San Bernardino to Davis is 448.7 miles and takes about 8h 18m via Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $99 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within California, traversing the Pacific Coast region. With a recommended two days for the drive, you'll have ample opportunity to break up the 8+ hour travel time. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward, predominantly highway drive between Southern and Northern California.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
224.3 miles from San Bernardino, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
297.1 mi
5h 20m
Foothill Freeway
73.8 mi
1h 25m
I 5 Truck
37.1 mi
42m
Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi
25m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.3 mi
6m
Yolo Causeway
3.9 mi
4m
Capital City Freeway
3.2 mi
3m
San Bernardino Freeway
1.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 297.1 mi, about 5h 20m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 330 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,538 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,004
Quietest
2 AM
~518 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 89 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 San Bernardino, CA and Davis, CA.
1
Start on West 5th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West 5th Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward I 215 North: Barstow
3
Merge onto I 215
1.5 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on I 215
0.5 mi·34 sec·Barstow Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 46BToward CA 210 West: PasadenaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto CA 210
21 mi·24 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.2 mi·1 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
2.4 mi·2 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.4 mi·1 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.8 mi·2 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
20 mi·23 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
26 mi·29 min·Foothill Freeway
Exit 26AToward I 210 West: SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.0 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi·41 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi·4 hr 1 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi·27 min·Westside Freeway
19
Keep left at fork onto I 5
46 mi·50 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·12 sec
Exit 518Toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake TahoeUse the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 518Toward US 50 West, I 80 West Business: San Francisco
22
Merge onto US 50; I 80 Business
3.2 mi·3 min·Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 80
3.9 mi·4 min·Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 80
5.3 mi·6 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 72BToward Richards Boulevard NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn slight right onto Richards Boulevard
0.1 mi·24 sec·Richards Boulevard
27
Turn sharp right onto 1st Street
407 ft·20 sec·1st Street
28
Turn left onto F Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·F Street
29
Arrive at destination
F Street
Trip Plan
Given the 8-hour duration, splitting this drive over two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize your daylight hours, especially if you plan to stop for the night. With two recommended stops, you can break up the driving into manageable segments. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on the Westside Freeway is substantial, and plan your refueling stops accordingly. This route offers flexibility, so you can adjust your pace based on your comfort level.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 224.3 miles from San Bernardino, CA, or about 4h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 297.1 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 99 miles or 1h 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 224.3 miles or 4h 13m 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 224.3 miles or 4h 13m
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 7h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Davis, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Bernardino, 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 San Bernardino, CA
Aim for roughly 224 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Davis, CA
Aim for roughly 224 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 99 miles from San Bernardino, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 297.1 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 434.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.1 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward CA 210 West: Pasadena
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 46B
Toward CA 210 West: Pasadena
8
52.2 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26A
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
7
137.4 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North
8
434.5 mi into trip|~8h in
Take the exit toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe
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 518
Toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South L...
7
434.7 mi into trip|~8h in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 West, I 80 West Business: San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 518
Toward US 50 West, I 80 West Business: San Fran...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$108.55 one way
$217.11 round trip
$6.15/gal25.4 MPG avg157 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.34
$111.98
$223.96
premium
$6.50
$114.75
$229.51
diesel
$6.18
$109.15
$218.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$109
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$239–$349
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 157 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
134.6
1
$47.11
$21.54
Efficient EV
112.2
1
$39.26
$17.95
EV Truck/SUV
179.5
2
$62.82
$28.72
Gas CO2
157 kg
EV CO2
52 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 19, 2026
Origin
San Bernardino, CA
Afternoon
in San Bernardino on Tuesday
Local time
1:14 PM
PDT
Current temp
62°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 19 at 1:23AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:31PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Davis, CA
Afternoon
in Davis on Tuesday
Local time
1:14 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 19 at 1:23AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:31PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM 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
13 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
8h 18m 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.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 77.4
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 139.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with 97% of the route on freeways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 297.1 miles on the Westside Freeway before transitioning to other main roads. Expect a consistent cruising experience with many exits and merges as you navigate through different sections of California's freeway system.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 297.1 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Foothill Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 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 23 significant decision points across 448.7 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 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.2 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 137.4 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Davis is in Yolo County in the Sacramento Valley of California. Davis is best known for the university located there, the University of California Davis.
Top landmarks
•Davis station — railway station in Davis, California
•Bohart Museum of Entomology — museum operated by the University of California, in Davis, California, United St...
•George Hart Hall — university building in Davis, California, United States
The longest stretch is about 297.1 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 224 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 37 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 Davis, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 37 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.2 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 137.4 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.3 hours each way, a round trip means 16.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Davis, CA before the return drive.
