Origin
Fremont, CA
Late night in Fremont on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fremont, CA to Larkspur, 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
1h 5m
Distance
48.8 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Larkspur, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 48.8-mile drive from Fremont, CA to Larkspur, CA takes approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes, making it a convenient day trip. The route stays within California, traversing the Pacific Coast region. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, it's an economical option for a quick journey. The majority of this drive is highway-focused, covering 89% on major freeways. You'll primarily navigate I-880 and the John T. Knox Freeway. This route is best suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 880 | 17.8 mi | 20m |
| John T. Knox Freeway | 11.6 mi | 15m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 10.6 mi | 13m |
| Eastshore Freeway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Sir Francis Drake Boulevard East | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Mowry Avenue | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Doherty Drive | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Magnolia Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 880
— 17.8 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fremont, CA and Larkspur, CA.
1
Start on Mowry Avenue
109 ft
·
4 sec
·
Mowry Avenue
2
Continue on Mowry Avenue
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Mowry Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 880 North: Oakland
4
Merge onto I 880
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
18 mi
·
20 min
·
I 880
Use the slight left lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 880
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Exit 46B
Toward I 80 East, I 580 West: San Rafael, Sacramento
8
Continue on I 80; I 580
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi
·
15 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 13B
Toward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San Rafael
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 2A
Toward Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard East
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Sir Francis Drake Boulevard East
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 101 South: San Francisco
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Merge onto US 101
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Redwood Highway
14
Take the exit
423 ft
·
24 sec
Toward Lucky Drive, Doherty Drive
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on Fifer Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Fifer Avenue
Toward Lucky Drive, Doherty Drive, Tamal Vista Boulevard
16
At end of road, turn left onto Lucky Drive
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Lucky Drive
17
Turn right onto Doherty Drive
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Doherty Drive
18
At end of road, turn left onto Magnolia Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Magnolia Avenue
19
Turn left onto King Street
141 ft
·
3 sec
·
King Street
20
Arrive at destination
King Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.4 miles from Fremont, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 155 decision points cluster between mile 8.1 and 47.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 880
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
26 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
I 880 / Nimitz Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 880 / Nimitz Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
33.5 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
45 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2A
Toward Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
8
47.4 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward Lucky Drive, Doherty Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Lucky Drive, Doherty Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.22 one way
$22.43 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $11.56 | $23.12 |
| premium | $6.18 | $11.87 | $23.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.77 | $21.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.83 | $3.12 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Larkspur, CA
Late night in Larkspur on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
1h 5m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 48.8-mile journey, with 89% of the route utilizing major freeways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-880 and the John T. Knox Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.8 miles on I-880. While largely a freeway experience, the transition to and from these main roads will offer a slight change of pace. This drive is characterized by efficient travel on well-maintained roadways.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.8 mi on I 880.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 880 and John T. Knox Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.1 miles in near I 880.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 8.1 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles (I 880 / Nimitz Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.5 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox 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.
Between Fremont, CA and Larkspur, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento and San Rafael.
Sacramento
28.2 mi in
|
~34m
|
via I 880
San Rafael
33.5 mi in
|
~41m
|
via I 580
About the Cities
Starting in Fremont, CA
Full guide →Founded 1956
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
Arriving in Larkspur, CA
Full guide →Founded 1857
The "twin cities" of Larkspur and Corte Madera are a pair of towns in Marin County in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Larkspur is the main gateway to Marin by ferry, while Corte Madera is known for upscale shopping.
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 1h 5m. Total distance: 48.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.8 miles on I 880. 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 Larkspur, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.1 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles (I 880 / Nimitz Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.5 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Larkspur, CA before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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