Origin
Madera, CA
Late night in Madera on Tuesday
Local time
3:09 AM
PDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madera, CA to Oakland, 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
3h
Distance
152.6 mi
246 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 49m
★
6 AM
3h 0m
8 AM
3h 23m
10 AM
3h 8m
12 PM
3h 6m
3 PM
3h 9m
5 PM
3h 22m
8 PM
2h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madera, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Oakland, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 152.6-mile drive from Madera, CA to Oakland, CA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours to complete. You'll spend most of your time on major freeways, with 98% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $35, and with only one recommended stop, it's a straightforward journey. This drive focuses heavily on highway travel, making it an efficient option for getting between these two Pacific Coast locations. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a direct and uncomplicated trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.3 miles from Madera, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northbound California State Route 99 | 74.7 mi | 1h 27m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.7 mi | 34m |
| Robert T. Monagan Freeway | 13.9 mi | 15m |
| CA 99 | 11.2 mi | 12m |
| Nimitz Freeway | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| CA 120 | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| Castro Valley Freeway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Westside Freeway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Northbound California State Route 99
— 74.7 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madera, CA and Oakland, CA.
1
Start on North Gateway Drive
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Gateway Drive
2
Turn left onto West 4th Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
West 4th Street
3
Turn right onto North H Street
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
North H Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
5
Merge onto CA 99
11 mi
·
12 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99
75 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
Northbound California State Route 99
Toward CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 120 West: Manteca, San Francisco
8
Merge onto CA 120
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
CA 120
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 5
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Westside Freeway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
11
Continue on I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 238
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Castro Valley Freeway
Exit 34
Toward I 238
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 880 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 880
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 41A
Toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Oak Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
12th Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto Harrison Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Harrison Street
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto 14th Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
14th Street
21
Arrive at destination
14th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing for flexibility with your departure time. Consider an early morning start to bypass potential traffic as you approach Oakland. The longest uninterrupted stretch is almost 75 miles on Northbound California State Route 99, so plan your stop beforehand if you prefer more frequent breaks. With a fuel cost estimate of $35, it's a budget-friendly drive. A practical tip is to check real-time traffic conditions before you leave, especially for the final approach into the Bay Area, as this can significantly impact your travel time.
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 76.3 miles from Madera, CA, or about 1h 29m 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 34 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.3 miles or 1h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakland, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Madera, 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 Madera, CA
This is one driving day of about 152.6 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Madera, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
76 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 76.3 miles from Madera, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Northbound California State Route 99 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.7 miles.
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 185 decision points cluster between mile 11.9 and 152.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
11.9 mi into trip
|
~14m 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
138.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 42m in
|
I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway toward I 238
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 34
Toward I 238
7
141.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 880 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 880 North
8
151.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 56m in
Take the exit toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
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 41A
Toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
7
152.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 58m in
|
Harrison Street
Turn right onto Harrison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.07 one way
$70.15 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $36.14 | $72.29 |
| premium | $6.18 | $37.11 | $74.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.69 | $67.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.8 | 0 | $16.02 | $7.32 |
| Efficient EV | 38.2 | 0 | $13.35 | $6.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61 | 0 | $21.36 | $9.77 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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
Oakland, CA
Late night in Oakland on Tuesday
Local time
3:09 AM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Sunny
W 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 2:09PM PDT until April 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 2:09PM PDT until April 16 at 7:00AM PDT by NWS Reno NV
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
11 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
3h on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 152.6
Park Closure: Hyde Street Pier Closure
Caution: Sick Birds and Wildlife, H5N1
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 152.6
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
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...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 152.6
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument
National Monument
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,...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
$15
near mile 152.6
View on nps.gov
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 152.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this trip, with 98% of the route on freeways. You'll be navigating on Northbound California State Route 99 for a significant portion, including the longest stretch of 74.7 miles without a major road change. This section is primarily on the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway and the Robert T. Monagan Freeway. The character of the drive is consistent, offering a fast-paced journey with minimal deviation from the main thoroughfares, suitable for covering distance efficiently.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 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 Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.9 miles in near CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99.
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 18 significant decision points across 152.6 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 11.9 miles (CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.9 miles (I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Madera, CA to Oakland, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco along the way.
San Francisco
86.5 mi in
|
~1h 41m
About the Cities
Starting in Madera, CA
Full guide →Madera is a city in Madera County in California's San Joaquin Valley.
Arriving in Oakland, CA
Full guide →Founded 1852
Oakland is a port city in the Bay Area of California in the United States. Once an industrial area overshadowed by San Francisco, its larger neighbor to the west, this city of 440,000 people (2020) has begun to step out from under San Francisco's shadow with its notable natural and architectural features and its rise as the multicultural "hipster" city of the Bay Area.
Top landmarks
- • San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge — suspension bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland, California, USA
- • Lake Merritt — lagoon in Oakland, California, USA
- • Oakland Museum of California — art museum in Oakland, 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 3h. Total distance: 152.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). 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.
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 Oakland, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.9 miles (CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.9 miles (I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Oakland, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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