Trip from Oakland, CA to Hidden Meadows, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 56m
Distance
477.5 mi
768 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$117
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oakland, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Hidden Meadows, CA
Robert So
Trip Overview
Oakland, CA to Hidden Meadows, CA is 477.5 miles and takes about 8h 56m via Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, and Foothill Freeway, with a fuel budget near $105 and an overnight recommendation. This route stays within California, starting in the Pacific Coast region and ending in the same area. It's a primarily highway drive, making it efficient for covering distance. Consider breaking this up over two days to make the most of the drive and arrive refreshed.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
238.7 miles from Oakland, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 22m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 224.4 mi | 4h |
| I 5 Truck | 58.4 mi | 1h 6m |
| Foothill Freeway | 44 mi | 50m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 30.2 mi | 34m |
| Avocado Highway | 19.3 mi | 20m |
| Temecula Valley Freeway | 19.1 mi | 20m |
| Corona Freeway | 18.3 mi | 21m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 162 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,824 veh/hr typical · worst 2,650
Quietest
2 AM
~367 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 89 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 Hidden Meadows, CA.
Start on 14th Street
Turn right onto Harrison Street
Turn left onto 11th Street
Turn right onto Madison Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 880
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 238
Continue on I 580
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Take the exit
Continue on I 210
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
Take the exit
Continue on CA 57
Take the exit
Continue on CA 71
Continue on CA 71
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto CA 91
Take the exit onto Corona Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto Corona Freeway
Merge onto I 15
Continue on I 15
Merge onto I 15
Continue on I 15
Take the exit
Turn left onto S12
Continue on Mountain Meadow Road
Turn left onto Mountain Meadow Road
Turn left onto Boulder Knolls Drive
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 56m estimated drive time, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended. Aim to leave early on your first day to cover a significant portion of the miles, perhaps around 200-250 miles. Plan for one overnight stop to rest. Keep an eye on fuel, as the estimated cost is $105, and be aware that the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 200 miles, so ensure you're fueled up before embarking on that segment.
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.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 105 miles or 1h 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 238.7 miles or 4h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 238.7 miles or 4h 22m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hidden Meadows, 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Oakland, CA
Aim for roughly 239 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Hidden Meadows, CA
Aim for roughly 239 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
239 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Los Angeles, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
239 mi · about 4.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Los Angeles, CA after about 239 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
A short stop after about 105 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 238.7 miles from Oakland, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 224.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 239 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Dos Amigos Vista Point
John "Chuck" Erreca Southbound Rest Area
EZ Trip Travel Center
Castaic Truck Stop
John "Chuck" Erreca Northbound Rest Area
Buttonwillow Rest Area
Buttonwillow Rest Area
Service Plaza
Love's Travel Stop
Service Plaza
Coalinga Avenal Safety Roadside Rest Area - Northbound
Love's Travel Stop
EZ Trip Travel Center
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Southbound
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Northbound
Pilot Travel Center
Westley Rest Area
Westley Rest Area
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Northbound
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Southbound
Service Plaza
Petro Stopping Centers
TA
Service Plaza
TA
Lost Hills Travel Center
Pilot Travel Center
Service Plaza
Alameda County Industries
TA
Flying J Travel Center
Service Plaza
Rest Area
Rest Area
Petro Stopping Centers
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 325 decision points cluster between mile 10.9 and 474.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 238: Castro Valley, Stockton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 238: Stockton Fresno
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto Corona Freeway toward I 15 North, I 15 South: Barstow, San Diego
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Deer Springs Road, Mountain Meadow Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$116.86 one way
$233.71 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.40 | $120.33 | $240.67 |
| premium | $6.57 | $123.44 | $246.87 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $116.16 | $232.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$117
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$247–$357
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 167.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $50 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 143.3 | 1 | $50.14 | $22.92 |
| Efficient EV | 119.4 | 1 | $41.78 | $19.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 191 | 2 | $66.85 | $30.56 |
Gas CO2
167 kg
EV CO2
56 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.
Origin
Oakland, CA
Late night in Oakland on Monday
Local time
2:20 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:59AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 17 at 7:32PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Hidden Meadows, CA
Late night in Hidden Meadows on Monday
Local time
2:20 AM
PDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Clear
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:59AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 17 at 7:32PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
6 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
8h 56m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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...
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...
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...
Muir Woods National Monument
National Monument
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,...
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 94% of the route on major freeways. You'll experience a long stretch of 224.4 miles on the Westside Freeway before transitioning to other major roads. Expect a consistent highway pace for most of the trip, with the road transitioning to surface streets as you approach your destination.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.9 miles in.
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 32 significant decision points across 477.5 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 10.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 369.8 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
Total Climb
4,741 ft
Total Descent
3,289 ft
Highest Point
3,329 ft
~306.9 mi in
Elevation Range
3,286 ft
Notable High Points
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Oakland, CA and Hidden Meadows, CA, road signs point toward Ventura and San Diego.
Ventura
San Diego
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, United States
- • Oakland Museum of California — art museum in Oakland, California
Arriving in Hidden Meadows, CA
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
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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