How far is Arcata, CA from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance from Arcata, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 280 miles (450.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 55m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 231.3 miles (372.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 04h 55m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
City in California, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Scattered Rain Showers
Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Arcata and San Francisco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arcata and San Francisco.
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1
Start on the route
90 m · 7 sec
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2
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
701 ft · 9 sec · Redwood Highway
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3
Take the exit slight right toward 14th Street
1152 ft · 34 sec
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4
Turn left onto 14th Street
144 m · 20 sec · 14th Street
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5
Take the ramp sharp left
1066 ft · 26 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
6.7 mi · 9 min · Redwood Highway
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7
Continue on 4th Street
1.5 mi · 4 min · 4th Street
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8
Turn left onto Broadway Street
3 mi · 6 min · Broadway Street
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9
Continue on Redwood Highway
128.9 mi · 2 hr 38 min · Redwood Highway
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10
Continue on Willits Bypass
5.4 mi · 6 min · Willits Bypass
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11
Continue on Redwood Highway
116.2 mi · 2 hr 18 min · Redwood Highway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Redwood Highway
10.3 mi · 14 min · Redwood Highway
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13
Continue on Golden Gate Bridge
1.7 mi · 3 min · Golden Gate Bridge
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14
Merge slight left
10 m · 1 sec
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15
Keep slight left
40 m · 2 sec
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16
Keep slight left
666 ft · 8 sec
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17
Continue on Presidio Parkway
1.6 mi · 3 min · Presidio Parkway
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18
Continue on Richardson Avenue
1257 ft · 44 sec · Richardson Avenue
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19
Continue on Lombard Street
601 ft · 26 sec · Lombard Street
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20
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
1.2 km · 2 min · Divisadero Street
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21
Turn left onto California Street
2416 ft · 1 min · California Street
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22
Turn right onto Webster Street
1 mi · 2 min · Webster Street
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23
Turn left onto Oak Street
1926 ft · 1 min · Oak Street
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24
Turn right onto Gough Street
655 ft · 25 sec · Gough Street
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25
Turn slight left onto Market Street
56 m · 16 sec · Market Street
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26
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street
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27
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Arcata and San Francisco.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Redwood Highway
Continue on Redwood Highway
129 mi · 02h 38m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Scattered Rain Showers leaving Arcata and Chance Light Rain near San Francisco.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Arcata to San Francisco?
The road trip is about 280 miles (450.6 km) and usually takes 04h 55m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Willits is a useful midpoint, sitting about 139.8 miles from Arcata and 140.2 miles from San Francisco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 231.3 miles (372.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.7 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:08 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $57.00 one way or $114.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Scattered Rain Showers around Arcata and Chance Light Rain near San Francisco.
Stop Ideas Near Willits
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 Willits.
Willits, California
Laytonville, California
Ukiah, California
Leggett, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Arcata and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 231.36 mi (372.34 km).
#1 Arcata
City in California
| Population | 18,044 |
| Coordinates | 40.8665200, -124.0828400 |
| Altitude | 7 |
| 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: 451 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 19m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 00m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 36m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 40m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 00m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 29m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $57.00 | $114.00 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $59.93 | $119.86 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $61.68 | $123.36 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $74.76 | $149.52 |
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 · Apr 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.