How far is San Francisco, CA from Blue Lake, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Blue Lake, CA is about 287.3 miles (462.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 03m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 230.4 miles (370.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 06m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
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 06h 03m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Blue Lake.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Blue Lake.
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1
Start on Market Street
13 m · 7 sec · Market Street
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2
Turn sharp right onto South Van Ness Avenue
740 ft · 28 sec · South Van Ness Avenue
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3
Turn right onto Otis Street
649 ft · 17 sec · Otis Street
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4
Turn right onto Gough Street
628 ft · 16 sec · Gough Street
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5
Turn right onto Market Street
9 m · 1 sec · Market Street
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6
Keep slight left
151 m · 10 sec
-
7
Continue on Franklin Street
755 ft · 37 sec · Franklin Street
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8
Turn left onto Fell Street
2406 ft · 2 min · Fell Street
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9
Turn right onto Webster Street
1.6 km · 2 min · Webster Street
-
10
Turn left onto California Street
2416 ft · 1 min · California Street
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11
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
1.2 km · 2 min · Divisadero Street
-
12
Turn left onto Lombard Street
616 ft · 30 sec · Lombard Street
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13
Continue on Richardson Avenue
1231 ft · 41 sec · Richardson Avenue
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14
Continue on Presidio Parkway
1.8 mi · 4 min · Presidio Parkway
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15
Continue on Golden Gate Bridge
1.7 mi · 3 min · Golden Gate Bridge
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16
Continue on Redwood Highway
126.5 mi · 2 hr 32 min · Redwood Highway
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17
Continue on Willits Bypass
4.5 mi · 5 min · Willits Bypass
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18
Take the exit slight right
1.1 km · 48 sec
-
19
Merge slight left onto Willits Bypass
1236 ft · 16 sec · Willits Bypass
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20
Continue on Redwood Highway
128.9 mi · 2 hr 38 min · Redwood Highway
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21
Continue on Broadway Street
2.9 mi · 6 min · Broadway Street
-
22
Turn right onto West 5th Street
1.4 mi · 4 min · West 5th Street
-
23
Continue on Redwood Highway
8.7 mi · 12 min · Redwood Highway
-
24
Take the exit slight right toward CA 299 East: Blue Lake, Willow Creek
1744 ft · 43 sec
-
25
Continue straight
5.1 mi · 6 min
-
26
Take the exit slight right
49 m · 4 sec
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27
Continue straight
682 ft · 17 sec
-
28
Keep slight right
124 m · 11 sec
-
29
Continue on Blue Lake Boulevard
125 m · 11 sec · Blue Lake Boulevard
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30
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Blue Lake Boulevard
25 m · 2 sec · Blue Lake Boulevard
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31
Exit the roundabout onto Blue Lake Boulevard
1.1 km · 2 min · Blue Lake Boulevard
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32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Blue Lake Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Blue Lake.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Redwood Highway
Continue on Redwood Highway
129 mi · 02h 38m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving San Francisco and Patchy Fog then Sunny near Blue Lake.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Blue Lake?
The road trip is about 287.3 miles (462.3 km) and usually takes 06h 03m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Willits is a useful midpoint, sitting about 143.7 miles from San Francisco and 143.6 miles from Blue Lake.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 230.4 miles (370.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 56.9 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $58.50 one way or $117.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 90.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Francisco and Patchy Fog then Sunny near Blue Lake.
Stop Ideas Near Willits
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Chevron
Sewer Plant
NAPA Auto Parts - Long Valley Auto Supply
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Willits.
Willits, California
Laytonville, California
Ukiah, California
Leggett, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Blue Lake. Straight-line distance: 230.44 mi (370.85 km).
#1 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 |
#2 Blue Lake
City in California
| Population | 1,244 |
| Coordinates | 40.8829100, -123.9839500 |
| Altitude | 40 |
| Country | United States |
End: Blue Lake (-123.98395, 40.88291)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 462 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 34m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 10m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 44m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 47m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 06m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 35m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $58.50 | $117.00 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $61.51 | $123.02 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $63.30 | $126.61 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $76.73 | $153.46 |
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 · May 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.