First-of-its kind Pokémon convention coming to CA. How far will the drive be?
A first-of-its-kind Pokémon fan experience is coming to San Francisco in the form of a convention, organizers revealed as the 2025 Pokémon World Championships wound down in Anaheim, California, on Aug. 17.
The PokémonXP convention will take place Aug 28-30, 2026, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, the website says. Multi-day passes, which range from $120-$150, go on sale on Sept. 17, and single-day passes will drop in spring 2026 along with the full program schedule.
The convention will run at the same time as the 2026 Pokémon World Championships, organizers said. Those who want to attend the championship finals can buy a $180 pass that includes admission to the Chase Center arena on Aug. 30.
“Look forward to an event that celebrates all things Pokémon,” organizers said on the website. “Come join a celebration of community and all things Pokémon as you enjoy featured panels, unique workshops, special guests, exclusive merchandise, and so much more at the first event of its kind.”
Here’s how far you’ll have to drive from other areas of California to attend:
Capital region to the convention
Those who drive from the capital region will spend about two hours in the car to get to the convention.
The Moscone Center is about an 85-mile drive southwest from Sacramento via Interstate 80, according to Google Maps.
Driving down via California State Route 160 is closer to 100 miles. On average, the trip could cost between $50 and $60 in gas for a small SUV, according to a fuel calculator.
Taking Amtrak to a BART train is your next fastest option, according to Rome2Rio. The rapid transit system would get you there in about two and a half hours on a $28-$33 ticket.
A bus is the longest trip at nearly three hours, according to the website. Bus tickets are a little over $30.
Central California/Northern San Joaquin Valley region to the convention
Those who drive from the Modesto area will spend about the same amount of time in the car, and about the same amount of money on gas.
The Moscone Center is about a 90-mile drive northwest from Modesto via I-150 W. The drive is closer to 120 miles via CA-99 N.
Taking a bus to a BART train would take just under three hours, but would be the cheapest option at about $10, according to Rome2Rio.
Taking a bus all the way to the convention would take nearly three hours and would cost about $25.
Central Valley region to the convention
The 185-mile drive to San Francisco from the Fresno area is considerably longer, and will take you just over three hours to get there in a car. The trip would cost about $112 in gas, on average.
A bus ride would take almost five hours and cost between $33 and $63, according to Rome2Rio.
Taking a bus and transferring to the Caltrain commuter rail line might be the cheapest option between $25 to $41, but it would take nearly six hours to get there, the website said.
