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

The driving distance from McCloud, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 283.5 miles (456.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 241 miles (387.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 35m 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
283.5 mi
04h 47m
Flight
240.96 mi
387.79 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from McCloud.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
240.96 mi
Kilometers
387.79 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
283.5 mi
Kilometers
456.25 km
Drive Time
04h 47m

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 04h 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Francisco
Wed, May 13, 11:36 PM PDT
Return by in McCloud
Thu, May 14, 4:24 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave McCloud
2026-05-13T18:48
Arrive San Francisco
Wed, May 13, 11:36 PM PDT
Route Timing
04h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:48 AM to 12:48 PM PDT

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

Leave by
7:24 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in McCloud
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
Willows
CA

City in California, USA

From McCloud
141.6 mi
02h 23m
To San Francisco
141.9 mi
02h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain And Snow

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 12 mph WNW
Destination
70°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 12 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    23 m · 7 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Colombero Drive

    1.4 km · 2 min · West Colombero Drive

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Mount Shasta - Mount Lassen Highway

    8.6 mi · 10 min · Mount Shasta - Mount Lassen Highway

  4. 4

    Keep slight left

    3165 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway

    54.5 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway

    35.5 mi · 39 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Westside Freeway

    93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway

  8. 8

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

    33.2 mi · 36 min

  9. 9

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

    2201 ft · 54 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    27.6 mi · 32 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Carquinez Bridge

    1.6 km · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge

  12. 12

    Continue on Eastshore Freeway

    1847 ft · 24 sec · Eastshore Freeway

  13. 13

    Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway

  14. 14

    Continue on Eastshore Freeway

    14 mi · 16 min · Eastshore Freeway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight left toward San Francisco

    1.3 km · 1 min · Eastshore Freeway

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1941 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  17. 17

    Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Route 80

    1438 ft · 24 sec · Route 80

  20. 20

    Continue on Route 80

    1.2 km · 1 min · Route 80

  21. 21

    Continue on Route 80

    1893 ft · 32 sec · Route 80

  22. 22

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

    1919 ft · 39 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight right onto Central Freeway

    1462 ft · 25 sec · Central Freeway

  24. 24

    Continue on Octavia Boulevard

    2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Market Street

    629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street

  26. 26

    Keep slight right to continue on Market Street

    961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Market Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between McCloud 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
27 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
4 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
93 mi · 33%
Cascade Wonderland Highway
90 mi · 32%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
33.9 mi · 12%
I 505 South
33.2 mi · 12%
Eastshore Freeway
15.2 mi · 5%
Mount Shasta - Mount Lassen Highway
9.16 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Continue on Westside Freeway

93 mi · 01h 40m

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
04h 47m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+42.5 mi
241 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Willows
02h 23m from McCloud
Leave By
7:24 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain And Snow leaving McCloud and 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 McCloud to San Francisco?

The road trip is about 283.5 miles (456.3 km) and usually takes 04h 47m 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?

Willows is a useful midpoint, sitting about 141.6 miles from McCloud and 141.9 miles from San Francisco.

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

The direct path is about 241 miles (387.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.5 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 7:24 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $57.69 one way or $115.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain And Snow around McCloud and Mostly Sunny near San Francisco.

Stop Ideas Near Willows

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Willows, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Chico station

37 mi away
West 5th and Orange Streets
BUS

Corning, California

45 mi away
1081 Solano Street
BUS

Oroville, California

53 mi away
Hwy 70 and Grand Ave.
BUS

Marysville, California

67 mi away
I Street between 8th and 9th

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between McCloud and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 240.96 mi (387.79 km).

McCloud

#1 McCloud

Census-designated place in Siskiyou County, California, United States

Population1,101
Coordinates41.2557100, -122.1394500
Altitude1000
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: Main Street (-122.139324, 41.255717)
End: Market Street (-122.419433, 37.774953)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 456 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 40m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 03m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10 gal
37.87 L · about $57.69
Round trip
$115.38
20 gal · 75.74 L
Estimated CO2
88.9 kg one way
Round trip: 177.7 kg / 392 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $57.69 $115.38
Mid-grade $6.07 $60.66 $121.32
Premium $6.24 $62.43 $124.86
Diesel $7.57 $75.67 $151.34

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 14, 2026

There is no time difference between McCloud and San Francisco. The current time is 18:48:58.

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.