How far is San Francisco, CA from Bolinas, CA?

The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Bolinas, CA is about 30 miles (48.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 17.3 miles (27.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 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
30.03 mi
00h 56m
Flight
17.27 mi
27.8 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
17.27 mi
Kilometers
27.8 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
30.03 mi
Kilometers
48.33 km
Drive Time
00h 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 00h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bolinas
Mon, May 25, 3:51 AM PDT
Return by in San Francisco
Mon, May 25, 4:48 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Francisco
2026-05-25T02:54
Arrive Bolinas
Mon, May 25, 3:51 AM PDT
Route Timing
00h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:57 AM to 10:57 AM PDT

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

Leave by
4:36 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
Mill Valley
CA

City in Marin County, California, United States

From San Francisco
15 mi
00h 28m
To Bolinas
15 mi
00h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Memorial Day

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 13 mph W
Destination
69°F
Memorial Day

Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 10 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Bolinas.

  1. 1

    Start on Market Street

    13 m · 7 sec · Market Street

  2. 2

    Turn sharp right onto South Van Ness Avenue

    740 ft · 28 sec · South Van Ness Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Otis Street

    649 ft · 17 sec · Otis Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Gough Street

    628 ft · 16 sec · Gough Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Market Street

    9 m · 1 sec · Market Street

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    151 m · 10 sec

  7. 7

    Continue on Franklin Street

    755 ft · 37 sec · Franklin Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Fell Street

    2406 ft · 2 min · Fell Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Webster Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Webster Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto California Street

    2416 ft · 1 min · California Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Divisadero Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Divisadero Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Lombard Street

    616 ft · 30 sec · Lombard Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Richardson Avenue

    1231 ft · 41 sec · Richardson Avenue

  14. 14

    Continue on Presidio Parkway

    1.8 mi · 4 min · Presidio Parkway

  15. 15

    Continue on Golden Gate Bridge

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Golden Gate Bridge

  16. 16

    Continue on Redwood Highway

    3.7 mi · 5 min · Redwood Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 1: Mill Valley, Stinson Beach, Muir Woods, Mount Tamalpais

    1 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Continue on Shoreline Highway

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Shoreline Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Shoreline Highway

    14.8 mi · 26 min · Shoreline Highway

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Olema Bolinas Road

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Olema Bolinas Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Olema Bolinas Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · Olema Bolinas Road

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Wharf Road

Car Route Details

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

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
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
73.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Shoreline Highway
16.1 mi · 54%
Redwood Highway
3.75 mi · 12%
Olema Bolinas Road
2.08 mi · 7%
Presidio Parkway
1.79 mi · 6%
Golden Gate Bridge
1.7 mi · 6%
CA 1
1.01 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Shoreline Highway

Continue on Shoreline Highway

14.8 mi · 00h 26m

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
00h 56m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.7 mi
17.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mill Valley
00h 28m from San Francisco
Leave By
4:36 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny leaving San Francisco and Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny near Bolinas.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Bolinas?

The road trip is about 30 miles (48.3 km) and usually takes 00h 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?

Mill Valley is a useful midpoint, sitting about 15 miles from San Francisco and 15 miles from Bolinas.

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

The direct path is about 17.3 miles (27.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.7 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 4:36 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.12 one way or $12.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny around San Francisco and Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny near Bolinas.

Stop Ideas Near Mill Valley

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 Mill Valley and the surrounding midpoint area.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer
Practical stop 8.6 mi away

San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer

San Francisco , CA
3365 Sacramento St #435, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States
Rating 5.0/5 21 reviews Wedding photographer,Photographer,Wedding service
El Cerrito City Hall
Meeting point 13.6 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 Maple Hall
Nearby stop 12.9 mi away

Old Maple Hall

San Pablo , CA
13831 San Pablo Ave, San Pablo, CA 94806, United States
Rating 4.7/5 48 reviews Community center
My City Hall Wedding
Practical stop 9.5 mi away

My City Hall Wedding

San Francisco , CA
1480 Sutter St #302, San Francisco, CA 94109, United States
Rating 5.0/5 8 reviews Wedding photographer,Wedding planner,Wedding service,Wedding store

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Mill Valley.

BUS

San Francisco (Wharf), California

16 mi away
Beach St. & The Embarcadero
RAIL

Richmond station

17 mi away
1700 Nevin Avenue
BUS

San Francisco (Civic Center), California

18 mi away
1150 Market Street
BUS

San Francisco (Ferry), California

18 mi away
101 The Embarcadero

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Bolinas. Straight-line distance: 17.27 mi (27.8 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
Bolinas

#2 Bolinas

Census-designated place in Marin County, California

Population1,620
Coordinates37.9093700, -122.6863700
Altitude11
CountryUnited States
Start: San Francisco (-122.41942, 37.77493)
End: Bolinas (-122.68637, 37.90937)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 48 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.06 gal
4.01 L · about $6.12
Round trip
$12.23
2.12 gal · 8.02 L
Estimated CO2
9.4 kg one way
Round trip: 18.8 kg / 41 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $6.12 $12.23
Mid-grade $6.07 $6.43 $12.86
Premium $6.24 $6.62 $13.24
Diesel $7.57 $8.02 $16.04

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 25, 2026

There is no time difference between San Francisco and Bolinas. The current time is 02:54:15.

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.