How far is Hayward, CA from San Francisco, CA?

The driving distance from Hayward, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 27.5 miles (44.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 19.9 miles (32 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 10m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
27.45 mi
00h 35m
Flight
19.9 mi
32.03 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hayward.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
19.9 mi
Kilometers
32.03 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
27.45 mi
Kilometers
44.17 km
Drive Time
00h 35m

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 00h 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Francisco
Tue, May 12, 4:15 PM PDT
Return by in Hayward
Tue, May 12, 4:50 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hayward
2026-05-12T15:39
Arrive San Francisco
Tue, May 12, 4:15 PM PDT
Route Timing
00h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:35 AM to 7:35 PM PDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:20 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Hayward
10:00 PM PDT
Flexible departure

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
Piedmont
CA

City in California

From Hayward
13.5 mi
00h 17m
To San Francisco
13.9 mi
00h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
9 to 15 mph WSW
Destination
80°F
Tuesday

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 9 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hayward and San Francisco.

  1. 1

    Start on Mission Boulevard

    71 m · 9 sec · Mission Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn right

    55 m · 15 sec

  3. 3

    Turn slight right onto Jackson Street

    73 m · 7 sec · Jackson Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Foothill Boulevard

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Foothill Boulevard

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight toward I 580 West: Oakland

    1.4 km · 2 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight right onto MacArthur Freeway

    7.7 mi · 9 min · MacArthur Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway

    7.2 mi · 8 min · MacArthur Freeway

  8. 8

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

    1.5 km · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1015 ft · 17 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  10. 10

    Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Route 80

    1438 ft · 24 sec · Route 80

  13. 13

    Continue on Route 80

    1.2 km · 1 min · Route 80

  14. 14

    Continue on Route 80

    1893 ft · 32 sec · Route 80

  15. 15

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

    1919 ft · 39 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight right onto Central Freeway

    1462 ft · 25 sec · Central Freeway

  17. 17

    Continue on Octavia Boulevard

    2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Market Street

    629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on Market Street

    961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Market Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
20 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
73 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
MacArthur Freeway
14.9 mi · 54%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6.04 mi · 22%
Route 80
1.39 mi · 5%
Foothill Boulevard
1.36 mi · 5%
I 80 West
0.93 mi · 3%
I 580 West
0.87 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

MacArthur Freeway

Merge slight right onto MacArthur Freeway

7.72 mi · 00h 09m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 35m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.6 mi
19.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Piedmont
00h 17m from Hayward
Leave By
7:20 PM PDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Hayward 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 Hayward to San Francisco?

The road trip is about 27.5 miles (44.2 km) and usually takes 00h 35m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Piedmont is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.5 miles from Hayward and 13.9 miles from San Francisco.

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

The direct path is about 19.9 miles (32 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.6 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:20 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.60 one way or $11.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Piedmont

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Piedmont and the surrounding midpoint area.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer
Practical stop 12 mi away

San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer

San Francisco , CA
3365 Sacramento St #435, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States
Rating 5.0/5 21 reviews Wedding photographer,Photographer,Wedding service
Alameda Public Works Department
Meeting point 4.2 mi away

Alameda Public Works Department

Alameda , CA
950 W Mall Square, Alameda, CA 94501, United States
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews City government office,Home and construction
Old Berkeley City Hall
Nearby stop 5.3 mi away

Old Berkeley City Hall

Berkeley , CA
2134 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley, CA 94703, United States
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Civic center
My City Hall Wedding
Practical stop 10.7 mi away

My City Hall Wedding

San Francisco , CA
1480 Sutter St #302, San Francisco, CA 94109, United States
Rating 5.0/5 8 reviews Wedding photographer,Wedding planner,Wedding service,Wedding store

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Emeryville station

5 mi away
5885 Horton Street
RAIL

Oakland – Jack London Square station

5 mi away
245 Second Street
RAIL

Berkeley station

8 mi away
University Ave. and Third St.
RAIL

Oakland Coliseum station

9 mi away
700 73rd Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hayward and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 19.9 mi (32.03 km).

Hayward

#1 Hayward

The seventh most populous city in Alameda County, California.

Population157,966
Coordinates37.6688200, -122.0808000
Altitude34
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: Mission Boulevard (-122.080897, 37.668783)
End: Market Street (-122.419433, 37.774953)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 44 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.97 gal
3.67 L · about $5.60
Round trip
$11.19
1.94 gal · 7.34 L
Estimated CO2
8.6 kg one way
Round trip: 17.2 kg / 38 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $5.60 $11.19
Mid-grade $6.07 $5.88 $11.77
Premium $6.24 $6.06 $12.11
Diesel $7.57 $7.34 $14.68

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 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Hayward and San Francisco. The current time is 15:39:44.

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.