This 370-mile journey from Sun Village, CA to Oakland, CA is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can comfortably be completed in about 7 hours. With 86% of the route on highways, it's designed for efficient travel, making it an ideal day trip. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $85. You'll be covering a significant distance, with the longest uninterrupted stretch measuring 225.6 miles, so plan your breaks accordingly. Both your starting and ending points are within the Pacific Coast region, so you'll remain in familiar territory throughout this California drive.
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
185 miles from Sun Village, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
225.6 mi
4h 1m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.6 mi
34m
West Avenue D
22.4 mi
30m
Golden State Freeway
21.1 mi
24m
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi
18m
Antelope Valley Freeway
13.7 mi
15m
Lancaster Road
13.5 mi
18m
Nimitz Freeway
9.8 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sun Village, CA and Oakland, CA.
1
Start on East Avenue R 14
383 ft·22 sec·East Avenue R 14
2
Turn left onto 96th Street East
411 ft·16 sec·96th Street East
3
Turn right onto East Avenue S
0.1 mi·22 sec·East Avenue S
4
Turn right onto 95th Street East
1.5 mi·2 min·95th Street East
5
Turn left onto East Palmdale Boulevard
4.8 mi·6 min·East Palmdale Boulevard
6
Enter roundabout onto CA 138
154 ft·5 sec·East Palmdale Boulevard
7
Continue on CA 138
5.0 mi·6 min·East Palmdale Boulevard
8
Take the exit onto CA 138
0.3 mi·40 sec·CA 138
Toward CA 14 North, CA 138 West: Mojave
9
Merge onto CA 14; CA 138
10 mi·12 min·Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 14; CA 138
3.3 mi·3 min·Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto CA 138
0.3 mi·44 sec·CA 138
Exit 49Toward CA 138: Avenue D, GormanUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on CA 138
22 mi·30 min·West Avenue D
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on CA 138
13 mi·18 min·Lancaster Road
14
Take the exit
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 5 North: Sacramento
15
Merge onto I 5
21 mi·24 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi·4 hr 1 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi·17 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi·1 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
19
Merge onto I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi·13 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 238
2.4 mi·2 min·Castro Valley Freeway
Exit 34Toward I 238Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 880 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto I 880
9.8 mi·11 min·Nimitz Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 41AToward Oak Street, Lakeside DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Oak Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·12th Street
Use the straight lane.
27
Turn right onto Harrison Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·Harrison Street
Use the right lane.
28
Turn left onto 14th Street
0.2 mi·48 sec·14th Street
29
Arrive at destination
14th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour duration and 370-mile distance, leaving Sun Village in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and arrive in Oakland with time to spare. You'll have 2 planned stops, which is a good number for a drive of this length to manage fatigue and fuel. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 225.6 miles on the Westside Freeway, to avoid unexpected delays. Planning your stops around available services on these main freeways will ensure a smooth and efficient 1-day trip.
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 185 miles from Sun Village, CA, or about 3h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 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 81 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 185 miles or 3h 37m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakland, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sun Village, 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 Sun Village, CA
This is one driving day of about 370 miles and 7h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Sun Village, 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 225.6 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 25.6 and 368.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
25.6 mi into trip|~33m in|CA 138
Take the exit onto CA 138 toward CA 138: Avenue D, Gorman
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 49
Toward CA 138: Avenue D, Gorman
7
84.1 mi into trip|~1h 49m 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
8
356.3 mi into trip|~6h 43m in|I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway toward I 238
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 34
Toward I 238
7
358.7 mi into trip|~6h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 880 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 880 North
8
368.8 mi into trip|~6h 57m in
Take the exit toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
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 41A
Toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$85.04 one way
$170.08 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg130 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$87.63
$175.27
premium
$6.18
$89.98
$179.96
diesel
$5.61
$81.69
$163.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$85
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$110–$135
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
111
1
$38.85
$17.76
Efficient EV
92.5
1
$32.38
$14.80
EV Truck/SUV
148
1
$51.80
$23.68
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Sun Village, CA
Morning
in Sun Village on Sunday
Local time
7:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Oakland, CA
Morning
in Oakland on Sunday
Local time
7:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Clear
N 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 12:31AM PDT until April 17 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 12:31AM PDT until April 17 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas 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
6 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
7h 1m 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.
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...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 370
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 370
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...
27 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 89.3
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 experience on this route, with an 86% highway share. You'll be navigating the Westside Freeway, Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, and West Avenue D for much of the 370 miles. The longest continuous segment you'll encounter is 225.6 miles on the Westside Freeway, which indicates a consistent pace for a large portion of the drive. While primarily a highway-focused profile, the transition between these main roads will define the character of your trip, offering a predictable yet efficient passage.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 225.6 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway 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 25.6 miles in near CA 138.
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 370 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 25.6 miles (CA 138): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.1 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 356.3 miles (I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sun Village, CA and Oakland, CA, road signs point toward Gorman and San Francisco.
Oakland is a port city in the Bay Area of California in the United States. Once an industrial area overshadowed by San Francisco, its larger neighbor to the west, this city of 440,000 people (2020) has begun to step out from under San Francisco's shadow with its notable natural and architectural features and its rise as the multicultural "hipster" city of the Bay Area.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 1m. Total distance: 370 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 225.6 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.
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 Oakland, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 25.6 miles (CA 138): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.1 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 356.3 miles (I 238 / Castro Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 14.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Oakland, CA before the return drive.
