This 236.4-mile drive from San Francisco, CA, to Woodlake, CA, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 44 minutes. You'll spend about 84% of your time on highways, primarily utilizing CA 99, the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, and the MacArthur Freeway. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is $54. This is a highway-focused route that moves you efficiently across the Pacific Coast region. Given its manageable duration, it's perfectly suited as a day trip.
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
118.2 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 99
130.8 mi
2h 28m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.3 mi
33m
MacArthur Freeway
15.9 mi
18m
Robert T. Monagan Freeway
14.6 mi
16m
Avenue 384
10.3 mi
16m
CA 120
6.2 mi
7m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.8 mi
8m
Avenue 344
4.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
CA 99
— 130.8 mi, about 2h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Woodlake, 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
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 8BToward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-StocktonUse 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 left at fork onto I 205
3.9 mi·4 min·Robert T. Monagan Freeway
Toward I 205 East: Tracy, Stockton
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 205
11 mi·11 min·Robert T. Monagan Freeway
13
Merge onto I 5
1.0 mi·1 min·Westside Freeway
14
Take the exit
469 ft·6 sec
Toward CA 120 East: Manteca, Sonora
15
Continue on CA 120
6.2 mi·7 min·CA 120
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 6Toward CA 99 South: Modesto, FresnoUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto CA 99
108 mi·2 hr 4 min·CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
22 mi·24 min·CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 109Toward Avenue 384Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn left onto J38
463 ft·11 sec·Diagonal 24
21
At end of road, turn right onto J38
0.2 mi·21 sec·Diagonal 27
22
Continue on J38
10 mi·16 min·Avenue 384
23
Turn right onto Road 108
2.0 mi·2 min·Road 108
24
Turn left onto Avenue 368
3.0 mi·4 min·Avenue 368
25
Turn right onto J15
2.0 mi·2 min·Road 132
26
Turn left onto Avenue 352
3.0 mi·4 min·Avenue 352
27
Turn right onto J23
1.0 mi·1 min·Road 156
28
Turn left onto Avenue 344
4.7 mi·6 min·Avenue 344
29
Continue on CA 216
2.3 mi·3 min·West Naranjo Boulevard
30
Enter roundabout onto CA 216
94 ft·1 sec·East Naranjo Boulevard
31
Continue on CA 216
16 ft·0 sec·East Naranjo Boulevard
32
Arrive at destination
CA 216
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour, 44-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from San Francisco to bypass potential traffic. With only one recommended stop and the longest stretch being over 130 miles, plan your breaks accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the latter half of your journey on CA 99, to ensure you have enough to reach Woodlake. This route is straightforward enough that you have flexibility in when and where you pause.
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 118.2 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.8 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 52 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.2 miles or 2h 20m 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 46m
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 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 236.4 miles and 4h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 99 for about 130.8 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 207.6 — 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...
6
36.4 mi into trip|~46m in|I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
54.3 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|I 205 / Robert T. Monagan Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 205 / Robert T. Monagan Freeway toward I 205 East: Tracy, Stockton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 205 East: Tracy, Stockton
8
76.1 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward CA 99 South: Modesto, Fresno
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 6
Toward CA 99 South: Modesto, Fresno
7
207.6 mi into trip|~4h 1m in
Take the exit toward Avenue 384
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 109
Toward Avenue 384
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.46 one way
$98.92 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$51.37
$102.73
premium
$5.67
$52.72
$105.45
diesel
$4.80
$44.64
$89.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.9
0
$24.82
$11.35
Efficient EV
59.1
0
$20.69
$9.46
EV Truck/SUV
94.6
1
$33.10
$15.13
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 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 20, 2026
Origin
San Francisco, CA
Late night
in San Francisco on Monday
Local time
12:23 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Sunny
W 12 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 19 at 3:37PM PDT until July 20 at 6:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 19 at 11:41AM PDT until July 20 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Destination
Woodlake, CA
Late night
in Woodlake on Monday
Local time
12:23 AM
PDT
Current temp
100°F
Sunny
WNW 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 19 at 3:37PM PDT until July 20 at 6:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 19 at 11:41AM PDT until July 20 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
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
33 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 44m 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.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
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...
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...
21 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 16.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 84% of the route on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 130.8 miles along CA 99, offering a solid period of consistent travel. This means the personality of the drive is largely about covering distance efficiently, with a focus on the main arteries connecting these two points within California. While not overly technical, the constant progression on these freeways defines the character of this journey.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 130.8 mi on CA 99.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 99 and Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8 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 25 significant decision points across 236.4 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 36.4 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.3 miles (I 205 / Robert T. Monagan Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
725 ft25 ft
Total Climb
1,095 ft
Total Descent
708 ft
Highest Point
725 ft
~50.6 mi in
Elevation Range
700 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 Woodlake, CA, road signs point toward Stockton, Sonora, Fresno and Avenue 384.
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 44m. Total distance: 236.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 130.8 miles on CA 99. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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 Woodlake, 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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 36.4 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.3 miles (I 205 / Robert T. Monagan Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front 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 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Woodlake, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
