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Trip from San Francisco, CA to Westmont, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 17m

Distance

389.4 mi

627 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$88

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
7h 7m ★
6 AM
7h 17m
8 AM
7h 39m
10 AM
7h 25m
12 PM
7h 23m
3 PM
7h 26m
5 PM
7h 38m
8 PM
7h 11m

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

consolidated city and county in California, United States

San Francisco, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Westmont, CA, CA

Westmont, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

San Francisco to Westmont is 389.4 miles and takes about 7h 17m via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $88 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within California, traversing the Pacific Coast region on both ends. Primarily a highway drive, it's designed for efficient travel, making it a solid choice if you need to cover ground quickly. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward drive with minimal navigational complexity, allowing you to focus on reaching your destination.

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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

194.7 miles from San Francisco, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 37m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 224.4 mi 4h
I 5 Truck 58.6 mi 1h 7m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway 29.3 mi 33m
I 405 Truck 23 mi 26m
William Elton Brown Freeway 17 mi 18m
MacArthur Freeway 15.9 mi 18m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway 5.8 mi 8m
Golden State Freeway 4.1 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 224.4 mi, about 4h

Traffic on I-5

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 89 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

2 PM

~1,926 veh/hr typical · worst 2,652

Quietest

2 AM

~360 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.4×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 44 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 Westmont, 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

5.8 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 8B Toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-Stockton Use the slight right lane.
8

Merge onto I 580

16 mi · 18 min · MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9

Merge onto I 580

12 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

11 mi · 11 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
13

Merge onto I 5

224 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

4.1 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

0.3 mi · 17 sec · I 5 Truck
Exit 158 Toward I 405 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck

23 mi · 26 min · I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight right at fork onto I 405

3.1 mi · 3 min · San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 9 sec
Exit 46 Toward Century Boulevard, Los Angeles International Airport, Imperial Highway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Continue on this road

370 ft · 4 sec · this road
Exit 46
21

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 26 sec
Exit 46 Toward South La Cienega Boulevard, Century Boulevard West, Los Angeles International Airport Use the slight right lane.
22

Turn left onto South La Cienega Boulevard

0.2 mi · 22 sec · South La Cienega Boulevard
Use the left lane.
23

Turn left onto West Century Boulevard

4.0 mi · 7 min · West Century Boulevard
Use the left lane.
24

Turn right onto South Normandie Avenue

0.3 mi · 39 sec · South Normandie Avenue
25

Turn right onto West 105th Street

0.1 mi · 32 sec · West 105th Street
26

Turn right

169 ft · 12 sec
27

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 7-hour drive, consider leaving San Francisco in the morning to avoid peak traffic. With only 2 planned stops and a 389.4-mile distance, you can comfortably complete this in one day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 224.4-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, as services can be spaced out. The total fuel cost is estimated at $88, so factor that into your budget. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you have flexibility to adjust your stop times as needed.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 194.7 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 3h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.4 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 86 miles or 1h 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 194.7 miles or 3h 37m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 4m

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

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from San Francisco, CA

This is one driving day of about 389.4 miles and 7h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from San Francisco, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 224.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Coalinga, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Coalinga, CA

195 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

Shackelford, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tarpey Village, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 194.7 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 224.4 miles.

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 23

5 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 384.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
8 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-Stockton

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 8B Toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-St...
8
358.1 mi into trip | ~6h 37m in | I 5 Truck

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 158 Toward I 405 South
8
384.4 mi into trip | ~7h 7m in

Take the exit toward Century Boulevard, Los Angeles International Airport, Imperial Highway

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 46 Toward Century Boulevard, Los Angeles Internati...
10
384.6 mi into trip | ~7h 7m in

Keep slight right at fork toward South La Cienega Boulevard, Century Boulevard West, Los Angeles International Airport

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 46 Toward South La Cienega Boulevard, Century Boul...
7
384.7 mi into trip | ~7h 8m in | South La Cienega Boulevard

Turn left onto South La Cienega Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$88.26 one way

$176.52 round trip

$5.76/gal 25.4 MPG avg 136 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.96 $91.31 $182.62
premium $6.09 $93.39 $186.79
diesel $5.40 $82.83 $165.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$88

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$113–$138

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 136.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.

Driving Electric?

About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 116.8 1 $40.89 $18.69
Efficient EV 97.4 1 $34.07 $15.58
EV Truck/SUV 155.8 1 $54.52 $24.92

Gas CO2

136 kg

EV CO2

46 kg (66% 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 Apr 24, 2026

Origin

San Francisco, CA

Late night in San Francisco on Sunday

Local time

2:24 AM

PDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Westmont, CA

Late night in Westmont on Sunday

Local time

2:24 AM

PDT

Current temp

56°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

18 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

7h 17m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is overwhelmingly on the highway, with 97% of the route utilizing major freeways like the Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. You'll experience a long stretch of 224.4 miles on the Westside Freeway before transitioning to other roads. Expect consistent highway cruising, with the majority of your time spent on well-traveled, multi-lane routes.

97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 224.4 mi on Westside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in.

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 23 significant decision points across 389.4 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 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 358.1 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 384.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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

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 7h 17m. Total distance: 389.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 224.4 miles on Westside Freeway. 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 Westmont, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 358.1 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 384.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Westmont, CA before the return drive.

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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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