Freeway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward CA 57: Santa AnaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward CA 57 NorthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on CA 57
3.4 mi·3 min·CA 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 25CToward I 210 West: Pasadena
14
Merge onto I 210
18 mi·21 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
26 mi·29 min·Foothill Freeway
Exit 26AToward I 210 West: SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.0 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi·41 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
183 mi·3 hr 15 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 403BToward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
22
Continue on CA 152; CA33
29 mi·33 min·CA 152; CA33
Use the straight lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 152
12 mi·16 min·CA 152
24
Take the exit onto CA 152
0.5 mi·1 min·CA 152
Toward US 101 North: San Jose
25
Merge onto US 101; CA 152
20 mi·22 min·South Valley Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
12 mi·14 min·US 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 388BToward I 880 North: OaklandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Merge onto I 880
7.3 mi·8 min·Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
5.7 mi·6 min·Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 17Toward Mowry Avenue, Central FremontUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Turn right onto Mowry Avenue
1.4 mi·2 min·Mowry Avenue
Use the right lane.
32
Arrive at destination
Mowry Avenue
Trip Plan
To maximize your time, consider an early morning departure from Bloomington to avoid potential traffic, especially as you enter busier freeway sections. The estimated 7 hours and 36 minutes of driving time, plus two stops, means you can comfortably complete this in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a break is 182.5 miles. Planning your two stops strategically for fuel and a meal will help break up the journey efficiently. A good tip for this route is to check real-time traffic conditions before you leave, particularly for the Westside Freeway, as it can experience significant volume.
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 201.6 miles from Bloomington, CA, or about 3h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.5 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 89 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 201.6 miles or 3h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fremont, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bloomington, 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 Bloomington, CA
This is one driving day of about 403.3 miles and 7h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Bloomington, 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 182.5 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 28
5 decision points cluster between mile 24 and 401.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
24 mi into trip|~27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CA 57 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 57 North
8
47.3 mi into trip|~55m 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
132.4 mi into trip|~2h 33m 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
7
388.4 mi into trip|~7h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 880 North: Oakland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 388B
Toward I 880 North: Oakland
8
401.6 mi into trip|~7h 33m in
Take the exit toward Mowry Avenue, Central Fremont
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 17
Toward Mowry Avenue, Central Fremont
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$84.38 one way
$168.75 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg141 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$87.63
$175.26
premium
$5.67
$89.95
$179.90
diesel
$4.80
$76.15
$152.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$84
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$109–$134
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 141.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
121
1
$42.35
$19.36
Efficient EV
100.8
1
$35.29
$16.13
EV Truck/SUV
161.3
2
$56.46
$25.81
Gas CO2
141 kg
EV CO2
47 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
Bloomington, CA
Late night
in Bloomington on Monday
Local time
12:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Clear
SW 0 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 12:00PM PDT until July 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:39AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Destination
Fremont, CA
Late night
in Fremont on Monday
Local time
12:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
WNW 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 12:00PM PDT until July 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:39AM 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
12 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 36m 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.
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...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 69.5
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 139.1
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...
30 mi from route
~75 min detour
Free
near mile 403.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely a highway-focused drive, with 99% of the 403.3 miles spent on freeways. You'll experience long stretches of high-speed travel, including an uninterrupted 182.5-mile segment on the Westside Freeway. While primarily a means to get from point A to point B efficiently, the character is one of consistent forward momentum, ideal for covering distance quickly. The transition between the Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, and CA 152 is seamless, maintaining a consistent driving experience.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 182.5 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 24 miles in.
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 28 significant decision points across 403.3 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 24 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.3 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 132.4 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,948 ft55 ft
Total Climb
4,078 ft
Total Descent
5,125 ft
Highest Point
3,948 ft
~115.2 mi in
Elevation Range
3,894 ft
Notable High Points
1,699 ft at ~57.6 miles+606 ft prominence
3,948 ft at ~115.2 miles+2,854 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bloomington, CA and Fremont, CA, road signs point toward Hollister and San Jose.
Fremont is a suburban city in the southern part of the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area; it is the 4th largest city in the Bay Area by population. Fremont is in the southern part of Alameda County, California, between Union City to the north, Sunol and the hills to the east, Milpitas and Santa Clara County to the south, and the San Francisco Bay to the west. The city of Newark, near the edge of the Bay, is surrounded by the city of Fremont.
Fremont industry is not particularly large relative to other parts of the Bay Area, but neither is it a bedroom community. Many people in Fremont work locally in the electronics and high-tech industry, while many others commute to Silicon Valley or San Francisco locations for work.
Top landmarks
•Mission San José — 18th-century Spanish mission in Fremont, California
•Ardenwood Historic Farm — human settlement in California, United States of America
•Niles Depot Museum — railway museum in Niles, California
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 36m. Total distance: 403.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 36m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 182.5 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 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 Fremont, 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 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 24 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.3 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 132.4 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, César E. Chávez National Monument and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.6 hours each way, a round trip means 15.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fremont, CA before the return drive.
