Mammoth Lakes to Oakland is 247.5 miles and takes about 5h 59m via Tioga Road and Highway 120, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route takes you across California, starting in the Pacific Coast region and ending in the same area. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you make your way west. Given the relatively short drive time, it's feasible to complete in a single day, offering flexibility for your schedule.
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
123.8 miles from Mammoth Lakes, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tioga Road
58.6 mi
1h 42m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.7 mi
34m
Highway 120
25.5 mi
38m
CA 108
25 mi
34m
US 395
24.7 mi
28m
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
13.9 mi
15m
New Priest Grade Road
13.3 mi
16m
Yosemite Avenue
10.8 mi
16m
Longest stretch:
Tioga Road
— 58.6 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mammoth Lakes, CA and Oakland, CA.
1
Start on this road
296 ft·27 sec·this road
2
Turn left
229 ft·21 sec
3
Turn left onto CA 203
3.3 mi·5 min·Main Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·20 sec
5
Merge onto US 395
25 mi·28 min·US 395
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto CA 120
59 mi·1 hr 42 min·Tioga Road
Use the left lane.
7
At end of road, turn right onto Big Oak Flat Road
8.4 mi·17 min·Big Oak Flat Road
8
Continue on CA 120
26 mi·38 min·Highway 120
9
Continue on CA 120
0.8 mi·1 min·New Priest Grade Road
10
Turn slight left onto Old Priest Grade
1.9 mi·5 min·Old Priest Grade
11
At end of road, turn left onto CA 120
13 mi·15 min·New Priest Grade Road
12
Continue on CA 108; CA 120
25 mi·34 min·CA 108; CA 120
13
Turn right onto CA 120; J9; J14
0.9 mi·2 min·North Yosemite Avenue
14
Continue on CA 120; J9; J14
0.9 mi·1 min·Valley Home Road
15
Continue on CA 120; J9
7.1 mi·10 min·Lon Dale Road
16
Continue on CA 120
0.2 mi·30 sec·California Street
17
Continue on CA 120; J7
11 mi·16 min·Yosemite Avenue
18
Turn left onto CA 120
0.5 mi·51 sec·CA 120
Use the left lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 120
7.4 mi·8 min·CA 120
Toward CA 120 West: Manteca, San FranciscoUse the right lane.
20
Merge onto I 5
1.2 mi·1 min·Westside Freeway
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205
14 mi·15 min·Robert T. Monagan Freeway
22
Continue on I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi·13 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 238
2.4 mi·2 min·Castro Valley Freeway
Exit 34Toward I 238Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 880 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto I 880
9.8 mi·11 min·Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 41AToward Oak Street, Lakeside DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Oak Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·12th Street
Use the straight lane.
30
Turn right onto Harrison Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·Harrison Street
Use the right lane.
31
Turn left onto 14th Street
0.2 mi·48 sec·14th Street
32
Arrive at destination
14th Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, consider leaving Mammoth Lakes in the morning to allow ample time for the drive and potential brief stops. With only one recommended stop, you can be quite flexible with your pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before departing Mammoth Lakes, as services can be more spread out in the earlier parts of the route. The fuel cost estimate of $56 should help you budget accordingly. Because it's a single-day trip, you can easily adjust your departure time based on weather or personal preference.
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 123.8 miles from Mammoth Lakes, CA, or about 3h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.6 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 54 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.8 miles or 3h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 6m
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 Mammoth Lakes, 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 Mammoth Lakes, CA
This is one driving day of about 247.5 miles and 5h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Mammoth Lakes, 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 Tioga Road for about 58.6 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 181.6 and 247.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
181.6 mi into trip|~4h 42m in|CA 120
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 120 toward CA 120 West: Manteca, San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward CA 120 West: Manteca, San Francisco
8
233.8 mi into trip|~5h 41m 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
236.2 mi into trip|~5h 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
246.4 mi into trip|~5h 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
247.2 mi into trip|~5h 58m in|Harrison Street
Turn right onto Harrison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.78 one way
$103.56 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$53.78
$107.56
premium
$5.67
$55.20
$110.40
diesel
$4.80
$46.73
$93.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.3
0
$25.99
$11.88
Efficient EV
61.9
0
$21.66
$9.90
EV Truck/SUV
99
1
$34.65
$15.84
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% 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
Mammoth Lakes, CA
Late night
in Mammoth Lakes on Tuesday
Local time
3:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph0% 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
Oakland, CA
Late night
in Oakland on Tuesday
Local time
3:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Cloudy
SW 6 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
2 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
5h 59m 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.
Yosemite National Park
National Park
Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yose...
Established in 1911 by presidential proclamation, Devils Postpile National Monument protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the 101-foot high Rainbow Falls, and pristine mountain scenery...
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 247.5
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 247.5
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 247.5
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 247.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 57% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on freeways like the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. The longest continuous stretch without a major road change is 58.6 miles on Tioga Road. You'll transition from mountain grades on Tioga Road to more urban merging as you approach Oakland. The profile is mixed highway and surface, so be prepared for changes in road type and speed limits.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.6 mi on Tioga Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 181.6 miles in near CA 120.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 247.5 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 181.6 miles (CA 120): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 233.8 miles (I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 236.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
8,747 ft30 ft
Total Climb
1,471 ft
Total Descent
9,314 ft
Highest Point
8,747 ft
~35.4 mi in
Elevation Range
8,717 ft
Notable High Points
8,747 ft at ~35.4 miles+229 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 Mammoth Lakes, CA to Oakland, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco along the way.
Mammoth Lakes is a resort town next to Mammoth Mountain which is a popular skiing destination. Mammoth Lakes is in the Eastern Sierra region of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. In 2020, it had a permanent population of 7,200 people.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 59m. Total distance: 247.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.6 miles on Tioga Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 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. There are 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 181.6 miles (CA 120): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 233.8 miles (I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 236.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Yosemite National Park, Devils Postpile 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Oakland, CA before the return drive.
