How far is San Francisco, CA from Bethel Island, CA?

The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Bethel Island, CA is about 56.4 miles (90.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 45.6 miles (73.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 38m 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
56.38 mi
01h 19m
Flight
45.59 mi
73.37 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San Francisco.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
45.59 mi
Kilometers
73.37 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
56.38 mi
Kilometers
90.73 km
Drive Time
01h 19m

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 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bethel Island
Tue, Apr 21, 10:00 PM PDT
Return by in San Francisco
Tue, Apr 21, 11:19 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Francisco
2026-04-21T20:41
Arrive Bethel Island
Tue, Apr 21, 10:00 PM PDT
Route Timing
01h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:19 AM to 11:19 AM PDT

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

Leave by
3:52 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in San Francisco
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
Pleasant Hill
CA

City in Contra Costa County, California, USA

From San Francisco
28.1 mi
00h 39m
To Bethel Island
28.2 mi
00h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Apr 21 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph S
Destination
Bethel Island Weather
CA
Live fallback forecast
63°F
Tuesday
Using Diablo as the closest live forecast in the Contra Costa County weather hub.

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Apr 21 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Bethel Island.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Bethel Island.

  1. 1

    Start on Market Street

    95 m · 8 sec · Market Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 11th Street

    3173 ft · 2 min · 11th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Bryant Street

    1724 ft · 1 min · Bryant Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left toward I 80 East: Oakland

    1538 ft · 26 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight right onto Route 80

    1.5 km · 1 min · Route 80

  6. 6

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    5.8 mi · 9 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-Stockton

    1.6 km · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto MacArthur Freeway

    3218 ft · 42 sec · MacArthur Freeway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 24 East: Berkeley, Walnut Creek

    1.4 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on CA 24 East: Walnut Creek

    1259 ft · 31 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Grove Shafter Freeway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · Grove Shafter Freeway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Grove Shafter Freeway

    874 ft · 13 sec · Grove Shafter Freeway

  13. 13

    Continue on Caldecott Tunnel

    9.8 mi · 11 min · Caldecott Tunnel

  14. 14

    Merge slight right onto Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on CA 242 North: Concord, Pittsburg

    3.9 mi · 4 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    15 mi · 17 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on CA 160: Rio Vista, Sacramento

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Main Street, East 18th Street

    1526 ft · 41 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Main Street

    3.5 mi · 6 min · Main Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto East Cypress Road

    3.1 mi · 8 min · East Cypress Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Bethel Island Road

    1.6 mi · 4 min · Bethel Island Road

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Bethel Island Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Bethel Island.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

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.

Directions
22 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
5 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
39 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
CA 242 North
18.9 mi · 33%
Caldecott Tunnel
9.82 mi · 17%
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.76 mi · 10%
Main Street
3.82 mi · 7%
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
3.8 mi · 7%
Grove Shafter Freeway
3.43 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

CA 242 North

Merge slight left

15 mi · 00h 17m

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 19m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.8 mi
45.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pleasant Hill
00h 39m from San Francisco
Leave By
3:52 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving San Francisco and Showers And Thunderstorms near Bethel Island.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Bethel Island?

The road trip is about 56.4 miles (90.7 km) and usually takes 01h 19m 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?

Pleasant Hill is a useful midpoint, sitting about 28.1 miles from San Francisco and 28.2 miles from Bethel Island.

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

The direct path is about 45.6 miles (73.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.8 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 3:52 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.48 one way or $22.96 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around San Francisco and Showers And Thunderstorms near Bethel Island.

Stop Ideas Near Pleasant Hill

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Pleasant Hill and the surrounding midpoint area.
BikeLink eLockers: El Cerrito City Hall
Scenic stop 14.6 mi away

BikeLink eLockers: El Cerrito City Hall

El Cerrito , CA
10890 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530, United States
Rating 2.0/5 1 reviews Parking lot for bicycles
Berkeley Community Media
Practical stop 13.7 mi away

Berkeley Community Media

Berkeley , CA
2239 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States
Rating 4.2/5 5 reviews Television station,City government office,Video production service
El Cerrito City Hall
Meeting point 14.6 mi away

El Cerrito City Hall

El Cerrito , CA
10890 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530, United States
Rating 4.6/5 9 reviews City government office
Old Berkeley City Hall
Nearby stop 13.7 mi away

Old Berkeley City Hall

Berkeley , CA
2134 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley, CA 94703, United States
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Civic center

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Pleasant Hill.

RAIL

Martinez station

10 mi away
601 Marina Vista Ave.
RAIL

Emeryville station

23 mi away
5885 Horton Street
RAIL

Berkeley station

23 mi away
University Ave. and Third St.
RAIL

Antioch–Pittsburg

23 mi away
100 I Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Bethel Island. Straight-line distance: 45.59 mi (73.37 km).

San Francisco

#1 San Francisco

The seventeenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Population866,606
Coordinates37.7749300, -122.4194200
Altitude16
CountryUnited States
Bethel Island

#2 Bethel Island

Census-designated place in Contra Costa County, California

Population2,137
Coordinates38.0149200, -121.6405100
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Start: San Francisco (-122.41942, 37.77493)
End: Bethel Island (-121.64051, 38.01492)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 91 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 56m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.99 gal
7.53 L · about $11.48
Round trip
$22.96
3.98 gal · 15.06 L
Estimated CO2
17.7 kg one way
Round trip: 35.4 kg / 78 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $11.48 $22.96
Mid-grade $6.07 $12.07 $24.14
Premium $6.24 $12.42 $24.85
Diesel $7.57 $15.06 $30.12

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between San Francisco and Bethel Island. The current time is 20:41:14.

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.