How far is Day Valley, CA from San Francisco, CA?

The driving distance from Day Valley, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 89.1 miles (143.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 59.5 miles (95.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 53m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
89.09 mi
01h 56m
Flight
59.52 mi
95.79 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Day Valley.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
59.52 mi
Kilometers
95.79 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
89.09 mi
Kilometers
143.38 km
Drive Time
01h 56m

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 01h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Francisco
Thu, May 7, 12:46 PM PDT
Return by in Day Valley
Thu, May 7, 2:43 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Day Valley
2026-05-07T10:49
Arrive San Francisco
Thu, May 7, 12:46 PM PDT
Route Timing
01h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:57 AM to 11:57 AM PDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:36 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Day Valley
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

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.

Mid-route stop
Cupertino
CA

The most populous city in Santa Clara County, California.

From Day Valley
43 mi
00h 58m
To San Francisco
46 mi
00h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 7 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 12 mph W
Destination
74°F
Thursday

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 7 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 9 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Day Valley and San Francisco.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Day Valley and San Francisco.

  1. 1

    Start on Fern Flat Road

    3 mi · 11 min · Fern Flat Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Trout Gulch Road

    3.8 mi · 9 min · Trout Gulch Road

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Trout Gulch Road

    2587 ft · 1 min · Trout Gulch Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Soquel Drive

    3129 ft · 1 min · Soquel Drive

  5. 5

    Turn left onto State Park Drive

    139 m · 11 sec · State Park Drive

  6. 6

    Take the ramp straight

    1222 ft · 30 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Cabrillo Highway

    5.8 mi · 7 min · Cabrillo Highway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 17 North: San Jose, Oakland

    2245 ft · 28 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Santa Cruz Highway

    21.2 mi · 29 min · Santa Cruz Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 85 North, CA 85 South: Mountain View, Gilroy

    1031 ft · 20 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on CA 85 North: Mountain View

    2190 ft · 42 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on CA 85 North: Mountain View

    558 ft · 14 sec

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    966 ft · 24 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on CA 85: Mountain View

    2157 ft · 55 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto West Valley Freeway

    12.7 mi · 15 min · West Valley Freeway

  16. 16

    Continue on US 101 North: San Francisco

    2931 ft · 41 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway

    30.2 mi · 35 min · Bayshore Freeway

  18. 18

    Continue on James Lick Freeway

    4.2 mi · 6 min · James Lick Freeway

  19. 19

    Continue on Central Freeway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Central Freeway

  20. 20

    Continue on Octavia Boulevard

    2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Market Street

    629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on Market Street

    961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Market Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Day Valley and San Francisco.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
23 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
25.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Bayshore Freeway
30.2 mi · 34%
Santa Cruz Highway
21.2 mi · 24%
West Valley Freeway
12.7 mi · 14%
Cabrillo Highway
5.8 mi · 7%
Trout Gulch Road
4.26 mi · 5%
James Lick Freeway
4.2 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Bayshore Freeway

Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway

30.2 mi · 00h 35m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 56m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29.6 mi
59.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cupertino
00h 58m from Day Valley
Leave By
2:36 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Day Valley and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near San Francisco.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Day Valley to San Francisco?

The road trip is about 89.1 miles (143.4 km) and usually takes 01h 56m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Cupertino is a useful midpoint, sitting about 43 miles from Day Valley and 46 miles from San Francisco.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 59.5 miles (95.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:36 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.11 one way or $36.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 27.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Day Valley and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near San Francisco.

Stop Ideas Near Cupertino

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Cupertino, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Cupertino.

BUS

Santa Clara station

9 mi away
1001 Railroad Ave.
RAIL

Santa Clara – Great America station

10 mi away
5099 Stars & Stripes Dr.
RAIL

San Jose Diridon station

12 mi away
65 Cahill Street
RAIL

Fremont station

26 mi away
37260 Fremont Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Day Valley and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 59.52 mi (95.79 km).

Day Valley

#1 Day Valley

Census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California

Population3,409
Coordinates37.0357800, -121.8624600
Altitude403
CountryUnited States
San Francisco

#2 San Francisco

The seventeenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Population866,606
Coordinates37.7749300, -122.4194200
Altitude16
CountryUnited States
Start: Columbine Way (-121.862519, 37.035812)
End: Market Street (-122.419433, 37.774953)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 143 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.14 gal
11.9 L · about $18.11
Round trip
$36.23
6.28 gal · 23.8 L
Estimated CO2
27.9 kg one way
Round trip: 55.8 kg / 123 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $18.11 $36.23
Mid-grade $6.07 $19.05 $38.09
Premium $6.24 $19.60 $39.21
Diesel $7.57 $23.76 $47.52

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 · May 07, 2026

There is no time difference between Day Valley and San Francisco. The current time is 10:49:34.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.