This 377.3-mile drive from Signal Hill, California, to Fremont, California, is designed as a single-day adventure, taking approximately 7 hours and 7 minutes to complete. With 99% of the journey on highways, it’s a straightforward, focused drive. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $87, making it a budget-friendly option for a quick transition between the Pacific Coast regions. You'll be covering a significant distance, so be prepared for a full day behind the wheel. This route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from Southern California to the Bay Area.
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
188.6 miles from Signal Hill, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
182.5 mi
3h 15m
San Diego Freeway
43.2 mi
49m
CA 152
41.1 mi
51m
I 5 Truck
39.3 mi
45m
Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi
25m
South Valley Freeway
19.9 mi
22m
Nimitz Freeway
13 mi
14m
US 101
12.2 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 182.5 mi, about 3h 15m
Traffic on I-405
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 192 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~8,064 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~710 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 43 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 Signal Hill, CA and Fremont, CA.
1
Start on East Willow Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Willow Street
2
Turn right onto Orange Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Orange Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto East 32nd Street
444 ft·12 sec·East 32nd Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
5
Keep slight left at fork
283 ft·6 sec
Toward I 405 North: San Diego FreewayUse the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 405
43 mi·49 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight lane.
7
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.6 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161AToward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 TruckUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi·41 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
183 mi·3 hr 15 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 403BToward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
13
Continue on CA 152; CA33
29 mi·33 min·CA 152; CA33
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 152
12 mi·16 min·CA 152
15
Take the exit onto CA 152
0.5 mi·1 min·CA 152
Toward US 101 North: San Jose
16
Merge onto US 101; CA 152
20 mi·22 min·South Valley Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
12 mi·14 min·US 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 388BToward I 880 North: OaklandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 880
7.3 mi·8 min·Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
5.7 mi·6 min·Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 17Toward Mowry Avenue, Central FremontUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn right onto Mowry Avenue
1.4 mi·2 min·Mowry Avenue
Use the right lane.
23
Arrive at destination
Mowry Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour duration, starting your drive from Signal Hill early in the morning is highly recommended to avoid the worst of traffic. With only 2 planned stops suggested, you have flexibility in how you pace your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you approach the longer stretches, and take advantage of the numerous service areas along the main highways. A good strategy is to fill up before you begin the 182.5-mile segment on the Westside Freeway to ensure a smooth continuation.
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 188.6 miles from Signal Hill, CA, or about 3h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.5 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 83 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 188.6 miles or 3h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fremont, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Signal Hill, 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 Signal Hill, CA
This is one driving day of about 377.3 miles and 7h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Signal Hill, 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 182.5 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 375.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 405 North: San Diego Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 405 North: San Diego Freeway
9
46.5 mi into trip|~55m 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
7
106.5 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North
7
362.4 mi into trip|~6h 48m in
Take the exit toward I 880 North: Oakland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 388B
Toward I 880 North: Oakland
8
375.6 mi into trip|~7h 3m in
Take the exit toward Mowry Avenue, Central Fremont
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 17
Toward Mowry Avenue, Central Fremont
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$78.94 one way
$157.87 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg132 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$81.98
$163.96
premium
$5.67
$84.15
$168.30
diesel
$4.80
$71.24
$142.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$79
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$104–$129
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113.2
1
$39.62
$18.11
Efficient EV
94.3
1
$33.01
$15.09
EV Truck/SUV
150.9
1
$52.82
$24.15
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Signal Hill, CA
Night
in Signal Hill on Sunday
Local time
11:25 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Patchy Fog
SSW 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 7:02PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Fremont, CA
Night
in Fremont on Sunday
Local time
11:25 PM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 2 to 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 7:02PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard 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
10 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 7m 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.
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...
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...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 104.1
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...
30 mi from route
~75 min detour
Free
near mile 377.3
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 for 99% of this 377.3-mile trip. You'll primarily be navigating the Westside Freeway and San Diego Freeway, with a segment on CA-152. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 182.5 miles on the Westside Freeway, so plan for extended periods of consistent driving. While largely a highway experience, the character shifts as you move north, transitioning from the more southern California freeway feel to the approach towards the Bay Area.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 182.5 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and San Diego Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 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 20 significant decision points across 377.3 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 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 106.5 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,894 ft55 ft
Total Climb
3,237 ft
Total Descent
3,330 ft
Highest Point
2,894 ft
~80.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,839 ft
Notable High Points
2,894 ft at ~80.8 miles+1,542 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Signal Hill, CA and Fremont, CA, road signs point toward Hollister and San Jose.
Long Beach is a large port city in Los Angeles County in Southern California. Long Beach has some nice people-gathering amenities and genuine tourist attractions, such as a world-class aquarium and the Queen Mary floating museum/hotel. Special events are also held in the city like the annual Long Beach Grand Prix (a premier racing event held on city streets) and the annual Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride event. When compared to other areas like Hollywood, West Hollywood, Santa Monica and West L.A., Long Beach may not always be at the top of someone's tourist visit to the Los Angeles area, but the city draws its fair share of visitors and has proven it can definitely hold its own.
Fremont is a suburban city in the southern part of the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area; it is the 4th largest city in the Bay Area by population. Fremont is in the southern part of Alameda County, California, between Union City to the north, Sunol and the hills to the east, Milpitas and Santa Clara County to the south, and the San Francisco Bay to the west. The city of Newark, near the edge of the Bay, is surrounded by the city of Fremont.
Fremont industry is not particularly large relative to other parts of the Bay Area, but neither is it a bedroom community. Many people in Fremont work locally in the electronics and high-tech industry, while many others commute to Silicon Valley or San Francisco locations for work.
Top landmarks
•Mission San José — 18th-century Spanish mission in Fremont, California
•Ardenwood Historic Farm — human settlement in California, United States of America
•Niles Depot Museum — railway museum in Niles, California
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 7m. Total distance: 377.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 182.5 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 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 Fremont, 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 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 106.5 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, César E. Chávez National Monument and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fremont, CA before the return drive.
