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Trip from Shafter, CA to Stockton, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 8m

Distance

219.9 mi

354 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$51

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 55m ★
6 AM
4h 8m
8 AM
4h 34m
10 AM
4h 17m
12 PM
4h 15m
3 PM
4h 19m
5 PM
4h 33m
8 PM
4h 0m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Kern County, California, United States

Shafter, CA

Wikimedia Commons

county seat of San Joaquin County, California, United States

Stockton, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 219.9-mile drive from Shafter, California, to Stockton, California, is achievable in about 4 hours and 8 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on the Westside Freeway, which accounts for 92% of the journey, with brief stints on East Lerdo Highway and South El Dorado Street. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is $51. The route is characterized as a highway-focused drive, offering a straightforward path through the Pacific Coast region of California. Given its manageable length, you can easily complete this drive without needing an overnight stop, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.

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

110 miles from Shafter, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 202.7 mi 3h 37m
East Lerdo Highway 14.6 mi 25m
South El Dorado Street 1 mi 1m
West Charter Way 0.6 mi 1m
North El Dorado Street 0.3 mi <1m
Jackson Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
East Fremont Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 202.7 mi, about 3h 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Shafter, CA and Stockton, CA.

1

Start on Jackson Avenue

322 ft · 14 sec · Jackson Avenue
2

Turn right onto East Lerdo Highway

15 mi · 25 min · East Lerdo Highway
3

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 45 sec
4

Merge onto I 5

178 mi · 3 hr 10 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

25 mi · 26 min · Westside Freeway
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 14 sec
Exit 471 Toward CA 4 West
7

Keep slight right at fork

407 ft · 5 sec
8

Turn straight onto West Charter Way

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Charter Way
Use the straight / left lanes.
9

Turn left onto South El Dorado Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · South El Dorado Street
10

Continue on North El Dorado Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · North El Dorado Street
11

Turn right onto East Fremont Street

117 ft · 5 sec · East Fremont Street
12

Arrive at destination

East Fremont Street

Trip Plan

For this 4-hour, 8-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With a longest stretch of over 200 miles on the Westside Freeway, plan for one well-timed stop to refuel and stretch your legs. The $51 fuel estimate is a good baseline for your budget. Given the highway-focused nature of this trip, staying alert and aware of your surroundings on the Westside Freeway is key. Remember to check your fuel level before embarking on the 202.7-mile segment to ensure a smooth journey.

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 110 miles from Shafter, CA, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 202.7 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 48 miles or 1h 2m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 110 miles or 2h 8m 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 23m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stockton, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Shafter, 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 Shafter, CA

This is one driving day of about 219.9 miles and 4h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Shafter, 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 Westside Freeway for about 202.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city ​​in Merced County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Los Banos, CA

110 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

Avenal, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Los Banos, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 110 miles from Shafter, 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 202.7 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Electrify America Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 78.5

Coalinga, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 78.5

Coalinga, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Rivian Adventure Network

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 110

Firebaugh, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18337484267

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.1 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 110

Firebaugh, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 15 and 219.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
15 mi into trip | ~26m in | I 5 / Westside Freeway

Merge onto I 5 / Westside Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
192.8 mi into trip | ~3h 37m in | I 5 / Westside Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
217.7 mi into trip | ~4h 4m in

Take the exit toward CA 4 West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 471 Toward CA 4 West
5
217.9 mi into trip | ~4h 4m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
219.9 mi into trip | ~4h 8m in | East Fremont Street

Turn right onto East Fremont Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$50.54 one way

$101.08 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 77 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $52.08 $104.17
premium $6.18 $53.48 $106.95
diesel $5.61 $48.55 $97.10

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$51

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$76–$101

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 76.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 66 0 $23.09 $10.56
Efficient EV 55 0 $19.24 $8.80
EV Truck/SUV 88 1 $30.79 $14.07

Gas CO2

77 kg

EV CO2

26 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Shafter, CA

Afternoon in Shafter on Sunday

Local time

12:34 PM

PDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Stockton, CA

Afternoon in Stockton on Sunday

Local time

12:34 PM

PDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

50°F

Los Banos, CA

110 mi in

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

7 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

4h 8m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 219.9-mile journey. The Westside Freeway dominates the drive, offering a longest uninterrupted stretch of 202.7 miles. This means you'll likely encounter consistent speeds and a predominantly interstate feel for the bulk of your travel. While 92% of the route is on major highways, brief segments on East Lerdo Highway and South El Dorado Street will provide slight variations before you reach your destination in Stockton.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 202.7 mi on Westside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and East Lerdo Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 15 miles in near I 5 / Westside Freeway.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 8m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 15 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 192.8 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 217.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

About the Cities

Arriving in Stockton, CA

Full guide →

Founded 1849

Stockton is a city in the San Joaquin Valley in northern California. Sitting on the San Joaquin Delta, Stockton is the world's most inland natural port and used to be a major port city. One of the larger cities along I-5 through the Central Valley, it is a convenient stop and offers a variety of restaurants and accommodations for road-trippers. There are several shopping centers and movie theaters and one art museum but few major attractions.

Top landmarks

  • • Haggin Museum — art museum in Stockton, California
  • • USCGC Fir — Lighthouse tender
  • • USS Lucid — 1953 Aggressive-class minesweeper

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 4h 8m. Total distance: 219.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 202.7 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.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: at 15 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 192.8 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 217.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Stockton, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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