How far is Thornton, CA from Oakland, CA?

The driving distance from Thornton, CA to Oakland, CA is about 71.5 miles (115 km), with a travel time of about 01h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 54.5 miles (87.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
71.44 mi
01h 20m
Flight
54.5 mi
87.71 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Thornton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
54.5 mi
Kilometers
87.71 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
71.44 mi
Kilometers
114.97 km
Drive Time
01h 20m

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 01h 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Oakland
Fri, Nov 6, 6:33 PM PST
Return by in Thornton
Fri, Nov 6, 7:54 PM PST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Thornton
2026-11-06T17:12
Arrive Oakland
Fri, Nov 6, 6:33 PM PST
Route Timing
01h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:21 AM to 11:21 AM PST

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:48 PM PST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Thornton
9:30 PM PST
Morning start is best

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.

Mid-route stop
Antioch
CA

The most populous city in Contra Costa County, California.

From Thornton
37.9 mi
00h 40m
To Oakland
33.5 mi
00h 40m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Today

Patchy Fog then Sunny

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 7:00 AM PST
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW
Destination
72°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 6:00 AM PST
Wind
0 to 3 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Thornton and Oakland.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Thornton and Oakland.

  1. 1

    Start on Thornton Road

    1035 ft · 21 sec · Thornton Road

  2. 2

    Turn straight onto West Walnut Grove Road

    1055 ft · 28 sec · West Walnut Grove Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp sharp left

    1704 ft · 42 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    7.4 mi · 8 min · Westside Freeway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 12: Lodi, Fairfield

    1685 ft · 32 sec

  6. 6

    Turn right

    15.7 mi · 22 min

  7. 7

    Turn left

    12.6 mi · 16 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on CA 4 West

    1.3 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    14.6 mi · 17 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on CA 242: Oakland, Concord

    4.6 mi · 5 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 24 West: Oakland, Lafayette, San Francisco

    9.4 mi · 12 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Caldecott Tunnel

    1.4 km · 1 min · Caldecott Tunnel

  14. 14

    Continue on Grove Shafter Freeway

    4.5 mi · 5 min · Grove Shafter Freeway

  15. 15

    Continue on John B. Williams Freeway

    2262 ft · 30 sec · John B. Williams Freeway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward 18th Street, 14th Street

    1024 ft · 25 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Brush Street

    1124 ft · 42 sec · Brush Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto 14th Street

    2503 ft · 2 min · 14th Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 14th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Thornton and Oakland.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
19 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
26.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
CA 4 West
15.3 mi · 21%
CA 24 West
9.36 mi · 13%
Westside Freeway
7.37 mi · 10%
CA 242
4.61 mi · 6%
Grove Shafter Freeway
4.53 mi · 6%
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
3.21 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn right

15.7 mi · 00h 22m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 20m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+17 mi
54.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Antioch
00h 40m from Thornton
Leave By
3:48 PM PST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog then Sunny leaving Thornton 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 Thornton to Oakland?

The road trip is about 71.5 miles (115 km) and usually takes 01h 20m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Antioch is a useful midpoint, sitting about 37.9 miles from Thornton and 33.5 miles from Oakland.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 54.5 miles (87.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 17 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:48 PM PST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.72 one way or $29.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 22.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Sunny around Thornton and Mostly Sunny near Oakland.

Stop Ideas Near Antioch

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Antioch, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Antioch.

RAIL

Antioch–Pittsburg

2 mi away
100 I Street
BUS

Rio Vista, CA

20 mi away
28 South Front Street
RAIL

Martinez station

29 mi away
601 Marina Vista Ave.
RAIL

Suisun–Fairfield station

33 mi away
177 Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Thornton and Oakland. Straight-line distance: 54.5 mi (87.71 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Thornton

Situated at an elevation of 13 feet in San Joaquin County, this census-designated place lies within the low-lying Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta region.

Population0
Coordinates38.2260300, -121.4246700
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Oakland

#2 Oakland

The third most populous city in California, Oakland is a major center for business, manufacturing, and culture.

Population424,891
Coordinates37.8043700, -122.2708000
Altitude13
CountryUnited States
Start: Thornton Road (-121.424666, 38.226152)
End: 14th Street (-122.270903, 37.804207)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 115 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 01m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 53m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.52 gal
9.54 L · about $14.72
Round trip
$29.43
5.04 gal · 19.08 L
Estimated CO2
22.4 kg one way
Round trip: 44.8 kg / 99 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.84 $14.72 $29.43
Mid-grade $6.09 $15.34 $30.67
Premium $6.28 $15.82 $31.63
Diesel $8.28 $20.87 $41.74

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 · Nov 06, 2026

There is no time difference between Thornton and Oakland. The current time is 17:12:46.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.