Water
0.1 mi from route
Trip from San Joaquin Hills, CA to Fresno, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h
Distance
264.8 mi
426 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$65
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 47m
★
6 AM
5h 1m
8 AM
5h 28m
10 AM
5h 10m
12 PM
5h 8m
3 PM
5h 12m
5 PM
5h 27m
8 PM
4h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Joaquin Hills, CA
Sean P. Twomey
Fresno, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 264.8-mile drive from San Joaquin Hills, CA, to Fresno, CA, is a solid day trip, taking about 5 hours to complete. You'll spend approximately 60% of your time on major highways, primarily using the Golden State Highway and Golden State Freeway, with a portion on I 5 Truck. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $61. Given its manageable duration, this route is best suited for a single-day adventure, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. The drive offers a mixed experience as you transition from the Pacific Coast region towards the Central Valley.
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
132.4 miles from San Joaquin Hills, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Golden State Highway | 98.2 mi | 1h 45m |
| Golden State Freeway | 83.3 mi | 1h 34m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.7 mi | 43m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 29.6 mi | 34m |
| Costa Mesa Freeway | 5 mi | 5m |
| San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Corona Del Mar Freeway | 2 mi | 2m |
| Yosemite Freeway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Golden State Highway
— 98.2 mi, about 1h 45m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 288 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~5,724 veh/hr typical · worst 6,657
Quietest
2 AM
~883 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 86 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 Joaquin Hills, CA and Fresno, CA.
1
Start on Villeneuve
103 ft
·
4 sec
·
Villeneuve
2
Continue on Versailles
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Versailles
3
Turn right onto Clermont
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Clermont
4
Turn left onto Menton
197 ft
·
11 sec
·
Menton
5
Turn right onto Newport Ridge Drive East
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Newport Ridge Drive East
6
Turn left onto San Joaquin Hills Road
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
San Joaquin Hills Road
Use the left lane.
7
At end of road, turn left onto Newport Coast Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Newport Coast Drive
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on Newport Coast Drive
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Newport Coast Drive
9
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 73 Toll North: Long Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto CA 73 Toll
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on CA 73
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Corona Del Mar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 17A
Toward CA 55 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward CA 55 North: Anaheim, Riverside
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto CA 55
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Costa Mesa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 55
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Costa Mesa Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 10B
Toward I 5 North: Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 5
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
27 mi
·
30 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on CA 99
98 mi
·
1 hr 45 min
·
Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 131
Toward CA 41 North: Yosemite
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Merge onto CA 41
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Yosemite Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on CA 41
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 127
Toward Tulare Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Turn right onto East Tulare Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
East Tulare Avenue
34
Turn left onto North 1st Street
390 ft
·
15 sec
·
North 1st Street
Use the left lane.
35
Continue on North First Street
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
North First Street
36
Turn right onto East Washington Avenue
28 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Washington Avenue
37
Arrive at destination
East Washington Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from San Joaquin Hills to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 98.2 miles, you can easily complete this journey in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer segments on the Golden State Highway, as services can be spaced out. The $61 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting your trip.
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 132.4 miles from San Joaquin Hills, CA, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.2 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 58 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.4 miles or 2h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fresno, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Joaquin Hills, 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 Joaquin Hills, CA
This is one driving day of about 264.8 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from San Joaquin Hills, 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 Golden State Highway for about 98.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
132 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 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 132.4 miles from San Joaquin Hills, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Golden State Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Bear Mountain Truck Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Castaic Truck Stop
0.1 mi from route
C. H. Warlow Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Valley Fuel Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.8 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.9 mi from route
Service Plaza
1 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.1 mi from route
Rest Area
1.6 mi from route
Rest Area
1.7 mi from route
Rest Area
1.8 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 295 decision points cluster between mile 6.8 and 264 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
6.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward CA 55 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17A
Toward CA 55 North
8
7.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 55 North: Anaheim, Riverside
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 55 North: Anaheim, Riverside
7
12.5 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Santa Ana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10B
Toward I 5 North: Santa Ana
9
70.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
8
264 mi into trip
|
~4h 58m in
Take the exit toward Tulare Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 127
Toward Tulare Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.80 one way
$129.61 round trip
$6.22/gal
25.4 MPG avg
93 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.40 | $66.73 | $133.46 |
| premium | $6.57 | $68.45 | $136.90 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $64.42 | $128.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$65
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 79.4 | 0 | $27.80 | $12.71 |
| Efficient EV | 66.2 | 0 | $23.17 | $10.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 105.9 | 1 | $37.07 | $16.95 |
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% 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.
Origin
San Joaquin Hills, CA
Late night in San Joaquin Hills on Saturday
Local time
4:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Clear
NE 10 to 15 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 2:31AM PDT until October 16 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 2:15AM PDT until October 16 at 10:00AM PDT by NWS Sacramento CA
Destination
Fresno, CA
Late night in Fresno on Saturday
Local time
4:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Clear
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 2:31AM PDT until October 16 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 2:15AM PDT until October 16 at 10:00AM PDT by NWS Sacramento 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
15 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
5h 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.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 73.1
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 137
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, blending significant highway stretches with other road types. You'll encounter about 60% highway driving, so be prepared for periods of consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 98.2 miles, primarily on the Golden State Highway, which can feel like a long haul. While not entirely monotonous, the drive is characterized by its efficiency in covering distance, rather than dramatic scenic shifts.
60% 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: 98.2 mi on Golden State Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 6.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 264.8 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 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,020 ft
165 ft
Total Climb
3,988 ft
Total Descent
4,309 ft
Highest Point
4,020 ft
~113.5 mi in
Elevation Range
3,854 ft
Notable High Points
4,020 ft at ~113.5 miles
+1,163 ft prominence
About the Cities
Starting in San Joaquin Hills, CA
Full guide →Arriving in Fresno, CA
Full guide →Founded 1872
Fresno is in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Many visitors find themselves stopping in Fresno on the way to Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, or other destinations in the Sierras.
Top landmarks
- • Fresno station — train station in Fresno, California
- • Holy Trinity Church, Fresno — church building in Fresno, United States of America
- • Kearney Park — park in Fresno County, California, United States of America
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 5h. Total distance: 264.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.2 miles on Golden State Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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 Fresno, 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 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fresno, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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