How far is Portola, CA from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance from Portola, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 234.8 miles (377.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 09m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 175.5 miles (282.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 19m 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 04h 09m.
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.
City in California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Portola and San Francisco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portola and San Francisco.
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1
Start on the route
21 m · 7 sec
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2
Turn right onto East Sierra Avenue
2774 ft · 59 sec · East Sierra Avenue
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3
Continue on Feather River Highway
3.8 mi · 5 min · Feather River Highway
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4
Turn right onto Beckwourth Calpine Road
8.6 mi · 10 min · Beckwourth Calpine Road
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5
Continue on Westside Road
6.8 mi · 8 min · Westside Road
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6
At the end of the road, turn left
4 mi · 6 min
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7
Turn right onto South Lincoln Street
22.5 mi · 32 min · South Lincoln Street
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8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
42 m · 2 sec
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9
Exit the roundabout
1494 ft · 24 sec
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10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Truckee Way
9 m · 1 sec · Truckee Way
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11
Exit the roundabout onto Truckee Way
797 ft · 15 sec · Truckee Way
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12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Truckee Way
31 m · 2 sec · Truckee Way
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13
Exit the roundabout onto Truckee Way
617 ft · 12 sec · Truckee Way
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14
Take the ramp right
1 km · 1 min
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15
Merge slight left onto Alan S. Hart Freeway
84.2 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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16
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7.1 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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17
Keep slight left to continue on North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
13.2 mi · 15 min · North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
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18
Continue on Yolo Causeway
3.9 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway
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19
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
50.1 mi · 58 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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20
Continue on Carquinez Bridge
1.6 km · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge
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21
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
1847 ft · 24 sec · Eastshore Freeway
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22
Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway
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23
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
14 mi · 16 min · Eastshore Freeway
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24
Take the exit slight left toward San Francisco
1.3 km · 1 min · Eastshore Freeway
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25
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1941 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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26
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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27
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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28
Continue on Route 80
1438 ft · 24 sec · Route 80
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29
Continue on Route 80
1.2 km · 1 min · Route 80
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30
Continue on Route 80
1893 ft · 32 sec · Route 80
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31
Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
1919 ft · 39 sec
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32
Merge slight right onto Central Freeway
1462 ft · 25 sec · Central Freeway
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33
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard
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34
Turn right onto Market Street
629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street
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35
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Portola 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.
Alan S. Hart Freeway
Merge slight left onto Alan S. Hart Freeway
84.2 mi · 01h 37m
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.
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Portola 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 Portola to San Francisco?
The road trip is about 234.8 miles (377.8 km) and usually takes 04h 09m 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?
Auburn is a useful midpoint, sitting about 117.3 miles from Portola and 117.5 miles from San Francisco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 175.5 miles (282.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 59.3 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 8:40 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $47.77 one way or $95.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 73.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Portola and Chance Light Rain near San Francisco.
Stop Ideas Near Auburn
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Roseville Transit
Roseville City Clerk's Department
Roseville Police Department
City of Folsom Solid Waste
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Auburn.
Auburn
Rocklin
Roseville station
Colfax
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Portola and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 175.52 mi (282.47 km).
#1 Portola
City in Plumas County, California, United States
| Population | 1,913 |
| Coordinates | 39.8104600, -120.4691000 |
| Altitude | 1480 |
| 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: 378 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 49m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 52m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 41m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 54m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 21m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 55m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $47.77 | $95.53 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $50.23 | $100.45 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $51.69 | $103.38 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $62.65 | $125.31 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.