How far is San Francisco, CA from Clayton, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Clayton, CA is about 33 miles (53.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 50m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 28.8 miles (46.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
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.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
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 50m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Clayton.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Clayton.
-
1
Start on Market Street
95 m · 8 sec · Market Street
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2
Turn right onto 11th Street
3173 ft · 2 min · 11th Street
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3
Turn left onto Bryant Street
1724 ft · 1 min · Bryant Street
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4
Take the ramp left toward I 80 East: Oakland
1538 ft · 26 sec
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5
Merge slight right onto Route 80
1.5 km · 1 min · Route 80
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6
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.8 mi · 9 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-Stockton
1.6 km · 1 min
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8
Merge slight left onto MacArthur Freeway
3218 ft · 42 sec · MacArthur Freeway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward CA 24 East: Berkeley, Walnut Creek
1.4 km · 2 min
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10
Keep slight left to continue on CA 24 East: Walnut Creek
1259 ft · 31 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto Grove Shafter Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Grove Shafter Freeway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Grove Shafter Freeway
874 ft · 13 sec · Grove Shafter Freeway
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13
Continue on Caldecott Tunnel
9.2 mi · 11 min · Caldecott Tunnel
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14
Take the exit slight right toward Ygnacio Valley Road
1.1 km · 1 min
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15
Turn right onto Ygnacio Valley Road
7.5 mi · 14 min · Ygnacio Valley Road
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16
Turn right onto Clayton Road
1.3 mi · 3 min · Clayton Road
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17
Turn slight right onto Oak Street
606 ft · 29 sec · Oak Street
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18
Turn right onto Diablo Street
20 m · 3 sec · Diablo Street
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19
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Diablo Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Clayton.
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.
Caldecott Tunnel
Continue on Caldecott Tunnel
9.23 mi · 00h 11m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Patchy Fog then Sunny leaving San Francisco and Sunny near Clayton.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Clayton?
The road trip is about 33 miles (53.1 km) and usually takes 00h 50m 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?
Orinda is a useful midpoint, sitting about 16.5 miles from San Francisco and 16.5 miles from Clayton.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 28.8 miles (46.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:48 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.69 one way or $13.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Sunny around San Francisco and Sunny near Clayton.
Stop Ideas Near Orinda
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
My City Hall Wedding
Alameda City Clerk's Office
Old Maple Hall
City Hall Events Office
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Orinda.
Emeryville station
Berkeley station
Oakland – Jack London Square station
Oakland Coliseum station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Clayton. Straight-line distance: 28.77 mi (46.3 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 Clayton
City in California, United States
| Population | 11,527 |
| Coordinates | 37.9410300, -121.9357900 |
| Altitude | 120 |
| Country | United States |
End: Clayton (-121.93579, 37.94103)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 53 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 05m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 49m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 39m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 32m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 28m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 24m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $6.69 | $13.38 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $7.04 | $14.07 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $7.24 | $14.48 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $8.78 | $17.56 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.