San Francisco to East Quincy is 229.8 miles and takes about 4 hours 55 minutes via CA 70 and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route begins in the Pacific Coast region and stays within California, offering a mostly highway experience. It's a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in a single day, making it a convenient option for reaching your destination without needing an overnight stop. Consider this trip if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
114.9 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 70
112 mi
2h 25m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
56.6 mi
1h 7m
Eastshore Freeway
14.3 mi
16m
State Highway 70
9.7 mi
14m
Golden State Highway
7.5 mi
8m
Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
5 mi
5m
North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
4.4 mi
5m
Yolo Causeway
3.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
CA 70
— 112 mi, about 2h 25m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~5,495 veh/hr typical
· worst 7,863
Quietest
1 AM
~490 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 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 Francisco, CA and East Quincy, CA.
1
Start on Market Street
312 ft·7 sec·Market Street
2
Turn right onto 11th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·11th Street
3
Turn left onto Bryant Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Bryant Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·25 sec
Toward I 80 East: OaklandUse the left / straight lanes.
5
Merge onto I 80
0.9 mi·1 min·Route 80
6
Continue on I 80
6.4 mi·9 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·45 sec
Toward I 80 EastUse the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 880
407 ft·6 sec·Nimitz Freeway
9
Continue on I 80; I 580
3.3 mi·4 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
7.4 mi·8 min·Eastshore Freeway
Toward I 80 East: Vallejo, SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 80
3.2 mi·3 min·Eastshore Freeway
Exit 21Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Continue on I 80
3.5 mi·3 min·Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·26 sec·Eastshore Freeway
14
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi·1 min·Carquinez Bridge
15
Continue on I 80
14 mi·16 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
27 mi·31 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
8.4 mi·9 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 80
3.7 mi·4 min·Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
4.4 mi·5 min·North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
Toward I 80 East: RenoUse the slight right lane.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 86Toward I 5, CA 99: Redding, Los AngelesUse the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 5 North, I 80 East: Redding
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward ReddingUse the right lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 5 North
24
Merge onto I 5
2.5 mi·2 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99
7.5 mi·8 min·Golden State Highway
Toward CA 99 North, CA 70: Yuba City, MarysvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on CA 99
5.0 mi·5 min·Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
27
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
22 mi·25 min·CA 70
Toward CA 70 North: Marysville, OrovilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·5th Street
29
Turn left onto B Street
1.5 mi·3 min·B Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Continue on CA 70
30 mi·35 min·CA 70
Use the left lane.
31
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
12 mi·13 min·CA 70
32
Continue on CA 70
48 mi·1 hr 11 min·CA 70
33
Continue on CA 70
0.9 mi·1 min·Feather River Highway
34
Continue on CA 70; CA 89
9.7 mi·14 min·State Highway 70
35
Continue on CA 70; CA 89
0.4 mi·1 min·Crescent Street
36
Turn left onto CA 70; CA 89
2.8 mi·4 min·Main Street
37
Arrive at destination
CA 70; CA 89
Trip Plan
For this approximately 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning is recommended to give you plenty of daylight. You'll have one recommended stop, but with a drive this manageable, you can be flexible with breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 112-mile stretch on CA 70, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost is around $55, so plan accordingly. Since this is a one-day trip, you can depart when it's most convenient for you, but aim to start early to avoid any potential traffic leaving the San Francisco area.
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 114.9 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112 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 51 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.9 miles or 2h 19m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Quincy, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, CA
This is one driving day of about 229.8 miles and 4h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from San Francisco, 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 70 for about 112 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 12.6 and 102.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
12.6 mi into trip|~19m 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
8
86.2 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 5, CA 99: Redding, Los Angeles
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 86
Toward I 5, CA 99: Redding, Los Angeles
8
86.7 mi into trip|~1h 45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Redding
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Redding
8
89.9 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|CA 99 / Golden State Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99 / Golden State Highway toward CA 99 North, CA 70: Yuba City, Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 99 North, CA 70: Yuba City, Marysvill...
8
102.3 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|CA 70
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70 toward CA 70 North: Marysville, Oroville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 70 North: Marysville, Oroville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.08 one way
$96.15 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$49.93
$99.86
premium
$5.67
$51.25
$102.51
diesel
$4.80
$43.39
$86.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.9
0
$24.13
$11.03
Efficient EV
57.5
0
$20.11
$9.19
EV Truck/SUV
91.9
1
$32.17
$14.71
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
San Francisco, CA
Late night
in San Francisco on Sunday
Local time
2:19 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Sunny
WSW 6 to 13 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 1:24AM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
East Quincy, CA
Late night
in East Quincy on Sunday
Local time
2:19 AM
PDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
WSW 2 to 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 1:24AM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM 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.
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
26 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
4h 55m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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
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...
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...
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 31.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 64% of this 229.8-mile drive on highways, with the longest continuous stretch being 112 miles on CA 70. Expect a significant portion of your travel to be on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and CA 70. As you move away from the urban areas around San Francisco, the driving will transition to more open highway cruising. The route includes segments that are primarily highway, so be prepared for sustained driving speeds for considerable distances.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 112 mi on CA 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 70 and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.6 miles in near I 80 / Eastshore Freeway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 229.8 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 12.6 miles (I 80 / Eastshore Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,491 ft18 ft
Total Climb
3,596 ft
Total Descent
159 ft
Highest Point
3,491 ft
~229.8 mi in
Elevation Range
3,473 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between San Francisco, CA and East Quincy, CA, road signs point toward Sacramento, Los Angeles, Redding, Marysville and Oroville.
Sacramento
12.6 mi in|~19m|via I 80
Los Angeles
86.2 mi in|~1h 44m
Redding
86.7 mi in|~1h 45m
Marysville
89.9 mi in|~1h 49m|via CA 99
Oroville
102.3 mi in|~2h 4m|via CA 70
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
The centerpiece of the Bay Area, San Francisco is one of the most visited cities in the world, and with good reason. The cultural center of northern California, San Francisco is renowned for its mixture of scenic beauty and unique culture that makes it one of the most vibrant and desirable cities in the nation, if not the world.
Sandwiched between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean on a small square of land seven miles (11 km) on each side, San Francisco offers a wealth of treasures for the visitor, from the windswept and often foggy bay to the steep hills lined with Victorian homes that overlook the spectacular scenery of the city.
Top landmarks
•Golden Gate Bridge — suspension bridge on the San Francisco Bay
•Alcatraz Island — island in San Francisco, California, United States of America
•San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge — suspension bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland, California, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 55m. Total distance: 229.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 112 miles on CA 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 East Quincy, 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. There are 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.6 miles (I 80 / Eastshore Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at East Quincy, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
