Report · April 14, 2026
From: Murphys, CA · 2,140 ft
2 days/wk in office
·
SFO · OAK · SJC · SAC tracked
·
Data freshness Q1 2026
Compare from
Murphys
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Arnold
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Angels Camp
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Copperopolis
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Sutter Creek
§ I · Drive times · Time-of-day matrix
Median observed · n > 600 trips/cell
| Destination | Morning peak 7:00–9:00 a.m. |
Mid-day 11:00–14:00 |
Evening peak 16:00–18:30 |
Friday p.m. escape 14:30–19:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFOSF Int'l Airport |
3:18hr
+58 min vs. mid-day
|
2:20hr
baseline
|
3:42hr
+82 min vs. mid-day
|
3:05hr
+45 min vs. mid-day
|
| OAKOakland Int'l Airport |
2:48hr
+44 min vs. mid-day
|
2:04hr
baseline
|
3:14hr
+70 min vs. mid-day
|
2:38hr
+34 min vs. mid-day
|
| SJCSan Jose · downtown |
3:24hr
+58 min vs. mid-day
|
2:26hr
baseline
|
3:48hr
+82 min vs. mid-day
|
3:10hr
+44 min vs. mid-day
|
| SACSacramento Int'l (SMF) |
1:32hr
+14 min vs. mid-day
|
1:18hr
baseline
|
1:46hr
+28 min vs. mid-day
|
1:38hr
+20 min vs. mid-day
|
| Downtown SFFinancial District |
3:34hr
+74 min vs. mid-day
|
2:20hr
baseline
|
3:58hr
+98 min vs. mid-day
|
3:18hr
+58 min vs. mid-day
|
| Reno-TahoeReno Int'l (RNO) |
3:10hr
winter +20 min
|
3:04hr
baseline
|
3:18hr
+14 min vs. mid-day
|
3:40hr
+36 min · ski traffic
|
Under 2:30 — comfortable
2:30 – 3:00 — manageable
3:00 – 3:30 — taxing
Over 3:30 — reschedule the meeting
Sara's read · Murphys
"If you only need to be in the East Bay twice a week, this is workable — leave at 6:15 a.m. and you beat the metering. The brutal trip is Friday evening, Oakland → home; budget three-plus hours and bring the audiobook. SAC is the surprise: it's the most reliable airport in the region from up here."
§ II · Optimal routes · By time of day
From Murphys → Oakland · 2:04 baseline
Morning · before 7 a.m.
1
HWY 4 WMurphys → Angels Camp · descending
22 min
2
HWY 4 WAngels Camp → Stockton via Copperopolis
52 min
3
I-205 WStockton → Tracy
22 min
4
I-580 WAltamont Pass · pre-metering
38 min
Evening · after 16:30
1
I-580 EAltamont metering · backups Pleasanton
1:08
2
I-205 ETracy → Stockton
34 min
3
HWY 4 EStockton → Angels Camp
58 min
4
HWY 4 EAngels Camp → Murphys · climbing
34 min
Plate · The corridor from Bay → Foothills
★ = your address · Brass route = the climb
§ III · What it actually costs · 2 days/week
Annualized · 96 trips/yr
Hours behind the wheel
488 hr/yr
12.2 work-weeks · equivalent
$9,760 in opportunity cost @ $20/hr
Two RT days at ~5 hours each, plus winter weather. About 13.3% of your waking hours, which is meaningful.
Fuel & depreciation
$11,200 / yr
@ $4.65/gal · 24 mpg
$0.93 per mile · all-in cost
Includes fuel, tires, oil, depreciation, insurance bump. EV reduces this by roughly 35%.
Toll & parking
$3,840 / yr
FasTrak + garage
$40 per office day
Bay Bridge $7, Bay Area parking $25–35/day. Some employers reimburse — confirm.
Total annual commute cost
$24,800 / yr vs. living in Walnut Creek
Difference vs. Walnut Creek mortgage savings
Net +$31,400 / yr in your pocket
Break-even office days per week
3.4 days past this, the math flips