How far is San Francisco, CA from Lafayette, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Lafayette, CA is about 21.4 miles (34.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 31m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 18.1 miles (29.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 02m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 31m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City in the United States state of California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Lafayette.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Lafayette.
-
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
6.4 mi · 8 min · Caldecott Tunnel
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14
Take the exit slight right toward Oak Hill Road, Central Lafayette
1176 ft · 30 sec
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15
Turn right onto Oak Hill Road
644 ft · 20 sec · Oak Hill Road
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16
Turn left onto Mount Diablo Boulevard
146 m · 19 sec · Mount Diablo Boulevard
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17
Turn right onto Moraga Road
2269 ft · 56 sec · Moraga Road
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18
Turn left onto Saint Mary's Road
13 m · 1 sec · Saint Mary's Road
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19
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Saint Mary's Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Lafayette.
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
6.37 mi · 00h 08m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny leaving San Francisco and Sunny near Lafayette.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Lafayette?
The road trip is about 21.4 miles (34.4 km) and usually takes 00h 31m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Emeryville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.7 miles from San Francisco and 10.7 miles from Lafayette.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 18.1 miles (29.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.3 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:28 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.33 one way or $8.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny around San Francisco and Sunny near Lafayette.
Stop Ideas Near Emeryville
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer
Alameda Public Works Department
Old Berkeley City Hall
My City Hall Wedding
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Emeryville.
Emeryville station
Oakland – Jack London Square station
Berkeley station
San Francisco (Ferry), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Lafayette. Straight-line distance: 18.14 mi (29.2 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 Lafayette
City in California
| Population | 25,992 |
| Coordinates | 37.8857600, -122.1180200 |
| Altitude | 94 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lafayette (-122.11802, 37.88576)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 34 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 42m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 32m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 25m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 21m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 18m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 15m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $4.33 | $8.65 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $4.55 | $9.10 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $4.68 | $9.36 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $5.68 | $11.35 |
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 07, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.