Oakland, CA to Seeley, CA is 586.2 miles and takes about 11 hours 2 minutes via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $127 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-haul drive stays within California, beginning in the Pacific Coast region and ending in the same area. Given its length and the 11-hour estimated drive time, it's best to plan for an overnight stop. This route is primarily highway driving, so pack accordingly for a straightforward but lengthy trip.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
293.1 miles from Oakland, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
224.4 mi
4h
I 5 Truck
83.3 mi
1h 36m
Kumeyaay Highway
82.9 mi
1h 29m
San Diego Freeway
62.4 mi
1h 13m
Santa Ana Freeway
35 mi
40m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
30.2 mi
34m
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi
18m
San Clemente Canyon Freeway
13.1 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 224.4 mi, about 4h
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 460 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,834 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,705
Quietest
2 AM
~535 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Seeley, CA.
1
Start on 14th Street
0.2 mi·52 sec·14th Street
2
Turn right onto Harrison Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·Harrison Street
3
Turn left onto 11th Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·11th Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto Madison Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Madison Street
5
Turn left onto 5th Street
381 ft·8 sec·5th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 880 South: San Jose
7
Merge onto I 880
9.7 mi·11 min·Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 31Toward I 238: Castro Valley, StocktonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 31Toward I 238: Stockton FresnoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 238
1.9 mi·2 min·Castro Valley Freeway
Exit 31Toward I 238: Stockton FresnoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 580
12 mi·14 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Exit 14Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
11 mi·11 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
5.9 mi·6 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
15
Merge onto I 5
224 mi·4 hr·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 5 Truck
Exit 158Toward I 405 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
25 mi·29 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
1.3 mi·1 min·Golden State Freeway
Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa AnaUse the slight left / straight lanes.
21
Merge onto I 5
26 mi·30 min·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.2 mi·16 sec·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.8 mi·57 sec
Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa AnaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·10 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·12 sec
Toward I 5 South
26
Merge onto I 5
0.8 mi·54 sec·Santa Ana Freeway
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi·52 sec·Santa Ana Freeway
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
1.2 mi·1 min·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 102Toward Newport AvenueUse the slight right lane.
30
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
0.4 mi·44 sec·Newport Avenue
Use the right lane.
31
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi·4 min·Walnut Avenue
32
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
0.5 mi·37 sec·Jamboree Road
Toward CA 261 Toll North: Jamboree Road, RiversideUse the left lane.
33
Take the exit
0.3 mi·21 sec
Toward I 5 South
34
Merge onto I 5
5.5 mi·6 min·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi·55 sec·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Merge onto I 5
62 mi·1 hr 13 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Take the exit
0.8 mi·54 sec
Exit 31
38
Continue on I 805
4.0 mi·4 min·Jacob Dekema Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Exit 23Toward CA 52: JunctionUse the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·56 sec
Toward CA 52 East: SanteeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Merge onto CA 52
13 mi·15 min·San Clemente Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 18CToward CA 67 North: RamonaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
43
Merge onto CA 67
3.0 mi·3 min·San Vicente Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Take the exit
157 ft·4 sec
Toward Mapleview Street East, Business DistrictUse the right lane.
45
Turn right onto Mapleview Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Mapleview Street
Use the right lane.
46
Continue on Lake Jennings Park Road
2.4 mi·3 min·Lake Jennings Park Road
47
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 8 East: El Centro
48
Merge onto I 8
83 mi·1 hr 29 min·Kumeyaay Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Drew Road
50
Turn left onto S29
1.2 mi·2 min·Drew Road
51
Continue on Haskell Road
0.1 mi·23 sec·Haskell Road
52
Turn left
188 ft·13 sec
53
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 586.2-mile drive, starting early is crucial to maximize daylight. With an 11-hour estimated duration, splitting the trip into two days is highly recommended, making your overnight stop around the halfway point. Plan for approximately 3 stops to break up the drive and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 224.4 miles on the Westside Freeway, as services can be spaced out on long highway segments.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 293.1 miles from Oakland, CA, or about 5h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.4 miles.
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 129 miles or 2h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 293.1 miles or 5h 21m 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 293.1 miles or 5h 21m
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 9h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seeley, 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 293 miles and 5.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Seeley, CA
Aim for roughly 293 miles and 5.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 129 miles from Oakland, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 224.4 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 48
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.9 and 406.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
10.9 mi into trip|~15m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31
Toward I 238: Castro Valley, Stockton
9
11.1 mi into trip|~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 238: Stockton Fresno
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31
Toward I 238: Stockton Fresno
8
347.2 mi into trip|~6h 23m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
8
372.2 mi into trip|~6h 52m in|I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa Ana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Stre...
8
406.6 mi into trip|~7h 35m in|Jamboree Road
Turn left onto Jamboree Road toward CA 261 Toll North: Jamboree Road, Riverside
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward CA 261 Toll North: Jamboree Road, Rivers...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$141.82 one way
$283.64 round trip
$6.15/gal25.4 MPG avg205 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.34
$146.30
$292.59
premium
$6.50
$149.92
$299.84
diesel
$6.28
$144.84
$289.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$142
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$272–$382
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 205.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
EV Charging Along Route
4 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
Emeryville, CA - Christie Avenue - Tesla Supercharger
Emeryville, CA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Emeryville, CA - Shellmound Street - Tesla Supercharger
Emeryville, CA
Tesla
12 DCFC
SEC San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Non-Networked
10 DCFC
BOA Emeryville CA4-137 (Emeryville, CA)
Emeryville, CA
Electrify America
3 DCFC
Tesla: 2
Electrify America: 1
Non-Networked: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $62 in charging
· 2 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
175.9
2
$61.55
$28.14
Efficient EV
146.6
1
$51.29
$23.45
EV Truck/SUV
234.5
2
$82.07
$37.52
Gas CO2
205 kg
EV CO2
69 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 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 22, 2026
Origin
Oakland, CA
Morning
in Oakland on Thursday
Local time
9:09 AM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Light Rain Likely
SSW 1 to 7 mph61% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 22 at 7:41AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 22 at 7:22AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Seeley, CA
Morning
in Seeley on Thursday
Local time
9:09 AM
PDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
WSW 20 to 25 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 22 at 7:41AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 22 at 7:22AM 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
18 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
11h 2m 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...
In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo climbed out of his boat and onto shore, becoming the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Cabrillo National Monument not only...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
$20
near mile 485.2
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...
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,...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a high percentage of highway driving, with 83% on major roads like Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on the Westside Freeway, covering 224.4 miles. Expect to transition from highway to surface roads, indicated by the highway percentage share. The extensive highway portion means you'll likely experience consistent speeds and urban merging as you navigate out of the Oakland area.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
53 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 224.4 mi on Westside Freeway.
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.
Driving Effort10/10
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 48 significant decision points across 586.2 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 347.2 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
3,474 ft-41 ft
Total Climb
6,477 ft
Total Descent
6,560 ft
Highest Point
3,474 ft
~544.4 mi in
Elevation Range
3,515 ft
Notable High Points
2,372 ft at ~293.1 miles+1,322 ft prominence
3,474 ft at ~544.4 miles+2,709 ft prominence
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 Seeley, CA, road signs point toward Santa Ana, Broadway, Riverside, Mapleview Street East and Business District.
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
The longest stretch is about 224.4 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 293 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 43 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 Seeley, 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 3 meaningful breaks. There are 43 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 347.2 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Cabrillo National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 11.0 hours each way, a round trip means 22.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Seeley, CA before the return drive.
