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

The driving distance from Hercules, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 25.5 miles (41 km), with a travel time of about 00h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 18.2 miles (29.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 08m 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
25.46 mi
00h 34m
Flight
18.19 mi
29.28 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hercules.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
18.19 mi
Kilometers
29.28 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
25.46 mi
Kilometers
40.97 km
Drive Time
00h 34m

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 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Francisco
Sat, May 2, 10:26 AM PDT
Return by in Hercules
Sat, May 2, 11:00 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hercules
2026-05-02T09:52
Arrive San Francisco
Sat, May 2, 10:26 AM PDT
Route Timing
00h 34m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:34 AM to 7:34 PM PDT

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

Leave by
7:22 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Hercules
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
Albany
CA

City in Alameda County, California, United States

From Hercules
12.7 mi
00h 17m
To San Francisco
12.7 mi
00h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
53°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, May 2 1:00 AM PDT
Wind
7 mph SSW
Destination
71°F
Saturday

Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Railroad Avenue

    1069 ft · 34 sec · Railroad Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on Bayfront Boulevard

    1445 ft · 40 sec · Bayfront Boulevard

  3. 3

    Continue on John Muir Parkway

    1.2 km · 1 min · John Muir Parkway

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80: Oakland, Sacramento

    63 m · 5 sec

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Oakland

    2996 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway

    13.8 mi · 16 min · Eastshore Freeway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight left toward San Francisco

    1.3 km · 1 min · Eastshore Freeway

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1941 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  9. 9

    Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Route 80

    1438 ft · 24 sec · Route 80

  12. 12

    Continue on Route 80

    1.2 km · 1 min · Route 80

  13. 13

    Continue on Route 80

    1893 ft · 32 sec · Route 80

  14. 14

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

    1919 ft · 39 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight right onto Central Freeway

    1462 ft · 25 sec · Central Freeway

  16. 16

    Continue on Octavia Boulevard

    2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Market Street

    629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on Market Street

    961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Market Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Hercules 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
19 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
74.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Eastshore Freeway
14.6 mi · 57%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6.22 mi · 24%
Route 80
1.39 mi · 5%
John Muir Parkway
0.71 mi · 3%
I 80 West
0.57 mi · 2%
Octavia Boulevard
0.47 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Eastshore Freeway

Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway

13.8 mi · 00h 16m

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 34m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.3 mi
18.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Albany
00h 17m from Hercules
Leave By
7:22 PM PDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Hercules and Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny near San Francisco.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Hercules to San Francisco?

The road trip is about 25.5 miles (41 km) and usually takes 00h 34m 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?

Albany is a useful midpoint, sitting about 12.7 miles from Hercules and 12.7 miles from San Francisco.

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

The direct path is about 18.2 miles (29.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.3 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 7:22 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.19 one way or $10.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Albany

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 Albany and the surrounding midpoint area.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer
Practical stop 9.9 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 6.3 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 2 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 9 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 Albany.

RAIL

Berkeley station

2 mi away
University Ave. and Third St.
RAIL

Emeryville station

5 mi away
5885 Horton Street
RAIL

Richmond station

7 mi away
1700 Nevin Avenue
RAIL

Oakland – Jack London Square station

11 mi away
245 Second Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hercules and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 18.19 mi (29.28 km).

Hercules

#1 Hercules

City in western Contra Costa County, California

Population26,221
Coordinates38.0171400, -122.2885800
Altitude24
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: Railroad Avenue (-122.288648, 38.01726)
End: Market Street (-122.419433, 37.774953)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 41 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 50m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.9 gal
3.4 L · about $5.19
Round trip
$10.38
1.8 gal · 6.8 L
Estimated CO2
8 kg one way
Round trip: 16 kg / 35 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $5.19 $10.38
Mid-grade $6.07 $5.46 $10.92
Premium $6.24 $5.62 $11.24
Diesel $7.57 $6.81 $13.62

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 02, 2026

There is no time difference between Hercules and San Francisco. The current time is 09:52:08.

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.