Water
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Canyon Country, CA to San Francisco, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 25, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 37m
Distance
354.9 mi
571 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$80
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
14 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 26m
★
6 AM
6h 38m
8 AM
7h 2m
10 AM
6h 46m
12 PM
6h 44m
3 PM
6h 47m
5 PM
7h 1m
8 PM
6h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Canyon Country, CA to San Francisco, CA is 354.9 miles and takes about 6h 37m via Westside Freeway, Golden State Freeway, and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, with a fuel budget near $80 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays on major freeways, making it a straightforward trip up the California coast. You'll be spending most of your time on the highway, so expect a consistent pace for the majority of the 354.9 miles. Given the duration and highway focus, this route is well-suited for a single-day journey, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
177.4 miles from Canyon Country, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 225.6 mi | 4h 1m |
| Golden State Freeway | 47.8 mi | 54m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.6 mi | 34m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| MacArthur Freeway | 15.5 mi | 17m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 6 mi | 9m |
| Newhall Ranch Road | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| Soledad Canyon Road | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 75 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,500 veh/hr typical · worst 2,272
Quietest
2 AM
~312 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
4.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Canyon Country, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Whites Canyon Road
137 ft
·
9 sec
·
Whites Canyon Road
2
Continue on Whites Canyon Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Whites Canyon Road
3
Turn right onto Soledad Canyon Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Soledad Canyon Road
4
Turn right onto Valley Center Drive
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Valley Center Drive
5
At end of road, turn left onto Golden Valley Road
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Golden Valley Road
6
Continue on Newhall Ranch Road
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Newhall Ranch Road
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5 North: Sacramento
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 5
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
13
Merge onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Oakland, San Francisco
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19A
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
18
Merge onto I 80
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
21
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
22
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Route 80
Exit 2A
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
23
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Route 80
Exit 1A
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 1B
Toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Central Freeway
26
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434B
Toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Market Street
Use the right lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Market Street
29
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, consider leaving Canyon Country early in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With a fuel cost estimate of $80, ensure your vehicle is fueled before departing, as major refueling opportunities will be along the freeway corridor. The route is designed for a single day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, you could incorporate a brief stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 225.6-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, to ensure you have enough to reach a service area or your destination.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 177.4 miles from Canyon Country, CA, or about 3h 19m 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 78 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.4 miles or 3h 19m 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 25m
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 Canyon Country, 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 Canyon Country, CA
This is one driving day of about 354.9 miles and 6h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Canyon Country, 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 225.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
177 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 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 177.4 miles from Canyon Country, 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Dos Amigos Vista Point
0.1 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Castaic Truck Stop
0.1 mi from route
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Coalinga Avenal Safety Roadside Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Lost Hills Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Northbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.4 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.8 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.3 mi from route
Rest Area
1.6 mi from route
Rest Area
1.8 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
2 mi from route
Alameda County Industries
2.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 35.2 and 353.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
35.2 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
57.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
6
283 mi into trip
|
~5h 12m in
|
I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
8
329.6 mi into trip
|
~6h 4m 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
353.5 mi into trip
|
~6h 34m 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
$80.44 one way
$160.88 round trip
$5.76/gal
25.4 MPG avg
124 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.96 | $83.22 | $166.44 |
| premium | $6.09 | $85.12 | $170.24 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $75.49 | $150.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$80
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$105–$130
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
EV Charging Along Route
14 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Tesla Supercharger
Valencia, California
Tesla
1 DCFC
Rivian Adventure Network
Firebaugh, California
Rivian
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Firebaugh, California
Tesla
1 DCFC
EVgo Charging Station
Valencia, California
EVgo
1 DCFC
EVgo Charging Station
Valencia, California
EVgo
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Santa Clarita, California
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Santa Clarita, California
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Electrify America Charging Station
Valencia, California
Electrify America
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 4
Tesla: 3
EVgo: 3
Electrify America: 2
Rivian: 1
Other: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106.5 | 1 | $37.26 | $17.04 |
| Efficient EV | 88.7 | 1 | $31.05 | $14.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 142 | 1 | $49.69 | $22.71 |
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Canyon Country, CA
Afternoon in Canyon Country on Saturday
Local time
2:55 PM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Rain Showers Likely
SSW 15 mph
57% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 25 at 12:10PM PDT until April 26 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 25 at 11:30AM MST until April 26 at 5:00AM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Afternoon in San Francisco on Saturday
Local time
2:55 PM
PDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Cloudy
WSW 7 to 10 mph
11% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 25 at 12:10PM PDT until April 26 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 25 at 11:30AM MST until April 26 at 5:00AM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ
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
1 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
6h 37m 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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 354.9
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
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 342.6
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 354.9
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,...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
$15
near mile 354.9
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 342.6
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 61.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is 95% highway driving, meaning you'll be cruising on the freeway for nearly the entire 354.9 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a single freeway is 225.6 miles on the Westside Freeway. You can expect a consistent driving experience with minimal transitions to surface roads until the very end of your trip. The extensive highway mileage suggests a continuous flow of traffic and numerous exits as you approach urban areas.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 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 Golden State Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.2 miles in near I 5 / Golden State 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 22 significant decision points across 354.9 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 35.2 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.4 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 283 miles (I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Canyon Country, CA
Full guide →Canyon Country is a region in the state of Utah in the United States of America. It is a wild, sparsely populated area along the southern boundary of the state, with an extraordinary concentration of national parks (referred to as "The Big 5") and monuments offering scenic opportunities galore and an inexhaustible array of hiking trails and canyoneering routes. It includes the counties of Kane, Garfield, San Juan, Wayne, and Grand.
Arriving in San Francisco, CA
Full guide →“Frisco” · Founded 1776
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
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 6h 37m. Total distance: 354.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 37m 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.
Yes — we found about 33 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 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 35.2 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.4 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 283 miles (I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.3 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.
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, NREL for EV charging, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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