How far is Los Molinos, CA from San Francisco, CA?

The driving distance from Los Molinos, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 180.5 miles (290.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 156.2 miles (251.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 10m 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
180.51 mi
03h 05m
Flight
156.15 mi
251.3 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Los Molinos.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
156.15 mi
Kilometers
251.3 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
180.51 mi
Kilometers
290.51 km
Drive Time
03h 05m

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 03h 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Francisco
Thu, Oct 15, 2:34 PM PDT
Return by in Los Molinos
Thu, Oct 15, 5:39 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Los Molinos
2026-10-15T11:29
Arrive San Francisco
Thu, Oct 15, 2:34 PM PDT
Route Timing
03h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:05 AM to 11:05 AM PDT

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

Leave by
10:50 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Los Molinos
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
Esparto
CA

Census designated place

From Los Molinos
90.1 mi
01h 32m
To San Francisco
90.4 mi
01h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 11:00 AM PDT
Wind
13 mph NNW
Destination
88°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 7:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Los Molinos and San Francisco.

  1. 1

    Start on Sycamore Avenue

    38 m · 11 sec · Sycamore Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Railroad Avenue

    2463 ft · 1 min · Railroad Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Aramayo Way

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Aramayo Way

  4. 4

    Continue on C Street

    1600 ft · 60 sec · C Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto 5th Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · 5th Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Gyle Road

    4.6 mi · 7 min · Gyle Road

  7. 7

    Take the ramp left

    1439 ft · 35 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    82.8 mi · 1 hr 29 min · Westside Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco

    33.2 mi · 36 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: San Francisco

    2201 ft · 54 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    27.6 mi · 32 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Carquinez Bridge

    1.6 km · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge

  13. 13

    Continue on Eastshore Freeway

    1847 ft · 24 sec · Eastshore Freeway

  14. 14

    Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway

  15. 15

    Continue on Eastshore Freeway

    14 mi · 16 min · Eastshore Freeway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight left toward San Francisco

    1.3 km · 1 min · Eastshore Freeway

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1941 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  18. 18

    Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Route 80

    1438 ft · 24 sec · Route 80

  21. 21

    Continue on Route 80

    1.2 km · 1 min · Route 80

  22. 22

    Continue on Route 80

    1893 ft · 32 sec · Route 80

  23. 23

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

    1919 ft · 39 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight right onto Central Freeway

    1462 ft · 25 sec · Central Freeway

  25. 25

    Continue on Octavia Boulevard

    2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Market Street

    629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street

  27. 27

    Keep slight right to continue on Market Street

    961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Market Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Molinos 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
28 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
4 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
82.8 mi · 46%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
33.9 mi · 19%
I 505 South
33.2 mi · 18%
Eastshore Freeway
15.2 mi · 8%
Gyle Road
4.83 mi · 3%
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.42 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

82.8 mi · 01h 29m

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
03h 05m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.3 mi
156.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Esparto
01h 32m from Los Molinos
Leave By
10:50 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Los Molinos and Sunny near San Francisco.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Los Molinos to San Francisco?

The road trip is about 180.5 miles (290.5 km) and usually takes 03h 05m 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?

Esparto is a useful midpoint, sitting about 90.1 miles from Los Molinos and 90.4 miles from San Francisco.

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

The direct path is about 156.2 miles (251.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.3 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:50 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.88 one way or $79.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 56.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Los Molinos and Sunny near San Francisco.

Stop Ideas Near Esparto

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 Esparto and the surrounding midpoint area.
Denny's
Coffee break 0.6 mi away

Denny's

Dunnigan , CA
30003 County Road 8, Dunnigan, CA 95937, United States
Rating 3.8/5 651 reviews Diner,American restaurant,Breakfast restaurant
Cache Creek Casino Resort
Stay option 13.4 mi away

Cache Creek Casino Resort

Brooks , CA
14455 CA-16, Brooks, CA 95606, United States
Rating 4.1/5 8,916 reviews Tourist attraction,Hotel,Resort hotel,Casino
Pilot Travel Center
Practical stop 0.5 mi away

Pilot Travel Center

Dunnigan , CA
30035 County Road 8, Dunnigan, CA 95937, United States
Rating 4.2/5 2,934 reviews Truck stop,Convenience store,Gas station
Stop photo coming soon
Meeting point 11.7 mi away

Esparto Regional Chamber of Commerce

Esparto , CA
16858 Yolo Ave, Esparto, CA 95627, United States
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Chamber of Commerce

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Davis station

29 mi away
840 Second Street
BUS

Sacramento (State Capitol), California

47 mi away
1389 10th Street
RAIL

Sacramento Valley Station

47 mi away
401 I Street
RAIL

Suisun–Fairfield station

50 mi away
177 Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Los Molinos and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 156.15 mi (251.3 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Los Molinos

Located in the northern Sacramento Valley at an elevation of 223 feet, this census-designated place is positioned where Mill Creek meets the Sacramento River in Tehama County.

Population0
Coordinates40.0212700, -122.1002700
Altitude68
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: Sycamore Avenue (-122.100271, 40.021229)
End: Market Street (-122.419433, 37.774953)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 291 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 30m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 15m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.37 gal
24.11 L · about $39.88
Round trip
$79.77
12.74 gal · 48.22 L
Estimated CO2
56.6 kg one way
Round trip: 113.2 kg / 250 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $6.26 $39.88 $79.77
Mid-grade $6.50 $41.40 $82.80
Premium $6.69 $42.61 $85.22
Diesel $8.41 $53.59 $107.18

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Los Molinos and San Francisco. The current time is 11:29:35.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.