How far is Sacramento, CA from South San Francisco, CA?

The driving distance from Sacramento, CA to South San Francisco, CA is about 95 miles (152.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 81 miles (130.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 53m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
94.98 mi
01h 56m
Flight
81.03 mi
130.41 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sacramento.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
81.03 mi
Kilometers
130.41 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
94.98 mi
Kilometers
152.86 km
Drive Time
01h 56m

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 01h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South San Francisco
Sat, Apr 18, 11:56 AM PDT
Return by in Sacramento
Sat, Apr 18, 1:53 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sacramento
2026-04-18T10:00
Arrive South San Francisco
Sat, Apr 18, 11:56 AM PDT
Route Timing
01h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:57 AM to 11:57 AM PDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:36 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sacramento
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

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.

Mid-route stop
Suisun
CA

City in Solano County, California, United States

From Sacramento
47.5 mi
00h 58m
To South San Francisco
47.5 mi
00h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 mph SSW
Destination
71°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Sacramento and South San Francisco.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sacramento and South San Francisco.

  1. 1

    Start on 9th Street

    2904 ft · 2 min · 9th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto P Street

    2746 ft · 1 min · P Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp straight toward US 50, I 5 South: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Los Angeles

    1146 ft · 17 sec

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on US 50: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco

    912 ft · 12 sec

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on US 50 West: San Francisco

    2188 ft · 40 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Capital City Freeway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Capital City Freeway

  7. 7

    Continue on Yolo Causeway

    3.9 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway

  8. 8

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    50.1 mi · 58 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on Carquinez Bridge

    1.6 km · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge

  10. 10

    Continue on Eastshore Freeway

    1847 ft · 24 sec · Eastshore Freeway

  11. 11

    Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway

  12. 12

    Continue on Eastshore Freeway

    14 mi · 16 min · Eastshore Freeway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight left toward San Francisco

    1.3 km · 1 min · Eastshore Freeway

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1941 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  15. 15

    Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Route 80

    1438 ft · 24 sec · Route 80

  18. 18

    Continue on Route 80

    1.2 km · 1 min · Route 80

  19. 19

    Continue on Route 80

    1893 ft · 32 sec · Route 80

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on US 101 South: San Jose

    1488 ft · 25 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight right onto James Lick Freeway

    4.3 mi · 6 min · James Lick Freeway

  22. 22

    Continue on Bayshore Freeway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Bayshore Freeway

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward Grand Avenue

    1029 ft · 27 sec

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Airport Boulevard

    145 m · 19 sec · Airport Boulevard

  25. 25

    Turn right

    51 m · 14 sec

  26. 26

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Grand Avenue

    49 m · 13 sec · Grand Avenue

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Airport Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Sacramento and South San Francisco.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
27 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
28.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
56.3 mi · 59%
Eastshore Freeway
14.8 mi · 16%
James Lick Freeway
4.29 mi · 5%
Yolo Causeway
3.88 mi · 4%
Bayshore Freeway
3.83 mi · 4%
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.42 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

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.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
01h 56m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14 mi
81 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Suisun
00h 58m from Sacramento
Leave By
2:36 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Sacramento and Mostly 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 Sacramento to South San Francisco?

The road trip is about 95 miles (152.9 km) and usually takes 01h 56m 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?

Suisun is a useful midpoint, sitting about 47.5 miles from Sacramento and 47.5 miles from South San Francisco.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 81 miles (130.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 14 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 2:36 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.33 one way or $38.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 29.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Sacramento and Mostly Sunny near South San Francisco.

Stop Ideas Near Suisun

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Suisun, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Suisun.

RAIL

Suisun–Fairfield station

1 mi away
177 Main Street
BUS

Marine World (Seasonal), Vallejo, California

20 mi away
Highway 37 and Fairgrounds Drive
BUS

Vallejo, California

22 mi away
4355 Sonoma Blvd.
RAIL

Martinez station

26 mi away
601 Marina Vista Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sacramento and South San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 81.03 mi (130.41 km).

Sacramento

#1 Sacramento

The sixth most populous city in California and the center of the Sacramento metropolitan area.

Population512,838
Coordinates38.5815700, -121.4944000
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
South San Francisco

#2 South San Francisco

The most populous city in San Mateo County, California.

Population66,558
Coordinates37.6546600, -122.4077500
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Start: Sacramento (-121.4944, 38.58157)
End: South San Francisco (-122.40775, 37.65466)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 153 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 09m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.35 gal
12.69 L · about $19.33
Round trip
$38.65
6.7 gal · 25.38 L
Estimated CO2
29.8 kg one way
Round trip: 59.5 kg / 131 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $19.33 $38.65
Mid-grade $6.07 $20.32 $40.64
Premium $6.24 $20.91 $41.83
Diesel $7.57 $25.35 $50.70

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Sacramento and South San Francisco. The current time is 10:00:00.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.