How far is San Francisco, CA from Cottonwood, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Cottonwood, CA is about 199.9 miles (321.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 45m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 180.6 miles (290.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 03h 45m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Census-designated place in Colusa County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Cottonwood.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Cottonwood.
-
1
Start on Market Street
95 m · 8 sec · Market Street
-
2
Turn right onto 11th Street
3173 ft · 2 min · 11th Street
-
3
Turn left onto Bryant Street
1724 ft · 1 min · Bryant Street
-
4
Take the ramp left toward I 80 East: Oakland
1538 ft · 26 sec
-
5
Merge slight right onto Route 80
1.5 km · 1 min · Route 80
-
6
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6.4 mi · 10 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
7
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 East
2949 ft · 45 sec
-
8
Merge slight right onto Nimitz Freeway
124 m · 6 sec · Nimitz Freeway
-
9
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway
-
10
Keep slight left to continue on Eastshore Freeway
7.4 mi · 9 min · Eastshore Freeway
-
11
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway
-
12
Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.5 mi · 4 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway
-
13
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
1718 ft · 27 sec · Eastshore Freeway
-
14
Continue on Carquinez Bridge
1.6 km · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge
-
15
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
14.5 mi · 17 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
16
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13.1 mi · 15 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
17
Take the exit slight right toward I 505 North: Winters, Redding
803 ft · 20 sec
-
18
Keep slight left to continue on I 505 North: Winters, Redding
1 km · 1 min
-
19
Continue straight
141.9 mi · 2 hr 32 min
-
20
Take the exit slight right toward Bowman Road, Cottonwood
1719 ft · 33 sec
-
21
Continue on Main Street
1.2 mi · 2 min · Main Street
-
22
Turn right onto 1st Street
19 m · 2 sec · 1st Street
-
23
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Cottonwood.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 505 North
Continue straight
142 mi · 02h 32m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Sunny leaving San Francisco and Sunny near Cottonwood.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Cottonwood?
The road trip is about 199.9 miles (321.7 km) and usually takes 03h 45m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Arbuckle is a useful midpoint, sitting about 100 miles from San Francisco and 99.9 miles from Cottonwood.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 180.6 miles (290.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.3 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:28 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.14 one way or $88.28 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 62.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Francisco and Sunny near Cottonwood.
Stop Ideas Near Arbuckle
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Denny's
Northview Park
Pilot Travel Center
City Clerk
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Arbuckle.
Marysville, California
Davis station
Sacramento Valley Station
Sacramento (State Capitol), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Cottonwood. Straight-line distance: 180.54 mi (290.55 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 Cottonwood
Located in Shasta County at an elevation of 433 feet, this Northern California census-designated place is situated in the northern Sacramento Valley near where Cottonwood Creek meets the Sacramento River.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 40.3857100, -122.2808400 |
| Altitude | 132 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cottonwood (-122.28084, 40.38571)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 322 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 39m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 59m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 59m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 19m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 51m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 29m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $44.14 | $88.28 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $45.82 | $91.64 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $47.16 | $94.31 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $59.31 | $118.62 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026