How far is Ford City, CA from San Francisco, CA?

The driving distance from Ford City, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 277.6 miles (446.7 km), with a travel time of about 04h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 244.7 miles (393.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 21m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
277.54 mi
04h 40m
Flight
244.7 mi
393.81 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ford City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
244.7 mi
Kilometers
393.81 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
277.54 mi
Kilometers
446.66 km
Drive Time
04h 40m

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 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Francisco
Sun, Apr 19, 10:55 AM PDT
Return by in Ford City
Sun, Apr 19, 3:35 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ford City
2026-04-19T06:14
Arrive San Francisco
Sun, Apr 19, 10:55 AM PDT
Route Timing
04h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:41 AM to 12:41 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:38 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ford City
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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
Firebaugh
CA

City in Fresno County, California, United States of America

From Ford City
144.2 mi
02h 20m
To San Francisco
133.3 mi
02h 20m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NNW
Destination
67°F
Sunday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 10 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ford City and San Francisco.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ford City and San Francisco.

  1. 1

    Start on Harrison Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · Harrison Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Taft Highway

    14.4 mi · 20 min · Taft Highway

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward SR 119/SR43 Taft Hwy Roundabout

    95 m · 5 sec · Enos Lane

  4. 4

    Exit the rotary onto Enos Lane

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Enos Lane

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left

    1121 ft · 27 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    199.1 mi · 3 hr 33 min · Westside Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    11.6 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway

    8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway

    7.2 mi · 8 min · MacArthur Freeway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: San Francisco

    1.5 km · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1015 ft · 17 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  15. 15

    Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Route 80

    1438 ft · 24 sec · Route 80

  18. 18

    Continue on Route 80

    1.2 km · 1 min · Route 80

  19. 19

    Continue on Route 80

    1893 ft · 32 sec · Route 80

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge

    1919 ft · 39 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight right onto Central Freeway

    1462 ft · 25 sec · Central Freeway

  22. 22

    Continue on Octavia Boulevard

    2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Market Street

    629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street

  24. 24

    Keep slight right to continue on Market Street

    961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Market Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ford City 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
25 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
199 mi · 72%
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.6 mi · 11%
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi · 6%
MacArthur Freeway
15.5 mi · 6%
Taft Highway
14.4 mi · 5%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6.04 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

199 mi · 03h 33m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
04h 40m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.9 mi
244.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Firebaugh
02h 20m from Ford City
Leave By
7:38 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Ford City 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 Ford City to San Francisco?

The road trip is about 277.6 miles (446.7 km) and usually takes 04h 40m 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?

Firebaugh is a useful midpoint, sitting about 144.2 miles from Ford City and 133.3 miles from San Francisco.

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

The direct path is about 244.7 miles (393.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.9 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 7:38 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $56.48 one way or $112.96 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Ford City and Chance Light Rain near San Francisco.

Stop Ideas Near Firebaugh

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

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

RAIL

Madera

41 mi away
Avenue 15 1/2 at 29th Road
RAIL

Merced station

50 mi away
324 West 24th St
RAIL

Fresno station

61 mi away
2650 Tulare St.
BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

73 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ford City and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 244.7 mi (393.81 km).

Ford City

#1 Ford City

Census-designated place in Kern County, California

Population4,278
Coordinates35.1544100, -119.4562300
Altitude272
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: Harrison Street (-119.456317, 35.15441)
End: Market Street (-122.419433, 37.774953)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 447 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.79 gal
37.07 L · about $56.48
Round trip
$112.96
19.58 gal · 74.14 L
Estimated CO2
87 kg one way
Round trip: 174 kg / 384 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $56.48 $112.96
Mid-grade $6.07 $59.39 $118.77
Premium $6.24 $61.12 $122.24
Diesel $7.57 $74.08 $148.16

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Ford City and San Francisco. The current time is 06:14:27.

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.