This 125.8-mile drive from Folsom, CA to Fremont, CA is a manageable day trip, estimated to take around 2 hours and 32 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Donald D. Doyle Highway, and El Dorado Freeway, with 28% of the journey on highways. Considering the relatively short duration and a fuel cost of approximately $29, this route is well-suited for a single day of travel. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, so you won't be crossing major geographical divides. This trip offers a straightforward transit between these two California cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.9 miles from Folsom, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
37.2 mi
42m
Donald D Doyle Highway
29.6 mi
34m
El Dorado Freeway
17.2 mi
19m
Luther E Gibson Freeway
12.4 mi
14m
Benicia-Martinez Bridge
8 mi
9m
Capital City Freeway
5 mi
5m
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
4.8 mi
5m
Yolo Causeway
3.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 37.2 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Folsom, CA and Fremont, CA.
1
Start on Sutter Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Sutter Street
2
Turn right onto Wool Street
366 ft·18 sec·Wool Street
3
Turn left onto Leidesdorff Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Leidesdorff Street
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
5
Turn straight onto Folsom Boulevard
2.6 mi·4 min·Folsom Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 50 West: SacramentoUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto US 50
17 mi·19 min·El Dorado Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 50
5.0 mi·5 min·Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 80
3.9 mi·4 min·Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 80
37 mi·42 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 40Toward I 680: Benicia, San JoseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 680
12 mi·14 min·Luther E Gibson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 680
8.0 mi·9 min·Benicia-Martinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
4.8 mi·5 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 680
1.4 mi·1 min·Donald D Doyle Highway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
28 mi·32 min·Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 15Toward Washington BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto Washington Boulevard
0.9 mi·2 min·Washington Boulevard
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on Fremont Boulevard
1.9 mi·4 min·Fremont Boulevard
20
Turn left onto Mowry Avenue
0.1 mi·29 sec·Mowry Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on Mowry Avenue
0.1 mi·22 sec·Mowry Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
Mowry Avenue
Trip Plan
With a total duration of about 2 hours and 32 minutes, this 125.8-mile trip from Folsom to Fremont is easily accomplished in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you approach Fremont. The drive has only one recommended stop, so you can be flexible with your timing and take breaks as needed. With a fuel cost estimated at $29, planning your fill-ups is straightforward. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signage when transitioning between the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Donald D. Doyle Highway, and El Dorado Freeway, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests frequent changes.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.9 miles from Folsom, CA, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.2 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 28 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.9 miles or 1h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fremont, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Folsom, 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 Folsom, CA
This is one driving day of about 125.8 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Folsom, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 37.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 66.9 and 122.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
66.9 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
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 40
Toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
6
88 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
94.2 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|I 680 / Donald D Doyle Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680 / Donald D Doyle Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
122.4 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Take the exit toward Washington Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 15
Toward Washington Boulevard
6
122.7 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|Washington Boulevard
Turn right onto Washington Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.91 one way
$57.83 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$29.80
$59.59
premium
$6.18
$30.59
$61.19
diesel
$5.61
$27.78
$55.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.7
0
$13.21
$6.04
Efficient EV
31.5
0
$11.01
$5.03
EV Truck/SUV
50.3
0
$17.61
$8.05
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Folsom, CA
Night
in Folsom on Saturday
Local time
11:02 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fremont, CA
Night
in Fremont on Saturday
Local time
11:02 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Martinez, CA
63 mi in
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
20 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
2h 32m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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.
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 82.4
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 91.1
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 91.1
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,...
27 mi from route
~69 min detour
$15
near mile 82.4
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...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
near mile 91.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for much of this 125.8-mile journey, rather than a pure highway experience. While 28% of the route does utilize highways, the character leans towards more frequent transitions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 37.2 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This suggests a drive that involves navigating through various local road systems, interspersed with some faster-paced highway segments. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires attention to road changes.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.2 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 66.9 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 125.8 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 66.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.2 miles (I 680 / Donald D Doyle Highway): 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.
On the drive from Folsom, CA to Fremont, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Jose along the way.
Folsom is a city of 82,000 people (2019) in Sacramento County in California. Folsom is home to Folsom Lake College, Folsom Dam, Folsom Prison and a historic district. Folsom is also home to the largest private employer in the Sacramento area, Intel.
Top landmarks
•Folsom Depot — train station in Folsom, California
•Murer House and Gardens — house in Folsom, California, United States
Fremont is a suburban city in the southern part of the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area; it is the 4th largest city in the Bay Area by population. Fremont is in the southern part of Alameda County, California, between Union City to the north, Sunol and the hills to the east, Milpitas and Santa Clara County to the south, and the San Francisco Bay to the west. The city of Newark, near the edge of the Bay, is surrounded by the city of Fremont.
Fremont industry is not particularly large relative to other parts of the Bay Area, but neither is it a bedroom community. Many people in Fremont work locally in the electronics and high-tech industry, while many others commute to Silicon Valley or San Francisco locations for work.
Top landmarks
•Mission San José — 18th-century Spanish mission in Fremont, California
•Ardenwood Historic Farm — human settlement in California, United States of America
•Niles Depot Museum — railway museum in Niles, California
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 125.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.2 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Fremont, 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 66.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.2 miles (I 680 / Donald D Doyle Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fremont, CA before heading back.
