Trip from Oakland, CA to Dunsmuir, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 53m

Distance

260.7 mi

419 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$64

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 40m ★

6 AM

4h 54m

8 AM

5h 21m

10 AM

5h 3m

12 PM

5h 0m

3 PM

5h 4m

5 PM

5h 19m

8 PM

4h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

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city and county seat of Alameda County, California, United States

Oakland, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Dunsmuir, CA

Robert So

Trip Overview

Oakland, CA to Dunsmuir, CA is 260.7 miles and takes about 4h 53m via I 505, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within California, starting in the Pacific Coast region and ending in the same region. It's primarily a highway drive, making it straightforward for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, so expect a predictable pace. This route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to travel north through the state.

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

130.3 miles from Oakland, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 505	208.3 mi	3h 47m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	27.6 mi	31m
Eastshore Freeway	14.3 mi	16m
Linus F. Claeys Freeway	3.5 mi	3m
MacArthur Freeway	1.7 mi	2m
Dunsmuir Avenue	1.1 mi	1m
Carquinez Bridge	1 mi	1m
14th Street	0.4 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 505 — 208.3 mi, about 3h 47m

Traffic on I-5

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 168 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~1,484 veh/hr typical · worst 1,843

Quietest

2 AM

~141 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

10.5×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 96 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oakland, CA and Dunsmuir, CA.

Start on 14th Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · 14th Street

Turn right onto Castro Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Castro Street

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Toward I 980 East, CA 24: Walnut Creek, San Francisco, Hayward

Merge onto I 980

0.4 mi · 25 sec · John B. Williams Freeway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Toward I 580: San Francisco, Hayward Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 580 West: San Francisco, MacArthur Freeway Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 580

1.7 mi · 2 min · MacArthur Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 80; I 580

3.3 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

7.4 mi · 8 min · Eastshore Freeway

Toward I 80 East: Vallejo, Sacramento Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 80

3.2 mi · 3 min · Eastshore Freeway

Exit 21 Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Continue on I 80

3.5 mi · 3 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 80

0.3 mi · 26 sec · Eastshore Freeway

Continue on I 80

1.0 mi · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge

Continue on I 80

14 mi · 16 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

13 mi · 15 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 19 sec

Toward I 505 North: Winters, Redding Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 505 North: Winters, Redding Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 505

208 mi · 3 hr 47 min · I 505

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Exit 729 Toward I 5 Business: Dunsmuir

Continue on I 5 BUS; US 99 Hist

1.1 mi · 1 min · Dunsmuir Avenue

Turn right onto Branstetter Street

500 ft · 28 sec · Branstetter Street

At end of road, turn left onto Sacramento Avenue

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Sacramento Avenue

Arrive at destination

Sacramento Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the 4h 53m estimated drive time, leaving Oakland in the morning allows ample time to reach Dunsmuir before evening. With only one recommended stop and a mostly highway profile, this is a comfortable one-day trip. Plan your fuel stops strategically, as the total fuel cost is estimated at $56. The longest stretch without a change in major highway is 208.3 miles on I 505, so ensure your tank is full before embarking on that segment. This route offers flexibility due to its manageable duration, so you can adjust your departure time as needed.

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 130.3 miles from Oakland, CA, or about 2h 29m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 208.3 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 57 miles or 1h 9m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 130.3 miles or 2h 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 4h

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dunsmuir, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Oakland, 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 Oakland, CA

This is one driving day of about 260.7 miles and 4h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Oakland, 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 I 505 for about 208.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Orland, CA

130 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

Davis, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Red Bluff, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 130.3 miles from Oakland, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

0.3 mi from route

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 50.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

1.2 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the exit toward I 580: San Francisco, Hayward

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 580: San Francisco, Hayward

1.5 mi into trip | ~3m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 580 West: San Francisco, MacArthur Freeway

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 West: San Francisco, MacArthur Fre...

7.1 mi into trip | ~11m in | I 80 / Eastshore Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 / Eastshore Freeway toward I 80 East: Vallejo, Sacramento

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 80 East: Vallejo, Sacramento

50.1 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in

Take the exit toward I 505 North: Winters, Redding

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. Toward I 505 North: Winters, Redding

50.2 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 505 North: Winters, Redding

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 505 North: Winters, Redding

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$63.80 one way

$127.60 round trip

$6.22/gal 25.4 MPG avg 91 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.40	$65.70	$131.40
premium	$6.57	$67.39	$134.78
diesel	$6.18	$63.42	$126.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$64

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$89–$114

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 91.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	78.2	0	$27.37	$12.51
Efficient EV	65.2	0	$22.81	$10.43
EV Truck/SUV	104.3	1	$36.50	$16.68

Gas CO2

91 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (66% 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 Oct 16, 2026

Origin

Oakland, CA

Late night in Oakland on Saturday

Local time

4:50 AM

PDT

Current temp

59°F

Clear

E 2 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 2:31AM PDT until October 16 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 2:15AM PDT until October 16 at 10:00AM PDT by NWS Sacramento CA

Destination

Dunsmuir, CA

Late night in Dunsmuir on Saturday

Local time

4:50 AM

PDT

Current temp

50°F

Clear

NE 5 to 8 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 2:31AM PDT until October 16 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 2:15AM PDT until October 16 at 10:00AM PDT by NWS Sacramento 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

9 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

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...

16 mi from route ~40 min detour Free near mile 9

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is predominantly on highways, with 88% of the total distance covered by them. You'll experience a long stretch of 208.3 miles on I 505 before transitioning to other roads. Expect to encounter dense exit traffic as you merge onto and off of the main interstates. The majority of your time will be spent on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and the Eastshore Freeway, indicating a consistent, high-speed cruising experience for most of the trip.

88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 208.3 mi on I 505.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 505 and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 14 significant decision points across 260.7 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 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles (I 80 / Eastshore Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,289 ft 35 ft

Total Climb

2,325 ft

Total Descent

78 ft

Highest Point

2,289 ft

~260.7 mi in

Elevation Range

2,255 ft

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 Oakland, CA to Dunsmuir, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Redding along the way.

Redding

50.1 mi in | ~1h 1m

About the Cities

Starting 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

Arriving in Dunsmuir, CA

Full guide →

Dunsmuir is a city in the Shasta Cascades region of 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 4h 53m. Total distance: 260.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 208.3 miles on I 505. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 22 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 Dunsmuir, 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 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Dunsmuir, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Oakland, CA to Dunsmuir, CA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-5

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Hunter Hill Rest Area

Dunnigan Rest Area

O'Brien Rest Area

Dunnigan Rest Area

Maxwell Rest Area Southbound

LT. John C. Helmick Rest Area

LT. John C. Helmick Rest Area

Herbert S. Miles Rest Area

Herbert S. Miles Rest Area

Lakehead Rest Area

TA

TA

Pilot Travel Center

Maxwell Rest Area Northbound

Willows Rest Area Southbound

Willows Rest Area Northbound

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Maverik

Service Plaza

Petro Stopping Centers

Love's Travel Stop

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Oakland, CA

Dunsmuir, CA

Same local time

9 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 53m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Muir Woods National Monument

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Oakland, CA

Arriving in Dunsmuir, CA

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Dunsmuir, CA

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