How far is Penn Valley, CA from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance from Penn Valley, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 146.9 miles (236.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 41m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 118.6 miles (190.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 23m 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 41m.
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.
The most populous city in Yolo County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Penn Valley and San Francisco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Penn Valley and San Francisco.
-
1
Start on Willow Lane
121 m · 23 sec · Willow Lane
-
2
Turn left onto Lasso Loop
817 ft · 39 sec · Lasso Loop
-
3
Turn right onto Horton Street
1647 ft · 1 min · Horton Street
-
4
At the end of the road, turn right onto Penn Valley Drive
1.3 km · 1 min · Penn Valley Drive
-
5
At the end of the road, turn left onto Penn Valley Drive
2973 ft · 60 sec · Penn Valley Drive
-
6
Turn right onto Eric Rood Memorial Expressway
5.6 mi · 7 min · Eric Rood Memorial Expressway
-
7
Take the exit slight right
1166 ft · 18 sec
-
8
Merge slight left onto Golden Center Freeway
14.3 mi · 19 min · Golden Center Freeway
-
9
Continue on Grass Valley Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Grass Valley Highway
-
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
33 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
-
11
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Grass Valley Highway
-
12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
32 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
-
13
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
5.6 mi · 9 min · Grass Valley Highway
-
14
Take the ramp slight right toward I 80 West: Sacramento
1346 ft · 33 sec
-
15
Merge slight left onto Alan S. Hart Freeway
16.8 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
-
16
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7.1 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
17
Keep slight left to continue on North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
13.2 mi · 15 min · North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
-
18
Continue on Yolo Causeway
3.9 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway
-
19
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.1 mi · 58 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
20
Continue on Carquinez Bridge
1.6 km · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge
-
21
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
1847 ft · 24 sec · Eastshore Freeway
-
22
Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway
-
23
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
14 mi · 16 min · Eastshore Freeway
-
24
Take the exit slight left toward San Francisco
1.3 km · 1 min · Eastshore Freeway
-
25
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1941 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
26
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
27
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
28
Continue on Route 80
1438 ft · 24 sec · Route 80
-
29
Continue on Route 80
1.2 km · 1 min · Route 80
-
30
Continue on Route 80
1893 ft · 32 sec · Route 80
-
31
Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
1919 ft · 39 sec
-
32
Merge slight right onto Central Freeway
1462 ft · 25 sec · Central Freeway
-
33
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard
-
34
Turn right onto Market Street
629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street
-
35
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street
-
36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Penn Valley 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 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.
Sunny leaving Penn Valley 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 Penn Valley to San Francisco?
The road trip is about 146.9 miles (236.4 km) and usually takes 02h 41m 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?
Davis is a useful midpoint, sitting about 74.9 miles from Penn Valley and 71.9 miles from San Francisco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 118.6 miles (190.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:06 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.88 one way or $59.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 46 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Penn Valley and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near San Francisco.
Stop Ideas Near Davis
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City of Sacramento
Sacramento City Hall
City of Refuge Sacramento
Hall Park Off Leash Dog Park
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Davis.
Davis station
Sacramento Valley Station
Sacramento (State Capitol), California
Elk Grove, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Penn Valley and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 118.55 mi (190.78 km).
#1 Penn Valley
Census-designated place in Nevada County, California
| Population | 1,621 |
| Coordinates | 39.1960000, -121.1910700 |
| Altitude | 427 |
| 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: 236 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 04h 53m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 40m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 02h 56m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 26m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 05m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 49m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $29.88 | $59.77 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $31.42 | $62.84 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $32.34 | $64.68 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $39.20 | $78.39 |
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 25, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.