How far is Costa Mesa, CA from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance from Costa Mesa, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 426.3 miles (686.1 km), with a travel time of about 06h 39m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 381.1 miles (613.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 18m 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 39m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Census-designated place in Kings County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Costa Mesa and San Francisco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Costa Mesa and San Francisco.
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1
Start on Newport Boulevard
1503 ft · 34 sec · Newport Boulevard
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2
Continue on Costa Mesa Freeway
7.6 mi · 9 min · Costa Mesa Freeway
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3
Keep slight right to continue on Costa Mesa Freeway
2136 ft · 28 sec · Costa Mesa Freeway
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4
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 North: Santa Ana
1.1 km · 47 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
2756 ft · 36 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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6
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.7 mi · 2 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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7
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
9.4 mi · 11 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway
25.5 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
1.5 mi · 2 min
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12
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
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15
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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17
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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18
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.6 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway
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20
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
7.2 mi · 8 min · MacArthur Freeway
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21
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: San Francisco
1.5 km · 1 min
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22
Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1015 ft · 17 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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23
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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24
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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25
Continue on Route 80
1438 ft · 24 sec · Route 80
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26
Continue on Route 80
1.2 km · 1 min · Route 80
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27
Continue on Route 80
1893 ft · 32 sec · Route 80
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28
Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
1919 ft · 39 sec
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29
Merge slight right onto Central Freeway
1462 ft · 25 sec · Central Freeway
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30
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard
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31
Turn right onto Market Street
629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street
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32
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street
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33
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Costa Mesa 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
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
226 mi · 04h 02m
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.
Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Costa Mesa and Patchy Fog then Slight 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 Costa Mesa to San Francisco?
The road trip is about 426.3 miles (686.1 km) and usually takes 06h 39m 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?
Kettleman City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 211.9 miles from Costa Mesa and 214.5 miles from San Francisco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 381.1 miles (613.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.2 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 $86.77 one way or $173.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 133.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers around Costa Mesa and Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Light Rain near San Francisco.
Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City
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 Kettleman City.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Corcoran station
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Costa Mesa and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 381.12 mi (613.36 km).
#1 Costa Mesa
The most populous city in Orange County, California.
| Population | 112,366 |
| Coordinates | 33.6411300, -117.9186700 |
| Altitude | 30 |
| 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: 686 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 12m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 39m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 31m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 06m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 05m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 19m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $86.77 | $173.53 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $91.23 | $182.47 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $93.89 | $187.79 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $113.81 | $227.62 |
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 04, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.