How far is Lake Isabella, CA from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance from Lake Isabella, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 325.7 miles (524.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 30m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 264.5 miles (425.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 00m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
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 05h 30m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Census-designated place in Fresno County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Lake Isabella and San Francisco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Isabella and San Francisco.
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1
Start on Lake Ridge Way
120 m · 19 sec · Lake Ridge Way
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2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Erskine Creek Road
1337 ft · 41 sec · Erskine Creek Road
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3
At the end of the road, turn left onto Lake Isabella Boulevard
3151 ft · 1 min · Lake Isabella Boulevard
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4
Turn right onto Elizabeth Norris Road
2977 ft · 59 sec · Elizabeth Norris Road
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5
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 178
876 ft · 21 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Isabella Walker Pass Road
1821 ft · 22 sec · Isabella Walker Pass Road
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7
Continue on Route 178
31.9 mi · 46 min · Route 178
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8
Continue on CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway
6.7 mi · 8 min · CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward CA 204 North: Golden State Avenue
1252 ft · 30 sec
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10
Keep slight right to continue on CA 204 North: Golden State Avenue
1398 ft · 34 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto Golden State Avenue
2.5 mi · 3 min · Golden State Avenue
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12
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
2.9 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward 7th Standard Road, Merle Haggard Drive
1265 ft · 38 sec
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14
Turn left onto 7th Standard Road
22.2 mi · 30 min · 7th Standard Road
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15
Turn right onto Buttonwillow Drive
1 mi · 2 min · Buttonwillow Drive
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16
Take the ramp left
1220 ft · 30 sec
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17
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
182.3 mi · 3 hr 15 min · Westside Freeway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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20
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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21
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.6 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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22
Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway
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23
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
7.2 mi · 8 min · MacArthur Freeway
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24
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: San Francisco
1.5 km · 1 min
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25
Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1015 ft · 17 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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26
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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27
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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28
Continue on Route 80
1438 ft · 24 sec · Route 80
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29
Continue on Route 80
1.2 km · 1 min · Route 80
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30
Continue on Route 80
1893 ft · 32 sec · Route 80
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31
Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
1919 ft · 39 sec
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32
Merge slight right onto Central Freeway
1462 ft · 25 sec · Central Freeway
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33
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard
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34
Turn right onto Market Street
629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street
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35
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Lake Isabella and San Francisco.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
182 mi · 03h 15m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Lake Isabella 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 Lake Isabella to San Francisco?
The road trip is about 325.7 miles (524.2 km) and usually takes 05h 30m 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?
Tranquillity is a useful midpoint, sitting about 162.2 miles from Lake Isabella and 163.5 miles from San Francisco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 264.5 miles (425.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 61.2 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:00 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $66.29 one way or $132.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 102.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Lake Isabella and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near San Francisco.
Stop Ideas Near Tranquillity
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Tranquillity.
Madera
Fresno station
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Lemoore, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Lake Isabella and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 264.54 mi (425.74 km).
#1 Lake Isabella
Census-designated place in Kern County, California
| Population | 3,466 |
| Coordinates | 35.6180100, -118.4731400 |
| Altitude | 766 |
| Country | United States |
#2 San Francisco
The seventeenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Francisco Bay Area.
| Population | 866,606 |
| Coordinates | 37.7749300, -122.4194200 |
| Altitude | 16 |
| Country | United States |
End: Market Street (-122.419433, 37.774953)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 524 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 51m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 08m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 30m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 25m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 39m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 03m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $66.29 | $132.57 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $69.70 | $139.40 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $71.73 | $143.46 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $86.94 | $173.89 |
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 25, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.