How far is Mendota, CA from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance from Mendota, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 159.3 miles (256.3 km), with a travel time of about 02h 43m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 132.4 miles (213.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 27m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
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 02h 43m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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 Stanislaus County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Patchy Fog then Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Mendota and San Francisco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mendota and San Francisco.
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1
Start on Quince Street
106 m · 17 sec · Quince Street
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2
Turn right onto 8th Street
1789 ft · 1 min · 8th Street
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3
Turn slight right onto Belmont Avenue
10.1 mi · 18 min · Belmont Avenue
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4
Turn right onto North Fairfax Avenue
2 mi · 4 min · North Fairfax Avenue
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5
Turn left onto West Shields Avenue
8.6 mi · 15 min · West Shields Avenue
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6
Take the ramp slight right
1471 ft · 36 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
66.6 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Westside Freeway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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10
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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11
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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12
Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
7.2 mi · 8 min · MacArthur Freeway
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14
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: San Francisco
1.5 km · 1 min
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15
Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1015 ft · 17 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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16
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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18
Continue on Route 80
1438 ft · 24 sec · Route 80
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19
Continue on Route 80
1.2 km · 1 min · Route 80
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20
Continue on Route 80
1893 ft · 32 sec · Route 80
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21
Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
1919 ft · 39 sec
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22
Merge slight right onto Central Freeway
1462 ft · 25 sec · Central Freeway
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23
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard
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24
Turn right onto Market Street
629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street
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25
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Mendota and San Francisco.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
66.6 mi · 01h 11m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A comfortable day-trip route
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
Mostly Sunny leaving Mendota and Patchy Fog then Sunny near San Francisco.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Mendota to San Francisco?
The road trip is about 159.3 miles (256.3 km) and usually takes 02h 43m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Patterson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79.8 miles from Mendota and 79.4 miles from San Francisco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 132.4 miles (213.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:02 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.42 one way or $64.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Mendota and Patchy Fog then Sunny near San Francisco.
Stop Ideas Near Patterson
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 Patterson.
Modesto station
Denair station
Tracy, CA
Manteca, CA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Mendota and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 132.42 mi (213.11 km).
#1 Mendota
City in Illinois, United States
| Population | 12,427 |
| Coordinates | 36.7535600, -120.3815600 |
| Altitude | 53 |
| 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: 256 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 18m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 58m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 11m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 39m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 16m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 59m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $32.42 | $64.84 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $34.09 | $68.18 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $35.09 | $70.17 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $42.53 | $85.05 |
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.