North Highlands, CA to Oakland, CA is 91.8 miles and takes about 1h 53m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California, traversing the Pacific Coast region. Expect a mix of freeway cruising and surface roads as you head south. With a duration under two hours, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, making it a convenient option for a quick travel day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.9 miles from North Highlands, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.1 mi
58m
Eastshore Freeway
14.7 mi
17m
North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
12.1 mi
13m
Yolo Causeway
3.9 mi
4m
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.4 mi
3m
Watt Avenue
2.1 mi
4m
San Pablo Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Carquinez Bridge
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 50.1 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Highlands, CA and Oakland, CA.
1
Start on La Cienega Drive
0.2 mi·46 sec·La Cienega Drive
2
Turn right onto Don Julio Boulevard
0.9 mi·1 min·Don Julio Boulevard
3
Turn left onto Watt Avenue
2.1 mi·4 min·Watt Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 West: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 80
12 mi·13 min·North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 80
3.9 mi·4 min·Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 80
50 mi·58 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi·1 min·Carquinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Eastshore Freeway
10
Continue on I 80
3.4 mi·3 min·Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 80
14 mi·16 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
0.3 mi·21 sec·Interstate Highway 80
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San JoseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
0.5 mi·42 sec·MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, StocktonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·13 sec
Exit 19AToward MacArthur Boulevard, San Pablo Avenue, Emery StreetUse the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward San Pablo Avenue, Emery StreetUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto Watts Street
216 ft·11 sec·Watts Street
17
Turn right onto Peralta Street
182 ft·11 sec·Peralta Street
18
Turn left onto 35th Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·35th Street
19
Turn right onto San Pablo Avenue
1.1 mi·2 min·San Pablo Avenue
20
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Junior Way
0.3 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Junior Way
21
Turn left onto 14th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·14th Street
22
Arrive at destination
14th Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of this 1h 53m drive, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving mid-morning can help you avoid the worst of rush hour traffic in both the Sacramento and Bay Areas. The total fuel cost is estimated at $21, so plan accordingly. Since there are no recommended stops and the drive is less than 100 miles, you can easily complete this trip in one day, stopping only for fuel or a quick break as needed.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.9 miles from North Highlands, CA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.1 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 20 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.9 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 31m
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 North Highlands, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North Highlands, CA
This is one driving day of about 91.8 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from North Highlands, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 50.1 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 89.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.1 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 West: San Francisco
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
8
88.7 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|I 580 / Interstate Highway 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / Interstate Highway 80 toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oaklan...
8
89 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton
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: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockt...
8
89.5 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward MacArthur Boulevard, San Pablo Avenue, Emery Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 19A
Toward MacArthur Boulevard, San Pablo Avenue, E...
9
89.7 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Keep slight right at fork toward San Pablo Avenue, Emery Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward San Pablo Avenue, Emery Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.10 one way
$42.20 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$21.74
$43.49
premium
$6.18
$22.32
$44.65
diesel
$5.61
$20.27
$40.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.5
0
$9.64
$4.41
Efficient EV
23
0
$8.03
$3.67
EV Truck/SUV
36.7
0
$12.85
$5.88
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
North Highlands, CA
Late night
in North Highlands on Tuesday
Local time
3:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Oakland, CA
Late night
in Oakland on Tuesday
Local time
3:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
W 3 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
20 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
1h 53m 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.
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...
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 88.7
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 69.7
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,...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
$15
near mile 82.3
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 82.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 34% of this 91.8-mile route involves freeway driving. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 50.1 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The profile is mixed highway and surface roads, meaning you'll transition from faster-paced driving to more local routes. Be prepared for frequent exits and potential merging traffic as you approach urban areas.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.1 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
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 3.1 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.8 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 88.7 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 1h 53m. Total distance: 91.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.1 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 88.7 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Oakland, CA before heading back.
