Fresno to Fairfax is 200.1 miles and takes about 4h 1m via Northbound California State Route 99, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily takes you north on CA 99, a major artery connecting communities across California's Central Valley before heading west. With 95% highway driving, you'll cover most of the distance efficiently. Expect a straightforward drive, suitable for a single-day trip, moving from the Pacific Coast region of California to its northern reaches.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
100 miles from Fresno, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Northbound California State Route 99
74.7 mi
1h 27m
CA 99
30.8 mi
34m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.7 mi
34m
MacArthur Freeway
16.7 mi
19m
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
13.9 mi
15m
John T. Knox Freeway
12.9 mi
17m
CA 120
6.8 mi
7m
Eastshore Freeway
3.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Northbound California State Route 99
— 74.7 mi, about 1h 27m
Traffic on I-205
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 11 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~3,937 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~721 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 16 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 Fresno, CA and Fairfax, CA.
1
Start on East Washington Avenue
28 ft·3 sec·East Washington Avenue
2
Turn right onto North First Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·North First Street
3
Turn left onto East Belmont Avenue
2.9 mi·5 min·East Belmont Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward CA 99 North
5
Merge onto CA 99
9.4 mi·10 min·CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·30 sec
Exit 144Toward Avenue 7Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto CA 99
21 mi·24 min·CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99
75 mi·1 hr 27 min·Northbound California State Route 99
Toward CA 99Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward CA 120 West: Manteca, San Francisco
10
Merge onto CA 120
6.8 mi·7 min·CA 120
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 5
1.2 mi·1 min·Westside Freeway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205
14 mi·15 min·Robert T. Monagan Freeway
13
Continue on I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi·13 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
8.3 mi·9 min·MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Oakland, San FranciscoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
8.3 mi·9 min·MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 80; I 580
3.3 mi·4 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
13 mi·17 min·John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 13BToward I 580 West: Point Richmond, San RafaelUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·54 sec
Exit 1AToward US 101 North: San Rafeal
20
Merge onto US 101
0.4 mi·33 sec·Redwood Highway
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 452Toward Central San RafaelUse the slight right lane.
22
Continue on Irwin Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Irwin Street
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn left onto Fourth Street
1.7 mi·3 min·Fourth Street
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on Red Hill Avenue
0.6 mi·56 sec·Red Hill Avenue
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on Center Boulevard
1.6 mi·4 min·Center Boulevard
26
Continue on Broadway
0.1 mi·19 sec·Broadway
27
Turn right onto Claus Drive
101 ft·6 sec·Claus Drive
28
Turn right onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
75 ft·4 sec·Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
29
Turn right
165 ft·12 sec
30
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, leaving Fresno in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. You'll only need one planned stop along the way, so consider breaking up the 74.7-mile stretch on CA 99 for a break. The fuel cost is estimated at $44, so ensure your tank is full before departing Fresno, as services can be spread out on the longer highway segments. This is a manageable drive for one day, offering flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 100 miles from Fresno, CA, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.7 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 44 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairfax, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fresno, 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 Fresno, CA
This is one driving day of about 200.1 miles and 4h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Fresno, 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 Northbound California State Route 99 for about 74.7 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.7 and 195.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
12.7 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward Avenue 7
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 144
Toward Avenue 7
7
34.5 mi into trip|~41m in|CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99 toward CA 99
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 99
8
161.6 mi into trip|~3h 9m 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
181.6 mi into trip|~3h 32m 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
195.6 mi into trip|~3h 51m 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
$48.97 one way
$97.94 round trip
$6.22/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.40
$50.43
$100.85
premium
$6.57
$51.73
$103.45
diesel
$6.18
$48.68
$97.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60
0
$21.01
$9.60
Efficient EV
50
0
$17.51
$8.00
EV Truck/SUV
80
1
$28.01
$12.81
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Fresno, CA
Morning
in Fresno on Sunday
Local time
6:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 17 at 6:02AM PDT until October 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS San Francisco CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 4:13AM PDT until October 17 at 12:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Destination
Fairfax, CA
Morning
in Fairfax on Sunday
Local time
6:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°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.
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
43 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
4h 1m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 186.3
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 193.2
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...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 179.4
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 193.2
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...
17 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 200.1
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...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 186.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway, with 95% of the 200.1 miles on freeways. You'll experience a long stretch of 74.7 miles on Northbound California State Route 99 without needing to exit. The Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway marks the latter portion of your drive. Expect consistent highway cruising with frequent exits for services and local access.
95% 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: 74.7 mi on Northbound California State Route 99.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Northbound California State Route 99 and CA 99. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.7 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 23 significant decision points across 200.1 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 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.5 miles (CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 161.6 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
486 ft-1 ft
Total Climb
565 ft
Total Descent
766 ft
Highest Point
486 ft
~142.9 mi in
Elevation Range
487 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fresno, CA and Fairfax, CA, road signs point toward Avenue 7, San Francisco and San Rafael.
Fresno is in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Many visitors find themselves stopping in Fresno on the way to Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, or other destinations in the Sierras.
Top landmarks
•Fresno station — train station in Fresno, California
•Holy Trinity Church, Fresno — church building in Fresno, United States of America
•Kearney Park — park in Fresno County, California, United States of America
Fairfax is a cute little town nestled in the hills of Marin County in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Though small, it's surprisingly lively and has kept its historic charm.
Top landmarks
•Marin Museum of Bicycling — museum in Fairfax, California
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 1m. Total distance: 200.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.7 miles on Northbound California State Route 99. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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 Fairfax, 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. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.5 miles (CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 161.6 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Fairfax, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
