How far is San Francisco, CA from Grass Valley, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Grass Valley, CA is about 142.9 miles (229.9 km), with a travel time of about 02h 56m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 123.9 miles (199.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 52m 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 02h 56m.
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.
The most populous city in Yolo County, California.
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 Grass Valley.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Grass Valley.
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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
6.4 mi · 10 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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7
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 East
2949 ft · 45 sec
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8
Merge slight right onto Nimitz Freeway
124 m · 6 sec · Nimitz Freeway
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9
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Eastshore Freeway
7.4 mi · 9 min · Eastshore Freeway
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11
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway
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12
Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.5 mi · 4 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway
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13
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
1718 ft · 27 sec · Eastshore Freeway
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14
Continue on Carquinez Bridge
1.6 km · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge
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15
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
14.5 mi · 17 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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16
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27.3 mi · 31 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8.4 mi · 10 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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18
Continue on Yolo Causeway
3.7 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
12.5 mi · 14 min · North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
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20
Keep slight left to continue on North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
1.3 km · 55 sec · North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
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21
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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22
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
16.9 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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23
Take the exit slight right toward CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville
943 ft · 31 sec
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24
Turn left onto Grass Valley Highway
5.8 mi · 9 min · Grass Valley Highway
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25
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
36 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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26
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Grass Valley Highway
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27
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
36 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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28
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Grass Valley Highway
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29
Continue on State Highway 49
14.8 mi · 20 min · State Highway 49
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30
Take the exit slight right toward CA 174
993 ft · 14 sec
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31
Keep slight left to continue on CA 174
51 m · 5 sec
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32
Turn left onto South Auburn Street
1297 ft · 33 sec · South Auburn Street
-
33
Turn right onto East Main Street
104 m · 10 sec · East Main Street
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34
Turn right onto Stewart Street
36 m · 5 sec · Stewart Street
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35
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Stewart Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Grass Valley.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27.3 mi · 00h 31m
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 Grass Valley.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Grass Valley?
The road trip is about 142.9 miles (229.9 km) and usually takes 02h 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?
Davis is a useful midpoint, sitting about 71.4 miles from San Francisco and 71.4 miles from Grass Valley.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 123.9 miles (199.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 19 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 12:38 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.08 one way or $58.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 44.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Sunny around San Francisco and Sunny near Grass Valley.
Stop Ideas Near Davis
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City of Sacramento
Sacramento City Hall
West Sacramento Fire Station 44
Hall Park Off Leash Dog Park
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Davis.
Davis station
Sacramento Valley Station
Sacramento (State Capitol), California
Elk Grove, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Grass Valley. Straight-line distance: 123.9 mi (199.39 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 Grass Valley
City in Nevada County, California, United States
| Population | 12,763 |
| Coordinates | 39.2190600, -121.0610600 |
| Altitude | 735 |
| Country | United States |
End: Grass Valley (-121.06106, 39.21906)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 230 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 04h 45m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 34m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 02h 51m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 22m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 02m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 46m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $29.08 | $58.15 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $30.57 | $61.15 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $31.46 | $62.93 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $38.14 | $76.28 |
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.