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Trip from Oakland, CA to Plymouth, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 32m

Distance

119.5 mi

192 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 23m ★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 40m
12 PM
2h 38m
3 PM
2h 41m
5 PM
2h 52m
8 PM
2h 27m

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

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

Oakland, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Plymouth, CA, CA

Plymouth, CA

Ajdin Coric

Trip Overview

Oakland, CA to Plymouth, CA is 119.5 miles and takes about 2h 32m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and CA 16, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California's Pacific Coast region, offering a mixed driving experience that's manageable for a single day trip. You'll encounter a blend of freeway speeds and more local road conditions, making it a practical choice for a quick excursion without needing an overnight stay. Plan for this trip to be a straightforward journey, suitable for those looking for a relatively short drive with a predictable route.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

59.7 miles from Oakland, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 50.2 mi 58m
CA 16 22.6 mi 33m
Eastshore Freeway 14.3 mi 16m
Jackson Road 8.1 mi 12m
Capital City Freeway 5.3 mi 5m
El Dorado Freeway 3.8 mi 4m
Yolo Causeway 3.7 mi 4m
Linus F. Claeys Freeway 3.5 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway — 50.2 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oakland, CA and Plymouth, 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, Hayward Use the slight right lane.
6

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.
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, Sacramento Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 80

3.2 mi · 3 min · Eastshore Freeway
Exit 21 Use 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

27 mi · 31 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

8.4 mi · 9 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on I 80

3.7 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto US 50; I 80 Business

5.3 mi · 5 min · Capital City Freeway
Exit 82 Toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork onto US 50

3.8 mi · 4 min · El Dorado Freeway
Exit 6A Toward US 50 East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 9 Toward CA 16 East: Howe Avenue, Power Inn Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Toward CA 16: Howe Avenue, Power Inn Road Use the straight / right lanes.
22

Keep slight right at fork

215 ft · 5 sec
Toward CA 16 East: Jackson, Power Inn Road Use the right lane.
23

Turn straight onto CA 16

0.2 mi · 14 sec · Howe Avenue
24

Turn left onto CA 16

0.6 mi · 52 sec · Folsom Boulevard
Use the left lane.
25

Turn slight right onto CA 16

23 mi · 33 min · CA 16
Use the left / straight lanes.
26

Continue on CA 16

8.1 mi · 12 min · Jackson Road
27

Continue on CA 49

2.4 mi · 3 min · CA 49
28

Enter roundabout onto CA 49

97 ft · 1 sec · CA 49
29

Arrive at destination

CA 49

Trip Plan

Given the 2h 32m duration, this is an ideal one-day trip, so aim to depart in the morning to maximize your time at your destination. The fuel cost is estimated at $27, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Oakland. While there's only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the longest stretch of 50.2 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway with a brief rest. Pay attention to the transition from freeway driving to CA 16, as road conditions and speed limits will change. Having flexibility with this shorter drive means you can adjust your departure time or stop locations 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 59.7 miles from Oakland, CA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.2 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 26 miles or 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 59.7 miles or 1h 12m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Plymouth, 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 119.5 miles and 2h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 50.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Napa County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Napa, CA

60 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

Vallejo, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Davis, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 59.7 miles from Oakland, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 85.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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
9
76.3 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in | US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 82 Toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe
9
85.6 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in

Keep slight left at fork toward CA 16: Howe Avenue, Power Inn Road

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

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward CA 16: Howe Avenue, Power Inn Road
9
85.7 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in

Keep slight right at fork toward CA 16 East: Jackson, Power Inn Road

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

Use the right lane. Toward CA 16 East: Jackson, Power Inn Road

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$27.47 one way

$54.93 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $28.30 $56.61
premium $6.18 $29.06 $58.12
diesel $5.61 $26.38 $52.77

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 41.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 35.9 0 $12.55 $5.74
Efficient EV 29.9 0 $10.46 $4.78
EV Truck/SUV 47.8 0 $16.73 $7.65

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (67% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Oakland, CA

Late night in Oakland on Sunday

Local time

1:00 AM

PDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Plymouth, CA

Late night in Plymouth on Sunday

Local time

1:00 AM

PDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live 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

1 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

2h 32m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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

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...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 8.2
View on nps.gov
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

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...

7 mi from route ~18 min detour Free near mile 4.1
View on nps.gov
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

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...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free near mile 24.7
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument

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,...

14 mi from route ~36 min detour $15 near mile 12.4
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area

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 8.2
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

This 119.5-mile route features a 45% highway share, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your time on faster roads like the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and Eastshore Freeway before transitioning to CA 16. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 50.2 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, offering a solid period of consistent driving. Expect the character of the drive to shift as you move from the expansive freeway environment to the more winding and potentially slower conditions of CA 16. This mixed profile provides a dynamic driving experience, moving from open highway to more localized travel.

45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.2 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

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 1.5 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 18 significant decision points across 119.5 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 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; at 76.3 miles (US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Plymouth, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento and Lake Tahoe.

Sacramento

7.1 mi in | ~11m | via I 80

Lake Tahoe

76.3 mi in | ~1h 31m | via US 50; I 80 Business

About the Cities

Starting in Oakland, CA

Full guide →

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.

Arriving in Plymouth, CA

Full guide →

Plymouth is a small town in Amador County, within the Gold Country 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 2h 32m. Total distance: 119.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (45%). 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 50.2 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Plymouth, 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 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; at 76.3 miles (US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City 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 Plymouth, CA before heading back.

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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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