Origin
Vacaville, CA
Late night in Vacaville on Tuesday
Local time
5:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Vacaville, CA to Fremont, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
72 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Vacaville, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Vacaville to Fremont is 72 miles and takes about 1 hour 29 minutes via Donald D Doyle Highway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California's Pacific Coast region, primarily utilizing surface roads with some highway stretches. It's a straightforward trip, ideal for a quick move or a day excursion without extensive planning. You'll encounter a blend of local travel and highway cruising, making it a practical option for getting between these two Northern California cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Donald D Doyle Highway | 29.6 mi | 34m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 12.5 mi | 14m |
| Luther E Gibson Freeway | 12.4 mi | 14m |
| Benicia-Martinez Bridge | 8 mi | 9m |
| Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Fremont Boulevard | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| Washington Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Davis Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Donald D Doyle Highway
— 29.6 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vacaville, CA and Fremont, CA.
1
Start on Merchant Street
17 ft
·
0 sec
·
Merchant Street
2
Continue on Main Street
351 ft
·
17 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto Davis Street
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
Davis Street
4
Turn right onto Hickory Lane
457 ft
·
12 sec
·
Hickory Lane
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
6
Merge onto I 80
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 40
Toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 680
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Luther E Gibson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 680
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Benicia-Martinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 680
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 15
Toward Washington Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto Washington Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington Boulevard
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on Fremont Boulevard
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Fremont Boulevard
16
Turn left onto Mowry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Mowry Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on Mowry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Mowry Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
Mowry Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36 miles from Vacaville, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 13.2 and 68.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
13.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
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 40
Toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
6
34.2 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
40.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
I 680 / Donald D Doyle Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680 / Donald D Doyle Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
68.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward Washington Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 15
Toward Washington Boulevard
6
68.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
Washington Boulevard
Turn right onto Washington Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.55 one way
$33.10 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $17.05 | $34.11 |
| premium | $6.18 | $17.51 | $35.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.90 | $31.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$17
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.56 | $3.46 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.08 | $4.61 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Fremont, CA
Late night in Fremont on Tuesday
Local time
5:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
22 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
1h 29m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with highway sections making up 17% of the total mileage. You'll experience a longest stretch of 29.6 miles on the Donald D Doyle Highway, offering a more continuous cruising experience before transitioning back to local streets. Expect a moderate number of exits and intersections as you navigate through populated areas, requiring attention as you merge and diverge from faster-moving traffic.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.6 mi on Donald D Doyle Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 13.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.2 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.4 miles (I 680 / Donald D Doyle Highway): 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.
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 Vacaville, CA to Fremont, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Jose along the way.
San Jose
13.2 mi in
|
~16m
About the Cities
Starting in Vacaville, CA
Full guide →Founded 1852
Vacaville is in Solano County in the Sacramento Valley of California.
Top landmarks
- • Will H. Buck House — Vacaville, California
Arriving in Fremont, CA
Full guide →Founded 1956
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
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 1h 29m. Total distance: 72 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.6 miles on Donald D Doyle Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.2 miles (I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.4 miles (I 680 / Donald D Doyle Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fremont, CA before heading back.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Fremont, CA
More trips to Fremont, CA
Explore more options from Vacaville, CA or browse trips ending in Fremont, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.