San Francisco to Yucaipa is 451.4 miles and takes about 8h 29m via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $108 and enough daylight to finish in a day. However, this trip is best split over two days. You'll travel across California, starting in the Pacific Coast region and ending in the same region. Given the mostly highway profile, this drive is straightforward for those comfortable with freeway travel. Plan for a longer drive with plenty of open road.
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
225.7 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
224.4 mi
4h
I 5 Truck
58.4 mi
1h 6m
Foothill Freeway
44 mi
50m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.3 mi
33m
San Bernardino Freeway
20.1 mi
23m
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi
18m
MacArthur Freeway
15.9 mi
18m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
13 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 224.4 mi, about 4h
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 81 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,500 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,272
Quietest
2 AM
~312 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
4.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Yucaipa, 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 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
2.0 mi·2 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·17 sec
Exit 161AToward I 210 East: PasadenaUse the slight right lane.
17
Continue on I 210
24 mi·28 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
19 mi·22 min·Foothill Freeway
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, VenturaUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
0.5 mi·32 sec·Foothill Freeway
20
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 44AToward CA 57 South: Santa AnaUse the slight right lane.
21
Continue on CA 57
3.4 mi·3 min·Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 22A; 22BToward I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Los AngelesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 22BToward I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San BernardinoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto I 10
1.9 mi·2 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
4.0 mi·4 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR
9.0 mi·9 min·I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the slight left lane.
27
Merge onto I 10
14 mi·16 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
28
Continue on I 10
13 mi·15 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Toward Redlands, Palm SpringsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit onto Oak Glen Road / Live Oak Canyon Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·Oak Glen Road / Live Oak Canyon Road
Exit 85Toward Oak Glen Road, Live Oak Canyon RoadUse the slight right lane.
30
Turn left onto Live Oak Canyon Road
0.1 mi·12 sec·Live Oak Canyon Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
31
Continue on Oak Glen Road
1.8 mi·3 min·Oak Glen Road
32
Turn right onto Yucaipa Boulevard
1.7 mi·3 min·Yucaipa Boulevard
33
Enter roundabout onto 2nd Street
13 ft·0 sec·2nd Street
34
Continue on 2nd Street
102 ft·11 sec·2nd Street
35
Continue on 2nd Street
35 ft·1 sec·2nd Street
36
Arrive at destination
2nd Street
Trip Plan
With an 8.5-hour drive time, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Consider departing early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight hours. Your longest stretch without exiting is over 200 miles, so ensure you have ample fuel before starting that segment. With two recommended stops, plan to break up the drive roughly in half, allowing for rest and refueling. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially as you approach and leave major metropolitan areas.
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 225.7 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 4h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.4 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 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 225.7 miles or 4h 10m 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 225.7 miles or 4h 10m
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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yucaipa, 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.
+
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 Francisco, CA
Aim for roughly 226 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Yucaipa, CA
Aim for roughly 226 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 99 miles from San Francisco, 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 224.4 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 29
5 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 447.5 — 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
380.7 mi into trip|~7h 3m in|I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino,...
8
404.5 mi into trip|~7h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
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 22A; 22B
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: San Bernardino, Lo...
9
404.6 mi into trip|~7h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San Bernardino
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 22B
Toward I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San B...
8
447.5 mi into trip|~8h 21m in|Oak Glen Road / Live Oak Canyon Road
Take the exit onto Oak Glen Road / Live Oak Canyon Road toward Oak Glen Road, Live Oak Canyon Road
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 85
Toward Oak Glen Road, Live Oak Canyon Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$106.01 one way
$212.02 round trip
$5.97/gal25.4 MPG avg158 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.18
$109.86
$219.73
premium
$6.30
$111.91
$223.82
diesel
$5.35
$95.08
$190.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$106
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$236–$346
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 157.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
135.4
1
$47.40
$21.67
Efficient EV
112.9
1
$39.50
$18.06
EV Truck/SUV
180.6
2
$63.20
$28.89
Gas CO2
158 kg
EV CO2
53 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 May 25, 2026
Origin
San Francisco, CA
Afternoon
in San Francisco on Wednesday
Local time
4:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Cloudy
WSW 6 to 10 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued May 24 at 5:36PM PDT until May 27 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued May 24 at 5:36PM PDT until May 27 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Destination
Yucaipa, CA
Afternoon
in Yucaipa on Wednesday
Local time
4:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Patchy Fog
NW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued May 24 at 5:36PM PDT until May 27 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued May 24 at 5:36PM PDT until May 27 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford 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
1 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
8h 29m 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.
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
Caution: Temporary Closure Aquatic Park Cove Due to Dock Work
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
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 15.6
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...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
near mile 358
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 94% of the 451.4 miles on freeways like the Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 224.4 miles on the Westside Freeway without needing to exit. The driving experience will shift from dense urban freeway environments to more open cruising as you move inland. Expect numerous exits and merges typical of major California interstates.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 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?
10/10
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 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 29 significant decision points across 451.4 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 380.7 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 404.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
2,884 ft54 ft
Total Climb
5,664 ft
Total Descent
3,093 ft
Highest Point
2,884 ft
~322.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,830 ft
Notable High Points
2,884 ft at ~322.4 miles+1,299 ft prominence
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 Yucaipa, CA, road signs point toward Ventura, Los Angeles and San Bernardino.
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
The longest stretch is about 224.4 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 226 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 41 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 Yucaipa, 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 41 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 380.7 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 404.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.5 hours each way, a round trip means 17.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Yucaipa, CA before the return drive.
