How far is Alturas, CA from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance from Alturas, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 354.5 miles (570.5 km), with a travel time of about 06h 18m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 275.2 miles (442.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 36m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 06h 18m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
County seat of Tehama County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Alturas and San Francisco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alturas and San Francisco.
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1
Start on North Howard Street
23 m · 6 sec · North Howard Street
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2
Turn right onto West 4th Street
85 m · 13 sec · West 4th Street
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3
Turn left onto North Main Street
2612 ft · 2 min · North Main Street
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4
Turn left onto West 12th Street
88.5 mi · 2 hr 1 min · West 12th Street
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5
Continue on Main Street
3 mi · 6 min · Main Street
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6
Continue on State Route 299
26.1 mi · 36 min · State Route 299
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7
Turn right
23.1 mi · 30 min
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8
Turn left
1667 ft · 43 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
33.8 mi · 37 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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10
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
33.2 mi · 36 min
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12
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: San Francisco
2201 ft · 54 sec
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13
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27.6 mi · 32 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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14
Continue on Carquinez Bridge
1.6 km · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge
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15
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
1847 ft · 24 sec · Eastshore Freeway
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16
Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway
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17
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
14 mi · 16 min · Eastshore Freeway
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18
Take the exit slight left toward San Francisco
1.3 km · 1 min · Eastshore Freeway
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19
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1941 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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20
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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22
Continue on Route 80
1438 ft · 24 sec · Route 80
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23
Continue on Route 80
1.2 km · 1 min · Route 80
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24
Continue on Route 80
1893 ft · 32 sec · Route 80
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25
Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
1919 ft · 39 sec
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26
Merge slight right onto Central Freeway
1462 ft · 25 sec · Central Freeway
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27
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard
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28
Turn right onto Market Street
629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street
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29
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street
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30
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Alturas and San Francisco.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 01h 40m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Sunny leaving Alturas and Sunny near San Francisco.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Alturas to San Francisco?
The road trip is about 354.5 miles (570.5 km) and usually takes 06h 18m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Red Bluff is a useful midpoint, sitting about 179.1 miles from Alturas and 175.4 miles from San Francisco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 275.2 miles (442.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 79.3 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 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $72.17 one way or $144.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 111.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Alturas and Sunny near San Francisco.
Stop Ideas Near Red Bluff
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 Red Bluff.
Red Bluff, California
Corning, California
Redding station
Redding (RABA Transit Center), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Alturas and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 275.21 mi (442.91 km).
#1 Alturas
City in California, USA
| Population | 2,542 |
| Coordinates | 41.4871400, -120.5434900 |
| Altitude | 1332 |
| Country | United States |
#2 San Francisco
The seventeenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Francisco Bay Area.
| Population | 866,606 |
| Coordinates | 37.7749300, -122.4194200 |
| Altitude | 16 |
| Country | United States |
End: Market Street (-122.419433, 37.774953)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 571 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 48m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 51m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 05m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 54m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 03m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 25m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $72.17 | $144.34 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $75.89 | $151.77 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $78.10 | $156.20 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $94.66 | $189.33 |
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 · May 30, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.