How far is Santa Monica, CA from Oakland, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Monica, CA to Oakland, CA is about 370.9 miles (596.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 49m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 336.3 miles (541.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 38m 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 05h 49m.
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.
City in Kings County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Monica and Oakland.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Monica and Oakland.
-
1
Start on Lincoln Boulevard
2464 ft · 1 min · Lincoln Boulevard
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2
Turn left onto Olympic Boulevard
112 m · 11 sec · Olympic Boulevard
-
3
Take the ramp straight toward I 10 East: Santa Monica Freeway, Los Angeles
1351 ft · 35 sec
-
4
Merge slight left onto Santa Monica Freeway
2.5 mi · 3 min · Santa Monica Freeway
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5
Take the exit slight right toward I 405 North: Sacramento
1.2 km · 2 min
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6
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
19 mi · 22 min · San Diego Freeway
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7
Merge slight right
1.6 mi · 2 min
-
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
1.5 mi · 2 min
-
9
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
-
10
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
-
12
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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14
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
-
15
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.6 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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16
Keep slight left to continue on Castro Valley Freeway
2.4 mi · 3 min · Castro Valley Freeway
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17
Keep slight left to continue on I 880 North
2051 ft · 52 sec
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18
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
9.8 mi · 11 min · Nimitz Freeway
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19
Take the exit slight right toward Oak Street, Lakeside Drive
1226 ft · 33 sec
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20
Turn right onto Oak Street
1685 ft · 49 sec · Oak Street
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21
Turn left onto 12th Street
1523 ft · 46 sec · 12th Street
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22
Turn right onto Harrison Street
559 ft · 25 sec · Harrison Street
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23
Turn left onto 14th Street
1058 ft · 49 sec · 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 Santa Monica and Oakland.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
226 mi · 04h 02m
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.
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny leaving Santa Monica and Mostly Sunny near Oakland.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Monica to Oakland?
The road trip is about 370.9 miles (596.9 km) and usually takes 05h 49m 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?
Avenal is a useful midpoint, sitting about 185.3 miles from Santa Monica and 185.6 miles from Oakland.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 336.3 miles (541.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.6 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 5:22 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $75.52 one way or $151.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 116.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny around Santa Monica and Mostly Sunny near Oakland.
Stop Ideas Near Avenal
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Avenal.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Corcoran station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Monica and Oakland. Straight-line distance: 336.27 mi (541.17 km).
#1 Santa Monica
A city in Los Angeles County, California.
| Population | 90,024 |
| Coordinates | 34.0194500, -118.4911900 |
| Altitude | 32 |
| 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: 597 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 21m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 16m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 25m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 10m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 17m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 37m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $75.52 | $151.03 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $79.40 | $158.81 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $81.72 | $163.44 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $99.05 | $198.10 |
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 · Jun 02, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.