How far is Paradise, CA from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance from Paradise, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 171 miles (275.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 03m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 143.7 miles (231.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 07m 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 03h 03m.
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.
The most populous city in Yolo County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Paradise and San Francisco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paradise and San Francisco.
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1
Start on Elliott Road
1.3 km · 2 min · Elliott Road
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2
Turn right onto Clark Road
8.3 mi · 12 min · Clark Road
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3
Exit the roundabout onto Clark Road
3.5 mi · 5 min · Clark Road
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4
Turn right
21 mi · 24 min
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5
Continue straight
11.1 mi · 13 min
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6
Continue straight
1.5 mi · 3 min
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7
Turn right onto 5th Street
1272 ft · 31 sec · 5th Street
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8
Turn left onto E Street
4.2 mi · 5 min · E Street
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9
Keep slight right
17.5 mi · 20 min
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10
Merge slight left onto Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
4.9 mi · 6 min · Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
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11
Continue on Golden State Highway
7.7 mi · 9 min · Golden State Highway
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12
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
2.3 mi · 3 min · Westside Freeway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East, I 80 West: Reno, San Francisco
975 ft · 24 sec
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14
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: San Francisco
2716 ft · 1 min
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15
Merge slight left onto North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
4.2 mi · 5 min · North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
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16
Continue on Yolo Causeway
3.9 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway
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17
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.1 mi · 58 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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18
Continue on Carquinez Bridge
1.6 km · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge
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19
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
1847 ft · 24 sec · Eastshore Freeway
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20
Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway
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21
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
14 mi · 16 min · Eastshore Freeway
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22
Take the exit slight left toward San Francisco
1.3 km · 1 min · Eastshore Freeway
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23
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1941 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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24
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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25
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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26
Continue on Route 80
1438 ft · 24 sec · Route 80
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27
Continue on Route 80
1.2 km · 1 min · Route 80
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28
Continue on Route 80
1893 ft · 32 sec · Route 80
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29
Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
1919 ft · 39 sec
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30
Merge slight right onto Central Freeway
1462 ft · 25 sec · Central Freeway
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31
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard
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32
Turn right onto Market Street
629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street
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33
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street
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34
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Paradise 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.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.1 mi · 00h 58m
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.
Chance Light Rain then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Paradise and Chance Light Rain near San Francisco.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Paradise to San Francisco?
The road trip is about 171 miles (275.2 km) and usually takes 03h 03m 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?
West Sacramento is a useful midpoint, sitting about 85.4 miles from Paradise and 85.6 miles from San Francisco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 143.7 miles (231.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.3 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 10:52 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.79 one way or $69.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Paradise and Chance Light Rain near San Francisco.
Stop Ideas Near West Sacramento
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City of Sacramento
Citrus Heights Community Center
City of Refuge Sacramento
Citrus Heights City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to West Sacramento.
Sacramento (State Capitol), California
Sacramento Valley Station
Davis station
Elk Grove, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Paradise and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 143.7 mi (231.26 km).
#1 Paradise
City in Butte County, California
| Population | 4,329 |
| Coordinates | 39.7596100, -121.6219200 |
| Altitude | 542 |
| 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: 275 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 41m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 16m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 25m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 51m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 26m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 08m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $34.79 | $69.57 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $36.58 | $73.16 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $37.65 | $75.29 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $45.63 | $91.26 |
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.