How far is Redwood City, CA from South San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance from Redwood City, CA to South San Francisco, CA is about 17 miles (27.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 22m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 15 miles (24.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 45m 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 22m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
The second most populous city in San Mateo County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Redwood City and South San Francisco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Redwood City and South 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
14.6 mi · 17 min · Bayshore Freeway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward South Airport Boulevard
1218 ft · 32 sec
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10
Turn left onto South Airport Boulevard
1061 ft · 28 sec · South Airport Boulevard
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11
Turn left onto South Airport Boulevard
868 ft · 24 sec · South Airport Boulevard
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12
Continue on Airport Boulevard
1910 ft · 44 sec · Airport Boulevard
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13
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Airport Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Redwood City and South 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
14.6 mi · 00h 17m
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 Sunny near South 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 South San Francisco?
The road trip is about 17 miles (27.3 km) and usually takes 00h 22m 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?
San Mateo is a useful midpoint, sitting about 8.5 miles from Redwood City and 8.5 miles from South San Francisco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 15 miles (24.1 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 7:44 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.76 one way or $7.51 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Redwood City and Sunny near South San Francisco.
Stop Ideas Near San Mateo
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 San Mateo.
Hayward station
Oakland Coliseum station
San Francisco (Civic Center), California
San Francisco (Caltrain), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Redwood City and South San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 15.01 mi (24.15 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 South San Francisco
The most populous city in San Mateo County, California.
| Population | 66,558 |
| Coordinates | 37.6546600, -122.4077500 |
| Altitude | 4 |
| Country | United States |
End: Airport Boulevard (-122.407747, 37.654617)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 27 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 33m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 25m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 20m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 16m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 14m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 12m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $3.76 | $7.51 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $3.90 | $7.80 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $4.01 | $8.03 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $5.05 | $10.10 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026