Origin
Fontana, CA
Late night in Fontana on Tuesday
Local time
2:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fontana, CA to San Rafael, 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
8h 9m
Distance
437.3 mi
704 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$101
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 2m
★
6 AM
8h 10m
8 AM
8h 26m
10 AM
8h 16m
12 PM
8h 14m
3 PM
8h 16m
5 PM
8h 25m
8 PM
8h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Rafael, CA
David McElwee
Trip Overview
Fontana, CA to San Rafael, CA is 437.3 miles and takes about 8h 9m via Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $101 and ideally split over two days. This drive primarily sticks to major highways, covering 99% of its length on freeways, making it a straightforward journey across California. You'll be traveling between two Pacific Coast regions, experiencing a consistent highway-focused profile. Given the duration and distance, this trip is best tackled with an overnight stop, allowing for a more relaxed pace and less fatigue.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
218.6 miles from Fontana, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 6m into the drive .
Main Roads
| 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 | 16.7 mi | 19m |
| John T. Knox Freeway | 12.9 mi | 17m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and San Rafael, CA.
1
Start on Merrill Avenue
205 ft
·
6 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
2
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Sierra Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward CA 210 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Merge onto CA 210
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Exit 26A
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
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.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
18
Merge onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
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.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 80; I 580
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
13 mi
·
17 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 13B
Toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 1A
Toward US 101 North: San Rafeal
25
Merge onto US 101
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Redwood Highway
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 452
Toward Central San Rafael
Use the slight right lane.
27
Continue on Irwin Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Irwin Street
Use the straight lane.
28
Turn left onto Fourth Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Fourth Street
Use the left lane.
29
Arrive at destination
Fourth Street
Trip Plan
With an estimated drive time of 8 hours and 9 minutes, this 437.3-mile trip is best enjoyed over two days to avoid excessive fatigue. Plan your overnight stop around the halfway point, which would be roughly 4 hours into your drive, to break up the longest stretch of 225.6 miles on the Westside Freeway. You'll want to ensure you have adequate fuel, as the estimated cost is $101, and highway services can sometimes be spread out. Departing Fontana, CA early in the morning will allow you to reach your planned stopping point with daylight to spare.
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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 218.6 miles from Fontana, CA, or about 4h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 96 miles or 1h 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 218.6 miles or 4h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 218.6 miles or 4h 6m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Rafael, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fontana, CA
Aim for roughly 219 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into San Rafael, CA
Aim for roughly 219 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 96 miles from Fontana, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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
Overnight candidate
219 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Mendota, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
219 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Mendota, CA after about 219 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 96 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 218.6 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.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 219 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
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 265 decision points cluster between mile 45 and 436.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
45 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26A
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
7
130.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m 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
402.3 mi into trip
|
~7h 25m 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
9
422.3 mi into trip
|
~7h 49m in
|
I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13B
Toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael
7
436.3 mi into trip
|
~8h 7m in
Take the exit toward Central San Rafael
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 452
Toward Central San Rafael
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$100.51 one way
$201.02 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
153 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $103.57 | $207.15 |
| premium | $6.18 | $106.35 | $212.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $96.55 | $193.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$101
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$231–$341
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 153 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 131.2 | 1 | $45.92 | $20.99 |
| Efficient EV | 109.3 | 1 | $38.26 | $17.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 174.9 | 2 | $61.22 | $27.99 |
Gas CO2
153 kg
EV CO2
51 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.
Destination
San Rafael, CA
Late night in San Rafael on Tuesday
Local time
2:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
10 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
8h 9m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 422.2
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,...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
$15
near mile 437.3
View on nps.gov
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
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 422.2
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 437.3
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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 422.2
View on nps.gov
Point Reyes National Seashore
National Seashore
From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches to its open grasslands, brushy hillsides, and forested ridges, Point Reyes offers visitors over 1500 spec...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 437.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 99% of the 437.3 miles on freeways like the Westside Freeway and Foothill Freeway. You can expect long stretches of consistent travel, including one segment of 225.6 miles on the Westside Freeway without significant breaks in the highway experience. The route maintains a steady pace, ideal for those who prefer to cover ground efficiently on well-maintained roads. It's less about winding scenic byways and more about direct, high-speed transit between destinations.
99% 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 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.
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 26 significant decision points across 437.3 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.
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.
On the drive from Fontana, CA to San Rafael, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco along the way.
San Francisco
355.7 mi in
|
~6h 33m
|
via I 580
About the Cities
Starting in Fontana, CA
Full guide →Fontana is a city in San Bernardino County in Southern California.
Arriving in San Rafael, CA
Full guide →Historically home to one of California's original Spanish missions, San Rafael is now a mid-sized Bay Area commuter town with beautiful hills, peaceful nature, interesting architecture, and a bustling downtown area centered around 4th Street. San Rafael is the cultural and political center of Marin County, and offers its own set of attractions as well as easy access to other parts of the county.
Top landmarks
- • Marin County Civic Center — building in California, designed by F.L.Wright
- • Marin Museum of Contemporary Art — contemporary art museum in California, U.S.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
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 — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 219 miles on day one.
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 San Rafael, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Yes — Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, Muir Woods National Monument and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at San Rafael, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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