Fillmore to Oakland is 353.9 miles and takes about 6h 33m via Westside Freeway/Golden State Freeway/Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, with a fuel budget near $80 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive is entirely within California, moving from the Pacific Coast region northwards towards the same region. It's a predominantly highway route, making it efficient for a single-day trip if you're looking to cover ground quickly. Plan for a straightforward transit with minimal detours, ideal for getting from point A to point B without much fuss.
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 miles from Fillmore, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
225.6 mi
4h 1m
Golden State Freeway
48.1 mi
55m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.6 mi
34m
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi
18m
West Telegraph Road
12.7 mi
16m
Nimitz Freeway
9.8 mi
11m
Henry Mayo Drive
4.3 mi
5m
Castro Valley Freeway
2.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 150 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
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 Fillmore, CA and Oakland, CA.
1
Start on A Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·A Street
2
Turn left onto CA 126
0.8 mi·1 min·Ventura Street
3
Continue on CA 126
13 mi·16 min·West Telegraph Road
4
Continue on CA 126
4.3 mi·5 min·Henry Mayo Drive
5
Turn straight onto CA 126
1.5 mi·1 min·Korean War Veterans' Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward I 5 North: Sacramento
7
Merge onto I 5
26 mi·29 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi·17 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi·1 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
12
Merge onto I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi·13 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 238
2.4 mi·2 min·Castro Valley Freeway
Exit 34Toward I 238Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 880 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 880
9.8 mi·11 min·Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 41AToward Oak Street, Lakeside DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Oak Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·12th Street
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn right onto Harrison Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·Harrison Street
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto 14th Street
0.2 mi·48 sec·14th Street
22
Arrive at destination
14th Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a 6.5-hour drive, leaving Fillmore in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Oakland with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself, but it's wise to fuel up before you depart or at the planned stop, as the fuel cost is estimated at $80. Pay attention to the transition off the main highways as you get closer to Oakland; the longest stretch on the Westside Freeway means you'll be on high-speed roads for a significant portion, so be ready for the change in environment. This route is well-suited for a single-day push, so aim to get on the road early to maximize your time.
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 miles from Fillmore, CA, or about 3h 18m 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 miles or 3h 18m 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 23m
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 Fillmore, 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 Fillmore, CA
This is one driving day of about 353.9 miles and 6h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Fillmore, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 68 and 353.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
68 mi into trip|~1h 21m 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
8
340.2 mi into trip|~6h 15m 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
342.6 mi into trip|~6h 18m 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
352.8 mi into trip|~6h 30m 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
7
353.6 mi into trip|~6h 32m in|Harrison Street
Turn right onto Harrison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$74.04 one way
$148.08 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg124 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$76.90
$153.79
premium
$5.67
$78.93
$157.86
diesel
$4.80
$66.82
$133.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$99–$124
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
106.2
1
$37.16
$16.99
Efficient EV
88.5
1
$30.97
$14.16
EV Truck/SUV
141.6
1
$49.55
$22.65
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 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
Fillmore, CA
Evening
in Fillmore on Monday
Local time
5:55 PM
PDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Clear
ENE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 1:44AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 1:44AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Destination
Oakland, CA
Evening
in Oakland on Monday
Local time
5:55 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 1:44AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 1:44AM 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
6 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 33m 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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 353.9
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 353.9
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 353.9
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 353.9
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...
21 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 12.2
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 353.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect nearly all of your driving, 94%, to be on major highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 225.6 miles, primarily on the Westside Freeway. This means you'll be in a highway cruising environment for the majority of the trip. As you approach your destination, you'll transition from these high-speed corridors onto surface roads for the final miles into Oakland.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 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?
8/10
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 68 miles in near I 5 / Westside Freeway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 353.9 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 68 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 340.2 miles (I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 342.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,885 ft43 ft
Total Climb
3,975 ft
Total Descent
4,389 ft
Highest Point
3,885 ft
~50.6 mi in
Elevation Range
3,843 ft
Notable High Points
3,885 ft at ~50.6 miles+2,577 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fillmore, CA to Oakland, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco along the way.
Fillmore is a small town in Ventura County in California. It is primarily an agricultural area, although it does have a historic downtown that dates back to the late 1800s when the Southern Pacific railroad built a line through the town.
Top landmarks
•Bardsdale United Methodist Church — church building in Fillmore, United States of America
•Fillmore and Western Railway — heritage railroad in Ventura County, California, USA
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 33m. Total distance: 353.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 33m 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.
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 68 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 340.2 miles (I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 342.6 miles: 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 (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Oakland, CA before the return drive.
