This 267.4-mile drive from Burney, CA, to San Francisco, CA, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can comfortably be completed in about 5 hours and 11 minutes. With 73% of the route on highways, it's well-suited for a single day trip. The estimated fuel cost is around $62, making it an economical option. You'll primarily navigate on the Westside Freeway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and Cascade Wonderland Highway. Given its manageable length and efficient path, this route offers a practical way to travel between the Pacific Coast regions of Northern California.
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
133.7 miles from Burney, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
93 mi
1h 39m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
33.9 mi
41m
Cascade Wonderland Highway
33.8 mi
36m
I 505
33.2 mi
35m
State Route 299
26.1 mi
35m
CA 299
23.1 mi
29m
Eastshore Freeway
15.2 mi
17m
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.4 mi
3m
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 Burney, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on CA 299
1.3 mi·2 min·Main Street
2
Continue on CA 299
26 mi·35 min·State Route 299
3
Turn right onto CA 299
23 mi·29 min·CA 299
4
Turn left
0.3 mi·42 sec
5
Merge onto I 5
34 mi·36 min·Cascade Wonderland Highway
6
Continue on I 5
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·Westside Freeway
7
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.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 1AToward I 80 West: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 80
28 mi·32 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi·1 min·Carquinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Eastshore Freeway
12
Continue on I 80
3.4 mi·3 min·Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 80
14 mi·16 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway
0.8 mi·1 min·Eastshore Freeway
Toward San FranciscoUse the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 80
0.4 mi·33 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi·33 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
18
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi·1 min·Route 80
Exit 2AUse the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi·32 sec·Route 80
Exit 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 1BToward US 101 North: Golden Gate BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi·25 sec·Central Freeway
23
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi·42 sec·Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434BToward Octavia Boulevard, Fell StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Market Street
Use the right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
26
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
This 5-hour, 11-minute drive is easily manageable as a single-day trip, offering flexibility for when you depart. Leaving Burney, CA, in the morning will allow you to reach San Francisco with plenty of daylight. With only one stop suggested and an estimated fuel cost of $62, your main consideration will be finding convenient rest areas along the highway. Keep an eye out for signage directing you to services, especially during the 93-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway where options might be less frequent.
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 133.7 miles from Burney, CA, or about 2h 37m 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 59 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.7 miles or 2h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
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 Burney, 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 Burney, CA
This is one driving day of about 267.4 miles and 5h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Burney, 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 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 177.6 and 266 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
177.6 mi into trip|~3h 24m 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
210.7 mi into trip|~4h 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
6
257.6 mi into trip|~4h 55m 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
259.1 mi into trip|~4h 57m 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
266 mi into trip|~5h 8m 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
$55.94 one way
$111.89 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$58.10
$116.20
premium
$5.67
$59.64
$119.28
diesel
$4.80
$50.49
$100.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.2
0
$28.08
$12.84
Efficient EV
66.9
0
$23.40
$10.70
EV Truck/SUV
107
1
$37.44
$17.11
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Burney, CA
Late night
in Burney on Sunday
Local time
1:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
NNW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:37PM PDT until July 18 at 1:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 12:53PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Late night
in San Francisco on Sunday
Local time
1:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Cloudy
WSW 7 to 14 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:37PM PDT until July 18 at 1:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 12:53PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
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
3 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
5h 11m 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 267.4
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...
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
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 239.7
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 267.4
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 267.4
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
~35 min detour
$15
near mile 55.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a largely highway-focused experience on this 267.4-mile trip, with 73% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 93 miles on the Westside Freeway, offering a consistent pace. While primarily highway, the inclusion of roads like the Cascade Wonderland Highway suggests potential for varied scenery as you progress south. This route is designed for efficient travel, minimizing time spent on slower, more winding local roads.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 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?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 177.6 miles in near I 505.
Driving Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 267.4 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 177.6 miles (I 505): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 210.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 257.6 miles (Eastshore Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 5h 11m. Total distance: 267.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 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 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 177.6 miles (I 505): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 210.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 257.6 miles (Eastshore Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front 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 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at San Francisco, CA before the return drive.
