This 343.3-mile drive from Mojave, CA, to San Francisco, CA, is designed for a single day, estimated to take about 6 hours and 28 minutes of pure driving time. With 94% of the journey on highways, it's a straightforward, highway-focused trip across California's Pacific Coast region. Expect to spend around $79 on fuel for this route. While the longest stretch without a necessary stop is a significant 192.7 miles, planning one stop will help break up the journey comfortably. This route is best suited for those prioritizing reaching their destination efficiently.
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
171.6 miles from Mojave, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
192.7 mi
3h 26m
CA 58 BUS
58.1 mi
1h 7m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.6 mi
34m
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi
18m
MacArthur Freeway
15.5 mi
17m
Stockdale Highway
8.9 mi
12m
Westside Parkway
6.6 mi
8m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 192.7 mi, about 3h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mojave, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on CA 14; CA 58 BUS; US 6 Hist
4.6 mi·6 min·Sierra Highway
2
Take the ramp onto CA 58 BUS
58 mi·1 hr 7 min·CA 58 BUS
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Continue on Westside Parkway
6.6 mi·8 min·Westside Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on Stockdale Highway
4.3 mi·5 min·Stockdale Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Enter roundabout onto CA 58
149 ft·2 sec·Stockdale Highway
6
Continue on CA 58
4.5 mi·6 min·Stockdale Highway
7
Take the exit onto CA 58
0.5 mi·1 min·CA 58
Toward I 5 North
8
Merge onto I 5; CA 58
193 mi·3 hr 26 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi·17 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi·1 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
11
Merge onto 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 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.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
7.2 mi·8 min·MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 19AToward I 80 West: San Francisco
16
Merge onto I 80
0.2 mi·17 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Toward I 80 West: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi·33 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
19
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
20
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi·1 min·Route 80
Exit 2AUse the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi·32 sec·Route 80
Exit 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 1BToward US 101 North: Golden Gate BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi·25 sec·Central Freeway
24
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi·42 sec·Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434BToward Octavia Boulevard, Fell StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Market Street
Use the right lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
27
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour 28-minute duration, departing Mojave early in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and avoid potential evening traffic as you near San Francisco. While the drive can be completed in one day, the 192.7-mile longest stretch on the Westside Freeway suggests planning at least one fuel and rest stop midway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be spaced out on longer highway segments. Your estimated fuel cost is $79, so budget accordingly. This route is efficient, so flexibility in timing your single stop is key.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 171.6 miles from Mojave, CA, or about 3h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 192.7 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 76 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 171.6 miles or 3h 15m 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 15m
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 Mojave, 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 Mojave, CA
This is one driving day of about 343.3 miles and 6h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Mojave, 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 192.7 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 4.6 and 341.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
4.6 mi into trip|~6m in|CA 58 BUS
Take the ramp onto CA 58 BUS
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
271.4 mi into trip|~5h 2m 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
306.3 mi into trip|~5h 41m 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
318 mi into trip|~5h 55m 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
8
341.8 mi into trip|~6h 25m 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
$78.90 one way
$157.81 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg120 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$81.31
$162.62
premium
$6.18
$83.49
$166.97
diesel
$5.61
$75.80
$151.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$79
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$104–$129
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
103
1
$36.05
$16.48
Efficient EV
85.8
0
$30.04
$13.73
EV Truck/SUV
137.3
1
$48.06
$21.97
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Mojave, CA
Late night
in Mojave on Tuesday
Local time
2:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Late night
in San Francisco on Tuesday
Local time
2:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Sunny
W 6 to 9 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
6h 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.
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 343.3
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 35.5
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 331.4
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 343.3
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 343.3
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
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 331.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Primarily a highway-focused drive, you'll spend most of your time on major freeways like the Westside Freeway and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. With 94% of the route on highways, expect consistent speeds and minimal traffic disruptions outside of urban areas. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 192.7 miles on the Westside Freeway, indicating long periods of steady driving. While largely a high-speed transit, be aware that the character of the drive will shift as you approach the San Francisco Bay Area, likely introducing more complex interchanges.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 192.7 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and CA 58 BUS. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in near CA 58 BUS.
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 343.3 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 4.6 miles (CA 58 BUS): Lane positioning matters here; at 271.4 miles (I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 306.3 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mojave is a city of 4,200 people (2010) in Kern County in the Desert region of California. Mojave has a rich aerospace history because of nearby Edwards Air Force Base, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, and Palmdale Regional Airport.
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 6h 28m. Total distance: 343.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 28m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 192.7 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.6 miles (CA 58 BUS): Lane positioning matters here; at 271.4 miles (I 580 / William Elton Brown Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 306.3 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, César E. Chávez National Monument and Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front 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 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 12.9 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.
