How far is Fontana, CA from South San Francisco, CA?

The driving distance from Fontana, CA to South San Francisco, CA is about 422.7 miles (680.3 km), with a travel time of about 07h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 371.5 miles (597.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 58m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
422.72 mi
07h 59m
Flight
371.51 mi
597.88 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fontana.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
371.51 mi
Kilometers
597.88 km
Flight Time
00h 44m

Driving Distance

Road route
422.72 mi
Kilometers
680.31 km
Drive Time
07h 59m

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 07h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South San Francisco
Sat, Apr 18, 2:20 PM PDT
Return by in Fontana
Sat, Apr 18, 10:19 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fontana
2026-04-18T06:21
Arrive South San Francisco
Sat, Apr 18, 2:20 PM PDT
Route Timing
07h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:59 PM to 3:29 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
8:02 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fontana
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Kettleman City
CA

Census-designated place in Kings County, California

From Fontana
211.3 mi
03h 59m
To South San Francisco
211.4 mi
03h 59m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
10 mph NE
Destination
71°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Fontana and South San Francisco.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fontana and South San Francisco.

  1. 1

    Start on Merrill Avenue

    63 m · 6 sec · Merrill Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Sierra Avenue

    3 mi · 5 min · Sierra Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right toward CA 210 West

    1784 ft · 45 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Foothill Freeway

    14.8 mi · 17 min · Foothill Freeway

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Foothill Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Foothill Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    20 mi · 23 min · Foothill Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    25.6 mi · 30 min · Foothill Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right

    686 ft · 9 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight right

    1.6 km · 1 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left

    36.1 mi · 42 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

    182.5 mi · 3 hr 16 min · Westside Freeway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose

    1038 ft · 27 sec

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    28.7 mi · 33 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight right

    11.9 mi · 17 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North: San Jose

    2466 ft · 1 min

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto South Valley Freeway

    19.9 mi · 23 min · South Valley Freeway

  21. 21

    Keep slight left

    21.9 mi · 25 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight left

    26 mi · 30 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward South Airport Boulevard

    1218 ft · 32 sec

  24. 24

    Turn left onto South Airport Boulevard

    1061 ft · 28 sec · South Airport Boulevard

  25. 25

    Turn left onto South Airport Boulevard

    868 ft · 24 sec · South Airport Boulevard

  26. 26

    Continue on Airport Boulevard

    1910 ft · 44 sec · Airport Boulevard

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Airport Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fontana and South San Francisco.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
27 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
183 mi · 43%
Foothill Freeway
104 mi · 25%
South Valley Freeway
67.8 mi · 16%
CA 152 West
40.9 mi · 10%
Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 5%
Sierra Avenue
3.03 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

183 mi · 03h 16m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
07h 59m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
15h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+51.2 mi
371.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kettleman City
03h 59m from Fontana
Leave By
8:02 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Fontana and Mostly Sunny near South San Francisco.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fontana to South San Francisco?

The road trip is about 422.7 miles (680.3 km) and usually takes 07h 59m 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 211.3 miles from Fontana and 211.4 miles from South San Francisco.

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

The direct path is about 371.5 miles (597.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 51.2 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 $86.07 one way or $172.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 132.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Fontana and Mostly Sunny near South San Francisco.

Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Kettleman City, 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 Kettleman City.

BUS

Kettleman City, California

3 mi away
3300 Hubert Way
BUS

Lemoore, California

34 mi away
300 E Street
RAIL

Corcoran station

38 mi away
1099 Otis Ave.
BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

41 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fontana and South San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 371.51 mi (597.88 km).

Fontana

#1 Fontana

The second most populous city in San Bernardino County, California.

Population216,173
Coordinates34.0922300, -117.4350500
Altitude377
CountryUnited States
South San Francisco

#2 South San Francisco

The most populous city in San Mateo County, California.

Population66,558
Coordinates37.6546600, -122.4077500
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Start: Fontana (-117.43505, 34.09223)
End: South San Francisco (-122.40775, 37.65466)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 680 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 05m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
14.92 gal
56.47 L · about $86.07
Round trip
$172.15
29.84 gal · 112.94 L
Estimated CO2
132.6 kg one way
Round trip: 265.2 kg / 585 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $86.07 $172.15
Mid-grade $6.07 $90.50 $181.01
Premium $6.24 $93.15 $186.29
Diesel $7.57 $112.90 $225.80

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Fontana and South San Francisco. The current time is 06:21:27.

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.