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Trip from Oakland, CA to Woodlake, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 48m

Distance

80.5 mi

130 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 41m ★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city and county seat of Alameda County, California, United States

Oakland, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Tulare County, California, United States

Woodlake, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 80.5-mile drive from Oakland to Woodlake in California is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 48 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 80% of the journey on main roads like CA 12, CA 4, and CA 160, making for a relatively efficient transit. With an estimated fuel cost of $19, this short trip offers a practical way to travel between the Pacific Coast regions. You won't need to break up this journey, and it's ideal for a quick getaway or a necessary errand.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

40.2 miles from Oakland, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
CA 12 26.6 mi 37m
CA 4 15 mi 17m
CA 160 13.6 mi 18m
Caldecott Tunnel 9.8 mi 11m
Grove Shafter Freeway 4.6 mi 5m
CA 242 3.9 mi 4m
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway 3.8 mi 4m
Woodbridge Road 1.2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: CA 12 — 26.6 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oakland, CA and Woodlake, 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

Continue on I 980

4.5 mi · 5 min · Grove Shafter Freeway
Toward CA 24: Berkeley, Walnut Creek Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 24

0.2 mi · 13 sec · Grove Shafter Freeway
7

Continue on CA 24

9.8 mi · 11 min · Caldecott Tunnel
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Merge onto I 680

3.8 mi · 4 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 242

3.9 mi · 4 min · CA 242
Exit 50 Toward CA 242 North: Concord, Pittsburg Use the slight right lane.
10

Merge onto CA 4

15 mi · 17 min · CA 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 160

14 mi · 18 min · CA 160
Exit 30 Toward CA 160: Rio Vista, Sacramento Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Turn right onto CA 12

23 mi · 33 min · CA 12
Use the straight lane.
13

Take the ramp onto CA 12

3.1 mi · 3 min · CA 12
14

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 20 sec
Toward Woodbridge Road
15

Turn right onto 99 Frontage Road

0.1 mi · 24 sec · 99 Frontage Road
16

Turn left onto Woodbridge Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · Woodbridge Road
17

Turn right

0.5 mi · 3 min
18

Turn right

0.1 mi · 45 sec
19

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the short 1 hour and 48-minute duration and 80.5-mile distance, you have the flexibility to depart at a time that suits you best, whether it's an early start or a mid-morning departure. With an estimated fuel cost of $19, keeping your tank topped up is a simple consideration. Since there are no specific stops recommended in the data, plan to fuel up before you leave Oakland to ensure a continuous journey. The longest stretch on CA 12 is 26.6 miles, so be mindful of your fuel gauge before embarking on that segment.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.2 miles from Oakland, CA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.6 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 18 miles or 22m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 40.2 miles or 48m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Woodlake, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Oakland, CA

This is one driving day of about 80.5 miles and 1h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Oakland, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on CA 12 for about 26.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Contra Costa County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Concord, CA

40 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

Pleasant Hill, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Oakley, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 40.2 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 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 38.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward I 980 East, CA 24: Walnut Creek, San Francisco, Hayward

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 980 East, CA 24: Walnut Creek, San Fra...
5
15.6 mi into trip | ~19m in | I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

Merge onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
19.4 mi into trip | ~24m in | CA 242

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 242 toward CA 242 North: Concord, Pittsburg

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 50 Toward CA 242 North: Concord, Pittsburg
5
23.3 mi into trip | ~28m in | CA 4

Merge onto CA 4

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
38.3 mi into trip | ~45m in | CA 160

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 160 toward CA 160: Rio Vista, Sacramento

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 30 Toward CA 160: Rio Vista, Sacramento

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.50 one way

$37.00 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $19.07 $38.13
premium $6.18 $19.58 $39.15
diesel $5.61 $17.77 $35.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.2 0 $8.45 $3.86
Efficient EV 20.1 0 $7.04 $3.22
EV Truck/SUV 32.2 0 $11.27 $5.15

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% 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 17, 2026

Origin

Oakland, CA

Late night in Oakland on Tuesday

Local time

1:09 AM

PDT

Current temp

51°F

Clear

N 7 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 12:31AM PDT until April 17 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 12:31AM PDT until April 17 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV

Destination

Woodlake, CA

Late night in Woodlake on Tuesday

Local time

1:09 AM

PDT

Current temp

70°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

19 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

1h 48m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 80.5-mile journey, as 80% of the drive utilizes main roads. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 26.6 miles on CA 12, offering a consistent pace. The route's character is designed for efficient travel rather than scenic exploration, with a steady flow typical of highway driving. While there are no significant changes in road type, the progression is smooth, allowing you to settle into a rhythm.

80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.6 mi on CA 12.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 12 and CA 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.5 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.6 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles (CA 242): 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 Woodlake, CA, road signs point toward Pittsburg and Sacramento.

Pittsburg

19.4 mi in | ~24m | via CA 242

Sacramento

38.3 mi in | ~45m | via CA 160

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, USA
  • • Oakland Museum of California — art museum in Oakland, 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 1h 48m. Total distance: 80.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 26.6 miles on CA 12. 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 Woodlake, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.6 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles (CA 242): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Woodlake, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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