Origin
San Francisco, CA
Afternoon in San Francisco on Friday
Local time
1:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Francisco, CA to Magalia, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 11, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 37m
Distance
173.8 mi
280 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 25m
★
6 AM
3h 37m
8 AM
4h 2m
10 AM
3h 46m
12 PM
3h 43m
3 PM
3h 47m
5 PM
4h 1m
8 PM
3h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Magalia, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from San Francisco, CA to Magalia, CA covers 173.8 miles and takes about 3h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, CA 70, Clark Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.6 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.60 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
86.9 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 56.6 mi | 1h 7m |
| CA 70 | 53.7 mi | 1h 2m |
| Clark Road | 14.8 mi | 23m |
| Eastshore Freeway | 14.3 mi | 16m |
| 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:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 56.6 mi, about 1h 7m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 121 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,143 veh/hr typical · worst 7,346
Quietest
2 AM
~566 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Francisco, CA and Magalia, 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: Oakland
Use 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 East
Use 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, Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 80
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Exit 21
Use 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: Reno
Use the slight right lane.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 86
Toward I 5, CA 99: Redding, Los Angeles
Use 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 Redding
Use 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, Marysville
Use 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, Oroville
Use 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
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
CA 70
32
Turn left onto CA 191
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Clark Road
33
Continue on CA 191
11 mi
·
18 min
·
Clark Road
34
Turn slight right onto Skyway
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Skyway
35
Continue on New Skyway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
New Skyway
36
Turn left onto Depot Lane
64 ft
·
8 sec
·
Depot Lane
37
Turn left onto Glover Lane
97 ft
·
4 sec
·
Glover Lane
38
Arrive at destination
Glover Lane
Trip Plan
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 86.9 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.6 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 38 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.9 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Magalia, 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 173.8 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 56.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.9 miles from San Francisco, 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 255 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
$39.60 one way
$79.20 round trip
$5.79/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.96 | $40.77 | $81.55 |
| premium | $6.14 | $42.01 | $84.03 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $40.83 | $81.66 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.06
New Skyway
(0.9 mi)
$0.06
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.1 | 0 | $18.25 | $8.34 |
| Efficient EV | 43.5 | 0 | $15.21 | $6.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.5 | 0 | $24.33 | $11.12 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Magalia, CA
Afternoon in Magalia on Friday
Local time
1:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
72°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
21 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
3h 37m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
173.8 mi in 3h 37m — 46% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.6 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort
9/10
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 25 significant decision points across 173.8 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
Gently rolling terrain
2,324 ft
17 ft
Total Climb
2,587 ft
Total Descent
317 ft
Highest Point
2,324 ft
~173.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,307 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Magalia, 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
About the Cities
Starting in San Francisco, CA
Full guide →“Frisco” · Founded 1776
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
Arriving in Magalia, CA
Full guide →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 3h 37m. Total distance: 173.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.6 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.06 in tolls one way, starting with New Skyway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Magalia, 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 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Magalia, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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