How far is Hillsborough, CA from San Mateo, CA?
The driving distance from Hillsborough, CA to San Mateo, CA is about 4.1 miles (6.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 12m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 3 miles (4.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 25m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
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.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 12m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
City in the U.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Hillsborough and San Mateo.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hillsborough and San Mateo.
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1
Start on Summit Drive
1189 ft · 41 sec · Summit Drive
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2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Summit Drive
1905 ft · 1 min · Summit Drive
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3
Turn right
19 m · 9 sec
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4
Turn left onto Summit Drive
61 m · 7 sec · Summit Drive
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5
Continue on Summit Drive
131 m · 21 sec · Summit Drive
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6
Turn left onto Hillside Circle
90 m · 14 sec · Hillside Circle
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7
Turn right onto Hillside Drive
94 m · 11 sec · Hillside Drive
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8
Turn left onto Hillside Drive
1.2 km · 1 min · Hillside Drive
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9
At the end of the road, turn right onto El Camino Real
3.2 mi · 6 min · El Camino Real
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10
Continue on South El Camino Real
96 m · 12 sec · South El Camino Real
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11
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South El Camino Real
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Hillsborough and San Mateo.
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.
El Camino Real
At the end of the road, turn right onto El Camino Real
3.15 mi · 00h 06m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Hillsborough and Sunny near San Mateo.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Hillsborough to San Mateo?
The road trip is about 4.1 miles (6.6 km) and usually takes 00h 12m 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?
Burlingame is a useful midpoint, sitting about 2.4 miles from Hillsborough and 1.7 miles from San Mateo.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 3 miles (4.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.1 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 8:04 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $0.87 one way or $1.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 1.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Hillsborough and Sunny near San Mateo.
Stop Ideas Near Burlingame
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
My City Hall Wedding
City of South San Francisco: City Attorney
Foster City - City Hall
City Hall Events Office
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Burlingame.
San Francisco (Civic Center), California
San Francisco (Caltrain), California
San Francisco (Conv Ctr), California
San Francisco (Shopping), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Hillsborough and San Mateo. Straight-line distance: 3.05 mi (4.91 km).
#1 Hillsborough
City in California
| Population | 11,527 |
| Coordinates | 37.5741000, -122.3794200 |
| Altitude | 98 |
| Country | United States |
#2 San Mateo
The second most populous city in San Mateo County, California.
| Population | 102,398 |
| Coordinates | 37.5629900, -122.3255300 |
| Altitude | 13 |
| Country | United States |
End: El Camino Real (-122.325706, 37.56287)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 7 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 08m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 06m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 04m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 04m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 03m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 03m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $0.87 | $1.73 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $0.91 | $1.82 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $0.94 | $1.87 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $1.14 | $2.27 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.