How far is Cottonwood, CA from Oakland, CA?
The driving distance from Cottonwood, CA to Oakland, CA is about 194.9 miles (313.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 14m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 178.3 miles (287 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 28m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 03h 14m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Census-designated place in Colusa County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Cottonwood and Oakland.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood and Oakland.
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1
Start on 1st Street
19 m · 2 sec · 1st Street
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2
Turn left onto Main Street
1.3 mi · 2 min · Main Street
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3
Continue on Bowman Road
922 ft · 25 sec · Bowman Road
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4
Take the ramp left
1263 ft · 31 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
15.9 mi · 17 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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6
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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7
Keep slight right to continue on I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
33.2 mi · 36 min
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8
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: San Francisco
2201 ft · 54 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27.6 mi · 32 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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10
Continue on Carquinez Bridge
1.6 km · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge
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11
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
1847 ft · 24 sec · Eastshore Freeway
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12
Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway
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13
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
14.3 mi · 17 min · Eastshore Freeway
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80
1321 ft · 21 sec · Interstate Highway 80
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15
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
2783 ft · 43 sec · MacArthur Freeway
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16
Take the exit slight left toward MacArthur Boulevard, San Pablo Avenue, Emery Street
897 ft · 14 sec
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17
Keep slight right to continue on San Pablo Avenue, Emery Street
637 ft · 12 sec
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18
Turn right onto Watts Street
66 m · 12 sec · Watts Street
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19
Turn right onto Peralta Street
56 m · 12 sec · Peralta Street
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20
Turn left onto 35th Street
886 ft · 23 sec · 35th Street
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21
Turn right onto San Pablo Avenue
1.1 mi · 2 min · San Pablo Avenue
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22
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Junior Way
1758 ft · 1 min · Martin Luther King Junior Way
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23
Turn left onto 14th Street
1636 ft · 1 min · 14th Street
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 14th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Cottonwood and Oakland.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Westside Freeway
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 01h 40m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Sunny leaving Cottonwood and Sunny near Oakland.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Cottonwood to Oakland?
The road trip is about 194.9 miles (313.7 km) and usually takes 03h 14m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Arbuckle is a useful midpoint, sitting about 97.1 miles from Cottonwood and 97.8 miles from Oakland.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 178.3 miles (287 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:32 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.08 one way or $86.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cottonwood and Sunny near Oakland.
Stop Ideas Near Arbuckle
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Denny's
Northview Park
Pilot Travel Center
City of Colusa
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Arbuckle.
Marysville, California
Davis station
Sacramento Valley Station
Sacramento (State Capitol), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Cottonwood and Oakland. Straight-line distance: 178.35 mi (287.03 km).
#1 Cottonwood
Located in Shasta County at an elevation of 433 feet, this Northern California census-designated place is situated in the northern Sacramento Valley near where Cottonwood Creek meets the Sacramento River.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 40.3857100, -122.2808400 |
| Altitude | 132 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Oakland
The third most populous city in California, Oakland is a major center for business, manufacturing, and culture.
| Population | 424,891 |
| Coordinates | 37.8043700, -122.2708000 |
| Altitude | 13 |
| Country | United States |
End: 14th Street (-122.270903, 37.804207)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 314 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 29m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 52m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 53m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 14m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 47m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 25m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $43.08 | $86.15 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $44.71 | $89.43 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $46.02 | $92.04 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $57.88 | $115.76 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in California · Oct 15, 2026