Traveling from Willows to San Francisco covers 140.5 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 16 minutes. Since the entire journey remains within the Pacific Coast region of California, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $19 on fuel for the trek, which relies on local roads rather than major interstates. Because this route avoids high-speed highways, it is best suited for drivers who prefer a slower, more deliberate pace. Consider this a straightforward, manageable drive that connects Northern California’s inland areas to the Bay Area.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
70.1 miles from Willows, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
47.8 mi
51m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
33.9 mi
41m
I 505
33.2 mi
35m
Eastshore Freeway
15.2 mi
17m
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.4 mi
3m
Route 80
1.4 mi
2m
Highway 99W
1 mi
1m
Carquinez Bridge
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 47.8 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Willows, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on CA 162
101 ft·9 sec·West Wood Street
2
Turn left onto I 5 BUS
0.3 mi·26 sec·Old U.S. Route 99W
3
Continue on I 5 BUS
0.8 mi·1 min·South Tehama Street
4
Continue on I 5 BUS
1.0 mi·1 min·Highway 99W
5
Turn right onto I 5 BUS
0.2 mi·35 sec·County Road 57
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
7
Merge onto I 5
48 mi·51 min·Westside Freeway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 505
33 mi·35 min·I 505
Toward I 505 South: Winters, San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 1AToward I 80 West: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 80
28 mi·32 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi·1 min·Carquinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Eastshore Freeway
13
Continue on I 80
3.4 mi·3 min·Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 80
14 mi·16 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway
0.8 mi·1 min·Eastshore Freeway
Toward San FranciscoUse the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 80
0.4 mi·33 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi·33 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
19
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
20
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi·1 min·Route 80
Exit 2AUse the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi·32 sec·Route 80
Exit 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 1BToward US 101 North: Golden Gate BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi·25 sec·Central Freeway
24
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi·42 sec·Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434BToward Octavia Boulevard, Fell StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Market Street
Use the right lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
27
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 16-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. Because the route consists entirely of local roads, you should factor in extra time for traffic or slower sections when navigating through the turning segments. We recommend fueling up before you leave Willows to keep your $19 budget on track, as local roads may offer fewer convenient stops than major highway corridors. Since there are no designated stops on this 140.5-mile path, be sure to handle your rest and supply needs before hitting the road. Prioritize a daytime departure to ensure you have the best visibility for the many turns you will encounter along the way.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.1 miles from Willows, CA, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.8 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 31 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.1 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 8m
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 Willows, 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 Willows, CA
This is one driving day of about 140.2 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Willows, 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 Westside Freeway for about 47.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 50.4 and 138.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
50.4 mi into trip|~56m in|I 505
Keep slight right at fork onto I 505 toward I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
8
83.6 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 West: San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward I 80 West: San Francisco
6
130.4 mi into trip|~2h 26m in|Eastshore Freeway
Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway toward San Francisco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward San Francisco
6
132 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
138.8 mi into trip|~2h 39m 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
$32.22 one way
$64.45 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$33.21
$66.41
premium
$6.18
$34.10
$68.19
diesel
$5.61
$30.95
$61.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.1
0
$14.72
$6.73
Efficient EV
35.1
0
$12.27
$5.61
EV Truck/SUV
56.1
0
$19.63
$8.97
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 15, 2026
Origin
Willows, CA
Night
in Willows on Saturday
Local time
9:34 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Night
in San Francisco on Saturday
Local time
9:34 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°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
25 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
2h 42m 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 140.2
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 125.7
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 111.2
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 140.2
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 140.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise as you navigate via Route 99W, South Tehama Street, and Highway 99W. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be dealing with typical freeway monotony, but you should prepare for a more technical drive. There is no single long stretch of uninterrupted road here, meaning the route demands your full attention as you transition between local segments. The character of the drive is defined by these constant turns, providing a distinct contrast to more direct, high-capacity thoroughfares. Behind the wheel, you will find a steady rhythm on these local roads that requires frequent adjustments rather than cruise control.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.8 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 50.4 miles in near I 505.
Driving Effort9/10
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 17 significant decision points across 140.2 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 50.4 miles (I 505): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 130.4 miles (Eastshore Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 140.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.8 miles on Westside 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. 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 50.4 miles (I 505): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 130.4 miles (Eastshore Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (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.
