How far is Redwood City, CA from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance from Redwood City, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 26.7 miles (42.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 32m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 22.4 miles (36 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 05m 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 32m.
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.
City in California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Redwood City and San Francisco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Redwood City and San Francisco.
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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
19.5 mi · 22 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 Redwood City 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
19.5 mi · 00h 23m
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.
Sunny leaving Redwood City and 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 Redwood City to San Francisco?
The road trip is about 26.7 miles (42.9 km) and usually takes 00h 32m 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?
Millbrae is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.3 miles from Redwood City and 13.4 miles from San Francisco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 22.4 miles (36 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.3 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:24 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.42 one way or $10.85 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Redwood City and Mostly Sunny near San Francisco.
Stop Ideas Near Millbrae
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer
City of South San Francisco: City Attorney
Foster City - City Hall
My City Hall Wedding
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Millbrae.
San Francisco (Civic Center), California
San Francisco (Caltrain), California
San Francisco (Shopping), California
San Francisco (Conv Ctr), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Redwood City and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 22.38 mi (36.02 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 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: 43 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 53m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 39m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 31m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 26m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 22m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 19m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $5.42 | $10.85 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $5.70 | $11.40 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $5.87 | $11.74 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $7.11 | $14.23 |
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.