How far is Redwood City, CA from Foster City, CA?
The driving distance from Redwood City, CA to Foster City, CA is about 7.4 miles (11.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 12m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 5.4 miles (8.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 25m 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 12m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
Town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Redwood City and Foster City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Redwood City and Foster City.
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1
Start on the route
146 m · 26 sec
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2
Turn right onto Broadway
96 m · 16 sec · Broadway
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3
Turn sharp left onto Arch Street
63 m · 13 sec · Arch Street
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4
Turn right onto Brewster Avenue
2505 ft · 1 min · Brewster Avenue
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5
Turn left onto Veterans Boulevard
1731 ft · 41 sec · Veterans Boulevard
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6
Turn right onto Whipple Avenue
809 ft · 28 sec · Whipple Avenue
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7
Take the ramp slight right toward US 101 North: San Francisco
987 ft · 26 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
4.3 mi · 5 min · Bayshore Freeway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward Hillsdale Boulevard
1353 ft · 37 sec
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10
Turn right onto East Hillsdale Boulevard
1.3 mi · 2 min · East Hillsdale Boulevard
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11
Turn right onto Shell Boulevard
786 ft · 23 sec · Shell Boulevard
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12
Continue on Shell Boulevard
771 ft · 23 sec · Shell Boulevard
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13
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Shell Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Redwood City and Foster City.
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
4.27 mi · 00h 05m
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.
Partly Sunny leaving Redwood City and Partly Sunny near Foster City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Redwood City to Foster City?
The road trip is about 7.4 miles (11.9 km) and usually takes 00h 12m 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?
Belmont is a useful midpoint, sitting about 3.7 miles from Redwood City and 3.7 miles from Foster City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 5.4 miles (8.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 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 8:04 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.50 one way or $3.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 2.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Redwood City and Partly Sunny near Foster City.
Stop Ideas Near Belmont
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 Belmont.
Hayward station
Fremont station
Oakland Coliseum station
San Francisco (Caltrain), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Redwood City and Foster City. Straight-line distance: 5.41 mi (8.71 km).
#1 Redwood City
A city in San Mateo County, California.
| Population | 85,925 |
| Coordinates | 37.4852200, -122.2363500 |
| Altitude | 6 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Foster City
City in San Mateo County, California, United States
| Population | 33,901 |
| Coordinates | 37.5585500, -122.2710800 |
| Altitude | 2 |
| Country | United States |
End: Foster City (-122.27108, 37.55855)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 12 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 14m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 11m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 08m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 07m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 06m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 05m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $1.50 | $3.00 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $1.58 | $3.15 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $1.62 | $3.25 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $1.97 | $3.93 |
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 16, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.