Campo, CA to San Francisco, CA is 546.3 miles and takes about 10h 25m via I-5, with a fuel budget near $124 and enough daylight to finish in a day if you start early, though we recommend two days. This drive spans the length of California, taking you from the southern Pacific Coast region up to the northern Pacific Coast region. It's a long-haul drive that covers a significant portion of the state, so be prepared for a full day in the car, or better yet, plan for an overnight stop to break up the 546.3 miles. You'll primarily be on major freeways, making it a straightforward but extensive trip.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
273.1 miles from Campo, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
225.6 mi
4h 1m
San Diego Freeway
60.9 mi
1h 11m
Golden State Freeway
50 mi
57m
I 5 Truck
45.3 mi
52m
Santa Ana Freeway
30.4 mi
35m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.6 mi
34m
Campo Road
23.7 mi
31m
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 230 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~3,763 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,643
Quietest
2 AM
~637 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
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 Campo, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Moore Road
413 ft·18 sec·Moore Road
2
Turn right onto Sheridan Road
81 ft·9 sec·Sheridan Road
3
Turn left onto Jeb Stuart Road
0.1 mi·12 sec·Jeb Stuart Road
4
Turn straight onto Jeb Stuart Lane
312 ft·6 sec·Jeb Stuart Lane
5
Continue on Forest Gate Road
0.1 mi·19 sec·Forest Gate Road
6
Turn left onto CA 94
11 mi·17 min·Campo Road
7
Continue on CA 94
9.1 mi·10 min·State Route 94
8
Continue on CA 94
8.8 mi·10 min·Campo Road
9
Continue on CA 94
3.6 mi·4 min·State Route 94
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on CA 94
2.1 mi·2 min·Campo Road
11
Turn left onto CA 94
1.3 mi·1 min·Campo Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on CA 94
2.7 mi·3 min·Martin Luther King Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
375 ft·9 sec
Exit 9CToward Spring StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·56 sec·this road
Exit 9CToward Spring Street
15
Turn right onto Spring Street
1.3 mi·2 min·Spring Street
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 8 West: San DiegoUse the left lane.
17
Merge onto I 8
6.1 mi·7 min·Mission Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
492 ft·12 sec
Exit 6BToward I 805 South, I 805 North: National City, Chula Vista, Los AngelesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 805 North: Los AngelesUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 805
10 mi·11 min·Jacob Dekema Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·55 sec
22
Merge onto I 5
35 mi·41 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi·20 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
7.4 mi·8 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.6 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Toward Bake ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
6.0 mi·6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the slight right lane.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 100Toward Jamboree RoadUse the slight right lane.
28
Continue on this road
527 ft·11 sec·this road
29
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
0.1 mi·18 sec·Jamboree Road
Use the left / right lanes.
30
Turn left onto El Camino Real
2.2 mi·4 min·El Camino Real
Use the left lane.
31
Turn left onto Newport Avenue
357 ft·13 sec·Newport Avenue
Use the left lane.
32
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
33
Merge onto I 5
1.3 mi·1 min·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
1.7 mi·1 min·Santa Ana Freeway
35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
9.4 mi·10 min·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
36
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi·20 min·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
25 mi·29 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi·2 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161AToward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 TruckUse the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi·41 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi·4 hr 1 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi·17 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
44
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi·1 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
45
Merge onto I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi·13 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
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.
48
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
7.2 mi·8 min·MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 19AToward I 80 West: San Francisco
50
Merge onto I 80
0.2 mi·17 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Toward I 80 West: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi·33 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
52
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
53
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
54
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi·1 min·Route 80
Exit 2AUse the straight / slight left lanes.
55
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi·32 sec·Route 80
Exit 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
56
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 1BToward US 101 North: Golden Gate BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
57
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi·25 sec·Central Freeway
58
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi·42 sec·Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434BToward Octavia Boulevard, Fell StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
59
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Market Street
Use the right lane.
60
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
61
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the 10h 25m duration, splitting this 546.3-mile trip over two days is highly recommended for comfort and safety. Aim to depart Campo, CA early in the morning to maximize daylight hours. Plan for at least two stops for fuel and rest, especially considering the longest stretch between services can be considerable. The fuel cost is estimated at $124, so factor that into your budget. If you choose to drive it in one day, ensure you have a full tank before leaving and are prepared for a long day on the road, with I-5 being your primary companion for most of the drive.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 273.1 miles from Campo, CA, or about 5h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 120 miles or 2h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 273.1 miles or 5h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 273.1 miles or 5h 24m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9h 12m
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 Campo, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Campo, CA
Aim for roughly 273 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into San Francisco, CA
Aim for roughly 273 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 120 miles from Campo, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 48
5 decision points cluster between mile 39.6 and 544.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
39.6 mi into trip|~50m in
Take the exit toward Spring Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9C
Toward Spring Street
8
47.7 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward I 805 South, I 805 North: National City, Chula Vista, Los Angeles
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 6B
Toward I 805 South, I 805 North: National City,...
9
188.9 mi into trip|~3h 49m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
8
521 mi into trip|~9h 52m 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
8
544.9 mi into trip|~10h 22m 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
$114.29 one way
$228.59 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg191 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$118.70
$237.40
premium
$5.67
$121.84
$243.68
diesel
$4.80
$103.15
$206.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$114
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$244–$354
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 191.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $57 in charging
· 2 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
163.9
2
$57.36
$26.22
Efficient EV
136.6
1
$47.80
$21.85
EV Truck/SUV
218.5
2
$76.48
$34.96
Gas CO2
191 kg
EV CO2
64 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 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 16, 2026
Origin
Campo, CA
Morning
in Campo on Sunday
Local time
8:20 AM
PDT
Current temp
96°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 to 15 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Morning
in San Francisco on Sunday
Local time
8:20 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
W 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
25 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
10h 25m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 546.3
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 546.3
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 546.3
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 546.3
In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo climbed out of his boat and onto shore, becoming the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Cabrillo National Monument not only...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
$20
near mile 56.5
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
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 527.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly freeway driving, with 93% of the 546.3 miles on major highways like the San Diego Freeway and Golden State Freeway. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of highway at 225.6 miles on the Westside Freeway. Expect dense exits and urban merging as you pass through populated areas, transitioning to more open cruising as you head north. The final stretch will likely involve surface streets as you reach your destination.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
61 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?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and San Diego Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 39.6 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 48 significant decision points across 546.3 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 39.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 188.9 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,781 ft54 ft
Total Climb
4,337 ft
Total Descent
6,901 ft
Highest Point
3,781 ft
~234.1 mi in
Elevation Range
3,727 ft
Notable High Points
3,781 ft at ~234.1 miles+2,480 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Campo, CA and San Francisco, CA, road signs point toward Chula Vista and Los Angeles.
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
The longest stretch is about 225.6 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 273 miles on day one.
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 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 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 39.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 188.9 miles (I 5 Truck): 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 (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.4 hours each way, a round trip means 20.8 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.
