How far is Palo Alto, CA from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance from Palo Alto, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 33.7 miles (54.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 38m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 27.5 miles (44.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 16m 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 38m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
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.
Mostly Sunny
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Palo Alto and San Francisco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palo Alto and San Francisco.
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1
Start on Middlefield Road
1458 ft · 56 sec · Middlefield Road
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2
Turn right onto Melville Avenue
1619 ft · 1 min · Melville Avenue
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3
At the end of the road, turn left onto Channing Avenue
50 m · 8 sec · Channing Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Lincoln Avenue
2441 ft · 1 min · Lincoln Avenue
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5
Turn right onto University Avenue
1.1 km · 2 min · University Avenue
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6
Turn left onto Donohoe Street
127 m · 18 sec · Donohoe Street
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7
Take the ramp left toward US 101 North: San Francisco
1108 ft · 24 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
24.8 mi · 29 min · Bayshore Freeway
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9
Continue on James Lick Freeway
4.2 mi · 6 min · James Lick Freeway
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10
Continue on Central Freeway
1.3 km · 1 min · Central Freeway
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11
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard
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12
Turn right onto Market Street
629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street
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13
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street
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14
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Palo Alto and San Francisco.
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.
Bayshore Freeway
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
24.8 mi · 00h 29m
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto to San Francisco?
The road trip is about 33.7 miles (54.3 km) and usually takes 00h 38m 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 16.3 miles from Palo Alto and 17.4 miles from San Francisco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 27.5 miles (44.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.2 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:14 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.87 one way or $13.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Palo Alto and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near San Francisco.
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 Palo Alto and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 27.54 mi (44.32 km).
#1 Palo Alto
The most populous city in Santa Clara County, California.
| Population | 67,008 |
| Coordinates | 37.4418800, -122.1430200 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| 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: 54 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 07m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 50m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 40m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 33m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 28m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 25m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $6.87 | $13.73 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $7.22 | $14.44 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $7.43 | $14.86 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $9.00 | $18.01 |
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 07, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.