Oakland to Lewiston is 243.6 miles and takes about 4h 37m via I 505, with a fuel budget near $53 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. The drive is primarily on highways, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. You'll find it a practical way to cover ground efficiently between these two points.
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
121.8 miles from Oakland, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 505
157.7 mi
2h 49m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27.6 mi
31m
Eureka Way
25 mi
29m
Eastshore Freeway
14.3 mi
16m
Trinity Dam Boulevard
4.6 mi
8m
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.5 mi
3m
CA 299
2.6 mi
2m
MacArthur Freeway
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 505
— 157.7 mi, about 2h 49m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 50 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,100 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,002
Quietest
3 AM
~671 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 28 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 Lewiston, CA.
1
Start on 14th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·14th Street
2
Turn right onto Castro Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·Castro Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 980 East, CA 24: Walnut Creek, San Francisco, Hayward
4
Merge onto I 980
0.4 mi·25 sec·John B. Williams Freeway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 580: San Francisco, HaywardUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 580 West: San Francisco, MacArthur FreewayUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 580
1.7 mi·2 min·MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 80; I 580
3.3 mi·4 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
7.4 mi·8 min·Eastshore Freeway
Toward I 80 East: Vallejo, SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 80
3.2 mi·3 min·Eastshore Freeway
Exit 21Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Continue on I 80
3.5 mi·3 min·Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·26 sec·Eastshore Freeway
13
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi·1 min·Carquinez Bridge
14
Continue on I 80
14 mi·16 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
13 mi·15 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward I 505 North: Winters, ReddingUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 505 North: Winters, ReddingUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 505
158 mi·2 hr 49 min·I 505
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 678Toward CA 44: Eureka, Susanville
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 678Toward CA 44 West: Eureka, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
21
Merge onto CA 44
1.2 mi·1 min·CA 44
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn right onto CA 44; CA 273; US 99 Hist
489 ft·17 sec·Pine Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto CA 44; CA 273; US 99 Hist
25 mi·29 min·Eureka Way
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on CA 299
2.6 mi·2 min·CA 299
25
Turn right onto CR 105
4.6 mi·8 min·Trinity Dam Boulevard
26
Turn left onto CR 212
0.5 mi·1 min·Lewiston Turnpike Road
27
Arrive at destination
CR 212
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 37m estimated drive time, leaving Oakland in the morning allows ample time to reach Lewiston before dark. There's only one recommended stop, so you can decide on the fly whether to take a break or push through. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 157.7-mile stretch on I 505, as services can be spread out. The relatively short duration means you have flexibility with your departure time and stop pacing.
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 121.8 miles from Oakland, CA, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 157.7 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 54 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.8 miles or 2h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewiston, 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 243.6 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 157.7 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 18
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.
7
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
8
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...
8
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
7
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
8
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
$33.09 one way
$66.17 round trip
$3.45/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.85
$36.92
$73.85
premium
$4.15
$39.80
$79.60
diesel
$3.75
$35.96
$71.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.1
0
$25.58
$11.69
Efficient EV
60.9
0
$21.32
$9.74
EV Truck/SUV
97.4
1
$34.10
$15.59
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
29 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 17, 2026
Origin
Oakland, CA
Late night
in Oakland on Saturday
Local time
5:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
60°F
Clear
NNW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 7:50PM PDT until October 17 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 7:50PM PDT until October 17 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Lewiston, CA
Late night
in Lewiston on Saturday
Local time
5:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
ENE 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 7:50PM PDT until October 17 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 7:50PM PDT until October 17 at 2:00PM 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.
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
15 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
4h 37m 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.
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...
Whiskeytown Lake’s crystal-clear waters are iconic, but this 42,000-acre National Recreation Area offers much more. Explore waterfalls, hike rugged trails, uncover Gold Rush history, and witness the r...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
$15
near mile 226.8
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...
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
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 25.2
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,...
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 8.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 75% of this 243.6-mile drive is on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on I 505 covering 157.7 miles. You'll experience mostly highway cruising before transitioning to surface roads later in the trip. Expect a fairly open road feel for the majority of your travel time.
75% 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: 157.7 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 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 18 significant decision points across 243.6 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
1,824 ft32 ft
Total Climb
1,923 ft
Total Descent
142 ft
Highest Point
1,824 ft
~243.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,792 ft
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 Lewiston, CA, road signs point toward Redding, Susanville and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.
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 4h 37m. Total distance: 243.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 157.7 miles on I 505. 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 Lewiston, 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 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.
Yes — Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Lewiston, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
