Driving from Susanville to Oakland covers 255.6 miles, a journey that typically takes about 5 hours and 33 minutes. You can easily complete this trip in a single day, as it is designed as a one-day excursion. Expect to spend approximately $59 on fuel for the trek. You will navigate via CA 99, CA 32, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Both the starting point in Susanville and your final destination in Oakland are located within the Pacific Coast region, providing a consistent coastal-state atmosphere throughout the 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
127.8 miles from Susanville, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 99
53.2 mi
1h 8m
CA 32
52.4 mi
1h 10m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
42.1 mi
48m
Hillcrest Road
28.8 mi
38m
CA 36
18.1 mi
26m
Eastshore Freeway
14.7 mi
17m
Sutter Causeway
12.7 mi
16m
Vic Fazio Highway
10.7 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
CA 99
— 53.2 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Susanville, CA and Oakland, CA.
1
Start on Foss Street
61 ft·11 sec·Foss Street
2
Turn left onto CA 36
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Continue on CA 36
0.1 mi·9 sec·South Pine Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on CA 36
29 mi·38 min·Hillcrest Road
5
Enter roundabout onto CA 36
138 ft·9 sec·CA 36
6
Continue on CA 36
18 mi·26 min·CA 36
7
Turn left onto CA 32
52 mi·1 hr 10 min·CA 32
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left
361 ft·10 sec
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·12 sec
Use the straight lane.
10
Merge onto CA 99
9.9 mi·11 min·CA 99
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99
43 mi·56 min·CA 99
Toward Yuba CityUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward CA 113 South: Woodland, Tudor Road
13
Turn right onto CA 113
2.1 mi·2 min·Tudor Road
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on CA 113
2.5 mi·3 min·South George Washington Boulevard
15
Continue on CA 113
13 mi·16 min·Sutter Causeway
16
Continue on E8
7.9 mi·11 min·County Road 102
17
Continue on E8
128 ft·6 sec·County Road 102
18
Turn right onto East Main Street
1.3 mi·2 min·East Main Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward CA 113 South: Davis
20
Merge onto CA 113
11 mi·12 min·Vic Fazio Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 80; CA 113
42 mi·48 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi·1 min·Carquinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Eastshore Freeway
24
Continue on I 80
3.4 mi·3 min·Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 80
14 mi·16 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
0.3 mi·21 sec·Interstate Highway 80
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San JoseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
0.5 mi·42 sec·MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, StocktonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi·13 sec
Exit 19AToward MacArthur Boulevard, San Pablo Avenue, Emery StreetUse the straight / slight left lanes.
29
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward San Pablo Avenue, Emery StreetUse the slight right lane.
30
Turn right onto Watts Street
216 ft·11 sec·Watts Street
31
Turn right onto Peralta Street
182 ft·11 sec·Peralta Street
32
Turn left onto 35th Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·35th Street
33
Turn right onto San Pablo Avenue
1.1 mi·2 min·San Pablo Avenue
34
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Junior Way
0.3 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Junior Way
35
Turn left onto 14th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·14th Street
36
Arrive at destination
14th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 5-hour and 33-minute commitment, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and maintain a consistent pace across the 255.6-mile distance. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $59 estimate can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and current local pricing. Because the route is categorized as a mixed drive, stay alert during the transitions between the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and the smaller state routes. Flexibility is a major advantage here, so adjust your pace if traffic patterns shift on the busier sections of CA 99.
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 127.8 miles from Susanville, CA, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.2 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 56 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.8 miles or 2h 51m 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 37m
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 Susanville, 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 Susanville, CA
This is one driving day of about 255.6 miles and 5h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Susanville, 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 CA 99 for about 53.2 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 110.2 and 253.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
110.2 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|CA 99
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99 toward Yuba City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Yuba City
8
252.5 mi into trip|~5h 27m in|I 580 / Interstate Highway 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / Interstate Highway 80 toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oaklan...
8
252.7 mi into trip|~5h 27m in|I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockt...
8
253.3 mi into trip|~5h 28m in
Take the exit toward MacArthur Boulevard, San Pablo Avenue, Emery Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 19A
Toward MacArthur Boulevard, San Pablo Avenue, E...
9
253.4 mi into trip|~5h 28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward San Pablo Avenue, Emery Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward San Pablo Avenue, Emery Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.75 one way
$117.50 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$60.54
$121.08
premium
$6.18
$62.16
$124.32
diesel
$5.61
$56.43
$112.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.7
0
$26.84
$12.27
Efficient EV
63.9
0
$22.37
$10.22
EV Truck/SUV
102.2
1
$35.78
$16.36
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 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
Susanville, CA
Late night
in Susanville on Sunday
Local time
1:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
32°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Oakland, CA
Late night
in Oakland on Sunday
Local time
1:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Paradise, CA
128 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
35 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
5h 33m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This mixed drive offers a varied experience behind the wheel, transitioning between different types of infrastructure. Approximately 56 percent of the journey is spent on highways, balancing faster stretches with more localized roads. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted segment of 53.2 miles while traveling on CA 99. The road’s personality shifts as you move between high-speed highway sections and the more technical navigation required on state routes. Prepare for a dynamic change of pace that keeps the drive engaging from start to finish.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.2 mi on CA 99.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 110.2 miles in near CA 99.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 255.6 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 110.2 miles (CA 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 252.5 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 252.7 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Susanville, CA to Oakland, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Yuba City along the way.
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 5h 33m. Total distance: 255.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.2 miles on CA 99. 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 110.2 miles (CA 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 252.5 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 252.7 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 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.
