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Trip from Huntington Beach, CA to Fremont, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 28m

Distance

391.4 mi

630 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$90

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
7h 18m ★
6 AM
7h 29m
8 AM
7h 49m
10 AM
7h 36m
12 PM
7h 34m
3 PM
7h 37m
5 PM
7h 48m
8 PM
7h 23m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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seaside city in Orange County, California, United States

Huntington Beach, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 394.7-mile journey from Huntington Beach, CA, to Fremont, CA, is estimated to take about 6 hours and 51 minutes of driving time. Given its duration and the nature of the drive, it's comfortably manageable as a single-day trip, but be prepared for a full day behind the wheel. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $91. You'll navigate primarily on local roads, with a 0% highway share, making it a more involved, turn-heavy experience. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, so you'll stay within California's coastal influence for the entire trip.

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

195.7 miles from Huntington Beach, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 46m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 182.5 mi 3h 15m
Golden State Freeway 50 mi 57m
CA 152 41.1 mi 51m
I 5 Truck 37.7 mi 43m
South Valley Freeway 19.9 mi 22m
Nimitz Freeway 13 mi 14m
US 101 12.2 mi 14m
San Gabriel River Freeway 10.2 mi 11m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 182.5 mi, about 3h 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Huntington Beach, CA and Fremont, CA.

1

Start on this road

60 ft · 5 sec · this road
2

Turn left

145 ft · 12 sec
3

Turn right onto Orange Avenue

469 ft · 20 sec · Orange Avenue
4

Turn left onto 6th Street

0.2 mi · 50 sec · 6th Street
5

Turn right onto CA 1

7.9 mi · 11 min · Pacific Coast Highway
6

Turn right onto Seal Beach Boulevard

2.9 mi · 4 min · Seal Beach Boulevard
Use the right lane.
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward I 405 North, CA 22 West: Long Beach, San Diego Freeway Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Merge onto I 405; CA 22

1.1 mi · 1 min · San Diego Freeway
9

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 24 Toward I 605 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Merge onto I 605

10 mi · 11 min · San Gabriel River Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa Ana Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa Ana Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward I 5 North: Santa Ana Freeway, Los Angeles
14

Merge onto I 5

8.9 mi · 10 min · Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

25 mi · 29 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

2.2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

1.5 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck
Exit 161A Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

36 mi · 41 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

22 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

183 mi · 3 hr 15 min · Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 403B Toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
22

Continue on CA 152; CA33

29 mi · 33 min · CA 152; CA33
Use the straight lane.
23

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 152

12 mi · 16 min · CA 152
24

Take the exit onto CA 152

0.5 mi · 1 min · CA 152
Toward US 101 North: San Jose
25

Merge onto US 101; CA 152

20 mi · 22 min · South Valley Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
26

Keep slight left at fork onto US 101

12 mi · 14 min · US 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 388B Toward I 880 North: Oakland Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Merge onto I 880

7.3 mi · 8 min · Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

Keep slight right at fork onto I 880

5.7 mi · 6 min · Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Exit 17 Toward Mowry Avenue, Central Fremont Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

Turn right onto Mowry Avenue

1.4 mi · 2 min · Mowry Avenue
Use the right lane.
32

Arrive at destination

Mowry Avenue

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 6-hour and 51-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Huntington Beach to maximize your daylight hours and potentially avoid some local traffic. With a total of 394.7 miles and a fuel cost estimated at $91, planning for one stop is built into the recommendations, so choose a spot that allows for a good break. Since this is a turn-heavy local drive with no long highway stretches, staying alert and paying close attention to navigation is key. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be more spread out on local routes compared to interstates.

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 195.7 miles from Huntington Beach, CA, or about 3h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.5 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 86 miles or 1h 46m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 195.7 miles or 3h 46m 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 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fremont, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Huntington Beach, 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 Huntington Beach, CA

This is one driving day of about 391.4 miles and 7h 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Huntington Beach, 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 182.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city and county seat of Kern County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bakersfield, CA

196 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.

Popular next leg

Bakersfield, CA to Fremont, CA

256.8 mi · 4h 55m

Pacing Suggestions

Santa Clarita, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fresno, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 195.7 miles from Huntington Beach, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 182.5 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Steadfast Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

Huntington Beach, California

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+16572049333

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 112.8

Lebec, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

EVmatch Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 56.4

Sun Valley, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+16508228157

Visit website

Huntington Beach, California

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Huntington Beach, California

+17148528233

Visit website

Surfing Walk of Fame

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Huntington Beach, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+17147420355

Visit website

Coyote Creek Parkway

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 366.5

Coyote, California

Hours: 6 am–8:30 pm

Always Dream PlayPark

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 394.7

Fremont, California

Hours: 7 am–8:30 pm

+15107905541

Visit website

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 394.7

Fremont, California

Hours: Closed

+15104941411

Visit website

Xcapade Newark

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 394.7

Newark, California

Hours: 1–11 pm

+19099227233

Visit website

Huntington Beach Central Park East

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour

Huntington Beach, California

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+17145365486

Visit website

Wat Thai of Los Angeles

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 56.4

North Hollywood, California

Hours: 8 am–7 pm

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 29

5 decision points cluster between mile 11.1 and 389.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
11.1 mi into trip | ~17m in

Take the ramp toward I 405 North, CA 22 West: Long Beach, San Diego Freeway

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 405 North, CA 22 West: Long Beach, San...
7
12.4 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward I 605 North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 24 Toward I 605 North
8
23.4 mi into trip | ~32m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa Ana

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa...
9
60.7 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in | I 5 Truck

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 161A Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
8
389.7 mi into trip | ~7h 25m in

Take the exit toward Mowry Avenue, Central Fremont

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 17 Toward Mowry Avenue, Central Fremont

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$89.96 one way

$179.92 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 137 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $92.70 $185.41
premium $6.18 $95.18 $190.37
diesel $5.61 $86.42 $172.83

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$90

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$115–$140

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 136.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 117.4 1 $41.10 $18.79
Efficient EV 97.9 1 $34.25 $15.66
EV Truck/SUV 156.6 1 $54.80 $25.05

Gas CO2

137 kg

EV CO2

46 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 Jun 23, 2022

Origin

Huntington Beach, CA

Morning in Huntington Beach on Sunday

Local time

7:19 AM

PDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fremont, CA

Morning in Fremont on Sunday

Local time

7:19 AM

PDT

Current temp

67°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

4 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

7h 28m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this entire 394.7-mile route, as indicated by its 0% highway share. This means you won't be cruising on interstates; instead, you'll be navigating through towns and along surface streets for the majority of the journey. The primary roads you'll encounter include Orange Avenue, 6th Street, and Pacific Coast Highway, suggesting a route that stays close to the coast for at least part of the way. Without any long stretches of uninterrupted highway, be ready for frequent adjustments and a road that will feel more connected to the communities you pass through.

96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 182.5 mi on Westside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Golden State Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 29 significant decision points across 391.4 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 11.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles: 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.

Between Huntington Beach, CA and Fremont, CA, road signs point toward Santa Ana, Los Angeles, Hollister and San Jose.

Santa Ana

23.1 mi in | ~32m

Los Angeles

23.8 mi in | ~33m

Hollister

303.1 mi in | ~5h 41m

San Jose

303.1 mi in | ~5h 41m

About the Cities

Starting in Huntington Beach, CA

Full guide →

Huntington Beach is in Orange County in Southern California. Huntington Beach is world-famous as "Surf City", from the 1960s Jan and Dean surf rock song of the same name, and much of surfing culture started and continues to evolve there, from surfing styles to surfing apparel companies that started there.

Top landmarks

  • • Huntington Beach Municipal Pier
  • • International Surfing Museum — museum in California

Arriving 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

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 7h 28m. Total distance: 391.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 28m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 182.5 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Fremont, 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 11.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 15.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fremont, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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