Greenville, CA to San Francisco, CA is 229 miles and takes about 4h 52m via Feather River Highway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily uses surface roads, making up 75% of the route, with only a 25% highway share. You'll transition from the Pacific Coast region near Greenville to the bustling Pacific Coast region as you approach San Francisco. Given the duration and mileage, this is a solid one-day drive, but you'll want to be mindful of the surface road sections as they can influence travel time.
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
114.5 miles from Greenville, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Feather River Highway
80.1 mi
1h 48m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
56.3 mi
1h 7m
CA 70
30.2 mi
36m
Eastshore Freeway
15.2 mi
17m
Ann Street
11.8 mi
17m
Golden State Highway
7.7 mi
8m
Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
4.9 mi
5m
E Street
4.2 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Feather River Highway
— 80.1 mi, about 1h 48m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~5,495 veh/hr typical
· worst 7,863
Quietest
1 AM
~490 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 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 Greenville, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Main Street
62 ft·5 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto CA 89
12 mi·17 min·Ann Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto CA 70
23 mi·34 min·Feather River Highway
4
Turn straight onto CA 70
57 mi·1 hr 13 min·Feather River Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on CA 70
11 mi·12 min·CA 70
6
Continue on CA 70
1.5 mi·3 min·CA 70
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·5th Street
8
Turn left onto CA 70
4.2 mi·5 min·E Street
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
18 mi·20 min·CA 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto CA 99
4.9 mi·5 min·Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
11
Continue on CA 99
7.7 mi·8 min·Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 5
2.3 mi·2 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 522Toward I 80 East, I 80 West: Reno, San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 West: San FranciscoUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 80
3.9 mi·4 min·Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 80
50 mi·58 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi·1 min·Carquinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Eastshore Freeway
20
Continue on I 80
3.4 mi·3 min·Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 80
14 mi·16 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway
0.8 mi·1 min·Eastshore Freeway
Toward San FranciscoUse the slight left lane.
23
Merge onto I 80
0.4 mi·33 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi·33 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
26
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
27
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi·1 min·Route 80
Exit 2AUse the straight / slight left lanes.
28
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi·32 sec·Route 80
Exit 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 1BToward US 101 North: Golden Gate BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi·25 sec·Central Freeway
31
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi·42 sec·Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434BToward Octavia Boulevard, Fell StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Market Street
Use the right lane.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
34
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
For this 229-mile drive, leaving in the morning is recommended to make the most of daylight, especially since 75% of the route is on surface roads. You'll have one recommended stop, but with a total duration of under 5 hours, you can easily complete this in a single day without needing an overnight. Keep an eye on your fuel level, with an estimated cost of $52, and consider topping up before you leave Greenville, as services might be less frequent on the Feather River Highway. Pay attention to local speed limits on the numerous surface road sections.
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 114.5 miles from Greenville, CA, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.1 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 50 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.5 miles or 2h 34m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Francisco, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Greenville, 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 Greenville, CA
This is one driving day of about 229 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Greenville, 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 Feather River Highway for about 80.1 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 109 and 227.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
109 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|CA 70
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
141.4 mi into trip|~3h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East, I 80 West: Reno, San Francisco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 522
Toward I 80 East, I 80 West: Reno, San Francisc...
7
141.6 mi into trip|~3h 6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 West: San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
6
219.1 mi into trip|~4h 36m in|Eastshore Freeway
Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway toward San Francisco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward San Francisco
8
227.5 mi into trip|~4h 49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.91 one way
$95.82 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$49.76
$99.52
premium
$5.67
$51.07
$102.15
diesel
$4.80
$43.24
$86.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.7
0
$24.05
$10.99
Efficient EV
57.3
0
$20.04
$9.16
EV Truck/SUV
91.6
1
$32.06
$14.66
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Greenville, CA
Late night
in Greenville on Sunday
Local time
3:41 AM
PDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
SW 3 to 8 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 1:24AM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Late night
in San Francisco on Sunday
Local time
3:41 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Sunny
WSW 7 to 13 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 1:24AM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard 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
26 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 52m 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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 213.2
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...
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...
11 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 197.4
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 229
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,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 25% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 80.1 miles along the Feather River Highway. Expect to transition from highway cruising to slower, more winding surface roads as you get closer to your destination. The overall driving experience will likely involve a mix of open-road segments and areas with more frequent intersections and local traffic.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.1 mi on Feather River Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 109 miles in near CA 70.
Driving Effort9/10
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 20 significant decision points across 229 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 109 miles (CA 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 141.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Plumas County is in the Shasta Cascades region of California. The forests, rivers and mountains of Plumas County were originally inhabited by Native Americans before miners arrived during the Gold Rush, followed soon after by loggers, and today tourists visit the county for its camping, fishing, whitewater, snowshoeing, and other outdoor opportunities.
The centerpiece of the Bay Area, San Francisco is one of the most visited cities in the world, and with good reason. The cultural center of northern California, San Francisco is renowned for its mixture of scenic beauty and unique culture that makes it one of the most vibrant and desirable cities in the nation, if not the world.
Sandwiched between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean on a small square of land seven miles (11 km) on each side, San Francisco offers a wealth of treasures for the visitor, from the windswept and often foggy bay to the steep hills lined with Victorian homes that overlook the spectacular scenery of the city.
Top landmarks
•Golden Gate Bridge — suspension bridge on the San Francisco Bay
•Alcatraz Island — island in San Francisco, California, United States of America
•San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge — suspension bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland, California, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 52m. Total distance: 229 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.1 miles on Feather River Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 San Francisco, 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 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 109 miles (CA 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 141.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at San Francisco, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
