This 295.9-mile drive from Maricopa, CA to San Francisco, CA will take approximately 5 hours and 34 minutes. It's a manageable single-day trip, and you can expect the majority of your journey to be on major freeways, making it a straightforward commute. With an estimated fuel cost of $68, this route is an efficient way to travel between the Pacific Coast regions of California. The drive is primarily highway-focused, so plan for consistent travel speeds. You'll spend most of your time on the Westside Freeway, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, and William Elton Brown Freeway.
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
147.9 miles from Maricopa, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
199.1 mi
3h 33m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.6 mi
34m
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi
18m
Taft Highway
16.7 mi
23m
MacArthur Freeway
15.5 mi
17m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6 mi
9m
West Side Highway
5.7 mi
7m
Enos Lane
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 199.1 mi, about 3h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maricopa, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on CA 33
0.4 mi·47 sec·California Street
2
Continue on CA 33
5.7 mi·7 min·West Side Highway
3
Continue on CA 119
17 mi·23 min·Taft Highway
4
Enter roundabout onto CA 43
310 ft·4 sec·Enos Lane
5
Continue on CA 43
1.9 mi·2 min·Enos Lane
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
7
Merge onto I 5
199 mi·3 hr 33 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi·17 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi·1 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
10
Merge onto I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi·13 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
7.2 mi·8 min·MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 19AToward I 80 West: San Francisco
15
Merge onto I 80
0.2 mi·17 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Toward I 80 West: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi·33 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
18
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi·1 min·Route 80
Exit 2AUse the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi·32 sec·Route 80
Exit 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 1BToward US 101 North: Golden Gate BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi·25 sec·Central Freeway
23
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi·42 sec·Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434BToward Octavia Boulevard, Fell StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Market Street
Use the right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
26
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 34-minute duration, leaving Maricopa in the morning is recommended to reach San Francisco with daylight. You'll have one major stretch of 199.1 miles without needing to exit, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before embarking on that segment. The fuel cost is estimated at $68, so ensure your tank is sufficiently filled. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but be mindful of potential traffic as you approach the San Francisco Bay Area. A specific tip: monitor real-time traffic conditions as you approach your destination, as freeway speeds can significantly decrease during peak hours.
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 147.9 miles from Maricopa, CA, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 199.1 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 65 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.9 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 28m
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 Maricopa, 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 Maricopa, CA
This is one driving day of about 295.9 miles and 5h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Maricopa, 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 Westside Freeway for about 199.1 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 224 and 294.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
224 mi into trip|~4h 8m in|I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
6
259 mi into trip|~4h 47m in|I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
270.6 mi into trip|~5h 1m 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
6
278.9 mi into trip|~5h 10m in|I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
294.5 mi into trip|~5h 31m 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
$68.01 one way
$136.02 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$70.08
$140.17
premium
$6.18
$71.96
$143.92
diesel
$5.61
$65.33
$130.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$68
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.8
1
$31.07
$14.20
Efficient EV
74
0
$25.89
$11.84
EV Truck/SUV
118.4
1
$41.43
$18.94
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Maricopa, CA
Afternoon
in Maricopa on Sunday
Local time
2:58 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Afternoon
in San Francisco on Sunday
Local time
2:58 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
WSW 2 mph0% chanceLive 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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 34m 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.
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 295.9
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 285.7
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 295.9
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,...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
$15
near mile 295.9
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 285.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 89% of this 295.9-mile route. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 199.1 miles, primarily on the Westside Freeway. This means you'll be on fast-paced, multi-lane roads for the bulk of your journey. While the roads are predominantly high-speed freeways, the transition between them as you progress toward San Francisco offers a consistent driving rhythm. This route offers a direct and efficient passage, prioritizing miles covered over winding scenic detours.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 199.1 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway 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 224 miles in near I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway.
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 19 significant decision points across 295.9 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 224 miles (I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 259 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 270.6 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 5h 34m. Total distance: 295.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 199.1 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 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 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 224 miles (I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 259 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 270.6 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at San Francisco, CA before the return drive.
