Reverse Commute, SF to East Bay (Martinez) (San Francisco, Walnut Creek: home, neighborhoods)

[MtzCommuter]

I am 24, have been living in the Bay Area for about a year (Walnut Creek.) Walnut Creek is nice, but not quite what I am looking for at this point in my life.

I would like to move to San Francisco, North Beach or Nob Hill neighborhoods. I would be commuting to Martinez daily, start time at about 7am. (I also get every other Friday off.)

What kind of commuting hell would I be in for, time-wise? I am open to either driving from SF to Martinez OR taking Bart to Pleasant Hill (leave my car there nightly) and driving the last few miles to the office. This would likely depend on some balance of time and costs of fares/fuel, parking, wear on my vehicle, etc.

I am guessing that getting to work in the morning would not be terrible since I start so early, so more concerned about getting home in the evening. I can be pretty flexible with when I head home in the evening since I go to the gym every day. I typically leave work at about 4:30pm, but not crossing the Bay until after 7pm would have no impact on my life.

[fakeplastictrees]

I drive from Civic Center area to Walnut Creek each day. It takes about 35 minutes, but I'm close to a freeway on ramp. It's honestly not that bad. BUT it sucks filling up my car more than once a week!!!!
Coming back at 4:30pm is a little rougher...takes me about an hour to drive home. Sometimes I park at Walnut Creek BART and take BART home and just drive my car to work the next day from WC BART.

[MtzCommuter]

Thanks for the info! What if I do gym in WC until about 6:30pm, hitting the Bay Bridge toll plaza after 7pm? Does traffic clear up any?