Origin
Earlimart, CA
Late night in Earlimart on Tuesday
Local time
1:47 AM
PDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Earlimart, 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
4h 38m
Distance
242.5 mi
390 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 25m
★
6 AM
4h 38m
8 AM
5h 5m
10 AM
4h 47m
12 PM
4h 45m
3 PM
4h 49m
5 PM
5h 4m
8 PM
4h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Earlimart, CA
Harrison Haines
Oakland, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 242.5-mile journey from Earlimart, CA to Oakland, CA takes approximately 4 hours and 38 minutes, making it a feasible day trip. You'll primarily travel on the Golden State Highway and Northbound California State Route 99, eventually transitioning to the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $56. This route stays within the Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward drive up the state. Given its manageable duration, you can complete it in one day without needing an overnight stay, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
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
121.2 miles from Earlimart, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Golden State Highway | 78.8 mi | 1h 25m |
| Northbound California State Route 99 | 74.7 mi | 1h 27m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.7 mi | 34m |
| CA 99 | 21.4 mi | 24m |
| Robert T. Monagan Freeway | 13.9 mi | 15m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| CA 120 | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| Castro Valley Freeway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Golden State Highway
— 78.8 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Earlimart, CA and Oakland, CA.
1
Start on East Washington Avenue
405 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Washington Avenue
2
Turn right onto North Front Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Front Street
3
Turn right onto J22
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Sierra Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
5
Merge onto CA 99
79 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 144
Toward Avenue 7
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto CA 99
21 mi
·
24 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99
75 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
Northbound California State Route 99
Toward CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 120 West: Manteca, San Francisco
10
Merge onto CA 120
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
CA 120
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 5
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Westside Freeway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
13
Continue on 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 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.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 880 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 880
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 41A
Toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Oak Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
12th Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn right onto Harrison Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Harrison Street
Use the right lane.
22
Turn left onto 14th Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
14th Street
23
Arrive at destination
14th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4.5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Earlimart to avoid potential traffic, especially as you get closer to the Bay Area. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of nearly 79 miles, you can easily plan your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $56 estimated cost suggests consistent consumption over the 242.5 miles. A good tip is to utilize the Golden State Highway's consistent stretches to make good time, but be mindful of the shift in road type as you enter more urbanized areas approaching Oakland.
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 121.2 miles from Earlimart, CA, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.8 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 53 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.2 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 45m
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 Earlimart, 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 Earlimart, CA
This is one driving day of about 242.5 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Earlimart, 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 Golden State Highway for about 78.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 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 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 121.2 miles from Earlimart, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Golden State Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.8 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 205 decision points cluster between mile 79.8 and 241.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
79.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward Avenue 7
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 144
Toward Avenue 7
7
101.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
|
CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99 toward CA 99
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 99
8
228.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 20m 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
231.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 22m 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
241.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 34m 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
$55.74 one way
$111.47 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $57.44 | $114.87 |
| premium | $6.18 | $58.97 | $117.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.54 | $107.08 |
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: 84.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.8 | 0 | $25.46 | $11.64 |
| Efficient EV | 60.6 | 0 | $21.22 | $9.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97 | 1 | $33.95 | $15.52 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 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.
Destination
Oakland, CA
Late night in Oakland on Tuesday
Local time
1:47 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
26 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
4h 38m 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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 242.5
View on nps.gov
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 242.5
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 242.5
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 242.5
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 242.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 66% of the route utilizing major highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 78.8 miles on the Golden State Highway. This means you'll experience significant periods of consistent driving on well-maintained, high-speed roads. While largely a highway experience, be prepared for the transition onto the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway as you approach your destination. The overall character is one of steady progress rather than winding scenic byways.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.8 mi on Golden State Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Golden State Highway and Northbound California State Route 99. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 79.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 20 significant decision points across 242.5 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 79.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.7 miles (CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 228.7 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.
Between Earlimart, CA and Oakland, CA, road signs point toward Avenue 7 and San Francisco.
Avenue 7
79.8 mi in
|
~1h 27m
San Francisco
176.3 mi in
|
~3h 19m
About the Cities
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 4h 38m. Total distance: 242.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.8 miles on Golden State Highway. 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 79.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.7 miles (CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 228.7 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 (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Oakland, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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