Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 33m
Distance
407.2 mi
655 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$94
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Leandro, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Fontana, CA to San Leandro, CA is 407.2 miles and takes about 7h 33m via Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $94 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California, connecting the Pacific Coast region from south to north. Expect a straightforward, highway-focused journey that's highly manageable for a single day of driving. It's a practical option for getting between these two points efficiently, with minimal 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
203.6 miles from Fontana, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 50m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 225.6 mi | 4h 1m |
| Foothill Freeway | 67.2 mi | 1h 17m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.1 mi | 42m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.6 mi | 34m |
| Golden State Freeway | 22.3 mi | 25m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| MacArthur Freeway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Sierra Avenue | 3 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and San Leandro, CA.
Start on Merrill Avenue
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
Merge onto I 580
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
Take the exit
At end of road, turn right onto MacArthur Boulevard
Turn left onto Estudillo Avenue
Arrive at destination
Given the 7h 33m estimated duration, starting your drive from Fontana in the early morning is advisable to avoid the worst of potential traffic and make the most of daylight. With only 2 recommended stops, you can be strategic about when and where you pull over for breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 225.6 miles on the Westside Freeway, as services can be spaced out. This is a drive you can comfortably complete in one day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, splitting it is always an option.
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 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 90 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 203.6 miles or 3h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Leandro, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Fontana, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fontana, CA
This is one driving day of about 407.2 miles and 7h 33m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
204 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.
A short stop after about 90 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 203.6 miles from Fontana, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 45 and 406.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward Estudillo Avenue, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn right onto MacArthur Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$93.59 one way
$187.18 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $96.45 | $192.89 |
| premium | $6.18 | $99.03 | $198.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $89.90 | $179.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$94
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$119–$144
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 142.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 122.2 | 1 | $42.76 | $19.55 |
| Efficient EV | 101.8 | 1 | $35.63 | $16.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 162.9 | 2 | $57.01 | $26.06 |
Gas CO2
142 kg
EV CO2
48 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Fontana on Tuesday
Local time
2:08 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Clear
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 7:10PM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
Late night in San Leandro on Tuesday
Local time
2:08 AM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 99% of the trip on major roadways like the Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, and I 5 Truck. You'll experience long, uninterrupted stretches, including the longest at 225.6 miles on the Westside Freeway. The character of the drive is consistent for the most part, emphasizing efficient travel over varied scenery. Prepare for a steady pace on this predominantly interstate experience.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Foothill Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 45 miles in near I 210 / Foothill Freeway.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 407.2 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 45 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 130.1 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 402.3 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fontana, CA to San Leandro, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco along the way.
San Francisco
Fontana is a city in San Bernardino County in Southern California.
San Leandro is a mid-size city of about 90,000 people (2018) in the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States of America.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 33m. Total distance: 407.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 33m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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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