Oakland to Selma is 190.1 miles and takes about 3h 41m via CA 99, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California, beginning in the Pacific Coast region and ending in the same region. It's a straightforward, mostly highway trip, ideal for a single-day excursion. Prepare for a consistent driving experience as you head inland.
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
95.1 miles from Oakland, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 99
123.2 mi
2h 20m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
30.2 mi
34m
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
14.6 mi
16m
Nimitz Freeway
9.7 mi
11m
CA 120
6.2 mi
7m
Castro Valley Freeway
1.9 mi
2m
Westside Freeway
1 mi
1m
2nd Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
CA 99
— 123.2 mi, about 2h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakland, CA and Selma, 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 left at fork onto I 205
3.9 mi·4 min·Robert T. Monagan Freeway
Toward I 205 East: Tracy, Stockton
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 205
11 mi·11 min·Robert T. Monagan Freeway
15
Merge onto I 5
1.0 mi·1 min·Westside Freeway
16
Take the exit
469 ft·6 sec
Toward CA 120 East: Manteca, Sonora
17
Continue on CA 120
6.2 mi·7 min·CA 120
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 6Toward CA 99 South: Modesto, FresnoUse the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto CA 99
108 mi·2 hr 4 min·CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
15 mi·16 min·CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 117Toward Second StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn left onto 2nd Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·2nd Street
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on McCall Avenue
0.2 mi·26 sec·McCall Avenue
24
Turn left onto Arrants Street
394 ft·17 sec·Arrants Street
25
Arrive at destination
Arrants Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 3h 41m duration, leaving Oakland in the morning allows ample time to reach Selma before dark. The 190.1-mile distance means you can comfortably complete this drive in one day. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in planning your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on CA 99 is over 120 miles, and gas stations might be less frequent in some sections.
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 95.1 miles from Oakland, CA, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.2 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 42 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.1 miles or 1h 52m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Selma, 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 190.1 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 CA 99 for about 123.2 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 189.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|11th Street
Turn left onto 11th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
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
65.2 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward CA 99 South: Modesto, Fresno
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 6
Toward CA 99 South: Modesto, Fresno
7
189.1 mi into trip|~3h 39m in
Take the exit toward Second Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 117
Toward Second Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.69 one way
$87.39 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$45.03
$90.05
premium
$6.18
$46.23
$92.46
diesel
$5.61
$41.97
$83.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
6 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Ava Charge - City Center West Garage
Oakland, CA
EV Connect
31 DCFC
Public Market - Tesla Supercharger
Emeryville, CA
Tesla
12 DCFC
IKEA San Francisco (Emeryville, CA)
Emeryville, CA
Electrify America
10 DCFC
SEC San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Non-Networked
10 DCFC
Berkeley Bowl Produce-Berkeley Bowl West (Berkeley, CA)
Berkeley, CA
Electrify America
8 DCFC
BOA Emeryville CA4-137 (Emeryville, CA)
Emeryville, CA
Electrify America
3 DCFC
Electrify America: 3
Tesla: 1
EV Connect: 1
Non-Networked: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57
0
$19.96
$9.12
Efficient EV
47.5
0
$16.63
$7.60
EV Truck/SUV
76
0
$26.61
$12.17
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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 21, 2026
Origin
Oakland, CA
Morning
in Oakland on Tuesday
Local time
9:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
S 3 to 9 mph79% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 21 at 4:39AM PDT until April 22 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 21 at 4:39AM PDT until April 22 at 7:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Destination
Selma, CA
Morning
in Selma on Tuesday
Local time
9:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Light Rain Likely
SSE 5 mph75% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 21 at 4:39AM PDT until April 22 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 21 at 4:39AM PDT until April 22 at 7:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford 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
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
3h 41m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
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 is 98% highway, meaning you'll spend almost all 3 hours and 41 minutes on freeways. The longest continuous stretch on CA 99 is 123.2 miles. You'll notice a high density of exits for much of the drive. The transition to surface roads will be minimal, occurring only in the final two miles.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 123.2 mi on CA 99.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 99 and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near 11th Street.
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 21 significant decision points across 190.1 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 0.4 miles (11th Street): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
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 Selma, CA, road signs point toward Stockton, Sonora and Fresno.
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 3h 41m. Total distance: 190.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 123.2 miles on CA 99. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Selma, 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 0.4 miles (11th Street): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Selma, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
