Fremont, CA to Walnut, CA is 381 miles and takes about 7h 14m via Westside Freeway, with a fuel budget near $91 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive connects two points within the Pacific Coast region, offering a mostly highway experience as you head south. It's a straightforward trip, suitable for a single day of travel if you're looking to cover ground efficiently. Be prepared for a significant amount of time on the freeway, making it a practical option for those prioritizing speed over scenic detours.
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
190.5 miles from Fremont, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
181.1 mi
3h 14m
I 5 Truck
83.3 mi
1h 36m
Pacheco Pass Highway
40.6 mi
50m
Bayshore Freeway
32.3 mi
37m
Pomona Freeway
19.5 mi
22m
Nimitz Freeway
13.3 mi
15m
Golden State Freeway
4.3 mi
5m
Mowry Avenue
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 181.1 mi, about 3h 14m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 292 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~2,590 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,474
Quietest
2 AM
~514 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 80 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 Fremont, CA and Walnut, 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
Continue on Mowry Avenue
0.2 mi·23 sec·Mowry Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 880 South: San JoseUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 880
13 mi·15 min·Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi·34 sec
Toward US 101 South: Los AngelesUse the straight / right lanes.
7
Merge onto US 101
32 mi·37 min·Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto CA 152
0.3 mi·39 sec·CA 152
Toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
9
Turn left onto CA 152
353 ft·12 sec·East 10th Street
10
Continue on CA 152
41 mi·50 min·Pacheco Pass Highway
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 5: Los Angeles
12
Merge onto I 5
181 mi·3 hr 14 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 5 Truck
Exit 158Toward I 405 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
25 mi·29 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.3 mi·22 sec·Golden State Freeway
Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa AnaUse the slight left lane.
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 134BToward CA 60 East: PomonaUse the slight left lane.
19
Merge onto CA 60
11 mi·12 min·Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
0.8 mi·54 sec·Pomona Freeway
21
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
1.8 mi·2 min·Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
2.4 mi·2 min·Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
2.6 mi·3 min·Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
0.6 mi·43 sec·Pomona Freeway
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 20Toward Nogales StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn left onto Nogales Street
1.2 mi·2 min·Nogales Street
Use the left / right lanes.
27
Turn right onto La Puente Road
1.5 mi·2 min·La Puente Road
Use the right lane.
28
Turn right
83 ft·11 sec
29
Turn right
55 ft·4 sec
30
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour duration, starting your drive from Fremont, CA early in the morning, ideally before 8 AM, will help you avoid the worst of Bay Area traffic. With two recommended stops, plan to break up the 381 miles to stay refreshed; a good midway point could be around the 180-mile mark. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 181.1-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, as services might be less frequent in certain sections. The $91 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you depart.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 190.5 miles from Fremont, CA, or about 3h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.1 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 84 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 190.5 miles or 3h 38m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Walnut, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fremont, 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 Fremont, CA
This is one driving day of about 381 miles and 7h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Fremont, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 181.1 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.2 and 378 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
15.2 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the exit toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
8
332.8 mi into trip|~6h 15m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
8
357.8 mi into trip|~6h 44m in|I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa Ana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Stre...
7
358 mi into trip|~6h 45m in
Take the exit toward CA 60 East: Pomona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 134B
Toward CA 60 East: Pomona
7
378 mi into trip|~7h 8m in
Take the exit toward Nogales Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 20
Toward Nogales Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$84.47 one way
$168.93 round trip
$5.63/gal25.4 MPG avg133 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.81
$87.17
$174.33
premium
$5.98
$89.75
$179.49
diesel
$5.60
$83.99
$167.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$84
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$109–$134
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 133.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
114.3
1
$40.01
$18.29
Efficient EV
95.3
1
$33.34
$15.24
EV Truck/SUV
152.4
1
$53.34
$24.38
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
45 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Sep 4, 2026
Origin
Fremont, CA
Night
in Fremont on Saturday
Local time
9:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Cloudy
WNW 3 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued September 4 at 2:02AM PDT until September 4 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued September 3 at 11:26PM PDT until September 7 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
Walnut, CA
Night
in Walnut on Saturday
Local time
9:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued September 4 at 2:02AM PDT until September 4 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued September 3 at 11:26PM PDT until September 7 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
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
1 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
7h 14m 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.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 328.4
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 262.7
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 88% of the 381 miles on freeways. You'll experience your longest continuous stretch on the Westside Freeway, covering 181.1 miles. Expect a dense number of exits and on-ramps, typical of major freeway corridors, before you transition to surface roads later in the trip. The majority of your time will be spent on these high-speed arteries.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 181.1 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.2 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 25 significant decision points across 381 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 15.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 332.8 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 357.8 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,852 ft55 ft
Total Climb
3,537 ft
Total Descent
3,020 ft
Highest Point
2,852 ft
~299.3 mi in
Elevation Range
2,797 ft
Notable High Points
2,852 ft at ~299.3 miles+1,428 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 Fremont, CA to Walnut, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Ana along the way.
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 7h 14m. Total distance: 381 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 14m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 181.1 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Walnut, 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. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 332.8 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 357.8 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, César E. Chávez National Monument and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Walnut, CA before the return drive.
