This straightforward 103.3-mile drive from Waterford to San Francisco is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 13 minutes. The route primarily utilizes major freeways, with 78% of the journey on highways like the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway and MacArthur Freeway, making it a highway-focused experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $24, this drive offers a budget-friendly option for reaching the Pacific Coast destination. Given its relatively short duration and consistent road profile, you won't need an overnight stop to complete this journey comfortably.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.6 miles from Waterford, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.6 mi
34m
CA 132
21.8 mi
29m
MacArthur Freeway
15.5 mi
17m
William Elton Brown Freeway
11.8 mi
12m
Yosemite Boulevard
11.7 mi
18m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6 mi
9m
Route 80
1.4 mi
2m
La Loma Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
— 29.6 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterford, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on E Street
47 ft·4 sec·E Street
2
Turn right onto Bentley Street
380 ft·19 sec·Bentley Street
3
Turn left onto J9
0.2 mi·25 sec·F Street
4
Turn right onto CA 132
12 mi·18 min·Yosemite Boulevard
5
Turn slight right onto La Loma Avenue
0.3 mi·35 sec·La Loma Avenue
6
Enter roundabout onto La Loma Avenue
120 ft·8 sec·La Loma Avenue
7
Continue on La Loma Avenue
0.4 mi·37 sec·La Loma Avenue
8
Enter roundabout onto La Loma Avenue
86 ft·1 sec·La Loma Avenue
9
Continue on La Loma Avenue
0.3 mi·26 sec·La Loma Avenue
10
Enter roundabout onto La Loma Avenue
71 ft·1 sec·La Loma Avenue
11
Continue on La Loma Avenue
511 ft·12 sec·La Loma Avenue
12
Continue on 19th Street
527 ft·12 sec·19th Street
13
Turn straight onto Downey Avenue
0.2 mi·22 sec·Downey Avenue
14
Continue on CA 108
0.7 mi·1 min·Needham Street
15
Continue on Needham Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·Needham Street
16
Continue on CA 132
3.1 mi·4 min·CA 132
17
Turn left onto CA 132
0.4 mi·30 sec·North Dakota Avenue
18
Take the exit onto CA 132
19 mi·24 min·CA 132
19
Merge onto I 580
11 mi·11 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi·1 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
21
Merge onto I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
12 mi·13 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
8.3 mi·9 min·MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Oakland, San FranciscoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
7.2 mi·8 min·MacArthur Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 19AToward I 80 West: San Francisco
26
Merge onto I 80
0.2 mi·17 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Toward I 80 West: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi·33 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
29
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
30
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi·1 min·Route 80
Exit 2AUse the straight / slight left lanes.
31
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi·32 sec·Route 80
Exit 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 1BToward US 101 North: Golden Gate BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi·25 sec·Central Freeway
34
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi·42 sec·Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434BToward Octavia Boulevard, Fell StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Market Street
Use the right lane.
36
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
37
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Since this 103.3-mile drive can be completed in just over two hours, you have plenty of flexibility in planning your departure. Leaving Waterford in the morning will put you in San Francisco with ample time to enjoy your destination. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a major change in road is nearly 30 miles on the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, so ensure you're topped up before heading into that segment. The $24 fuel estimate is helpful for budgeting, and with no planned stops suggested, you can focus on reaching San Francisco efficiently.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.6 miles from Waterford, CA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.6 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 23 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.6 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Francisco, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waterford, 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 Waterford, CA
This is one driving day of about 103.3 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Waterford, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway for about 29.6 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 66.3 and 101.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
66.3 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
78 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Oakland, San Francisco
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: Oakland, San Francisco
6
86.3 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
94.4 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway toward I 80 West: San Francisco
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
8
101.8 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.41 one way
$46.83 round trip
$5.76/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.96
$24.22
$48.45
premium
$6.09
$24.78
$49.55
diesel
$5.40
$21.97
$43.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31
0
$10.85
$4.96
Efficient EV
25.8
0
$9.04
$4.13
EV Truck/SUV
41.3
0
$14.46
$6.61
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 24, 2026
Origin
Waterford, CA
Afternoon
in Waterford on Saturday
Local time
4:45 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Afternoon
in San Francisco on Saturday
Local time
4:45 PM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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
2h 13m 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.
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 103.3
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 96.1
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 103.3
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,...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
$15
near mile 103.3
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...
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-driven experience on this route, with 78% of the miles on freeways. You'll encounter stretches on the Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway, including a continuous segment of 29.6 miles, which forms the longest uninterrupted driving portion. The CA 132 will also be a significant part of your journey, connecting you to the larger freeway systems. This profile suggests a relatively fast-paced drive with consistent speeds, typical of intercity freeway travel.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.6 mi on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway and CA 132. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 66.3 miles in near I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway.
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 103.3 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 66.3 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 78 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.3 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The centerpiece of the Bay Area, San Francisco is one of the most visited cities in the world, and with good reason. The cultural center of northern California, San Francisco is renowned for its mixture of scenic beauty and unique culture that makes it one of the most vibrant and desirable cities in the nation, if not the world.
Sandwiched between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean on a small square of land seven miles (11 km) on each side, San Francisco offers a wealth of treasures for the visitor, from the windswept and often foggy bay to the steep hills lined with Victorian homes that overlook the spectacular scenery of the city.
Top landmarks
•Golden Gate Bridge — suspension bridge on the San Francisco Bay
•Alcatraz Island — island in San Francisco, California, United States of America
•San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge — suspension bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland, California, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 103.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.6 miles on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway. 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 San Francisco, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 66.3 miles (I 580 / Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 78 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.3 miles (I 580 / MacArthur 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 (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at San Francisco, CA before heading back.
