How far is San Francisco, CA from Lancaster, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Lancaster, CA is about 361.5 miles (581.7 km), with a travel time of about 06h 50m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 319.6 miles (514.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 06h 50m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Small city in Fresno County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Lancaster.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Lancaster.
-
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
15.9 mi · 18 min · MacArthur Freeway
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9
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.5 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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13
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224.4 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway
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14
Keep slight right
22 mi · 25 min
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15
Take the exit slight right toward CA 138 East: Lancaster, Palmdale
1.6 km · 1 min
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16
Continue on Lancaster Freeway
1491 ft · 20 sec · Lancaster Freeway
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17
Continue straight
150 m · 6 sec
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18
Merge slight right onto Lancaster Freeway
1.1 km · 58 sec · Lancaster Freeway
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19
Continue on Lancaster Road
12.7 mi · 17 min · Lancaster Road
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20
Continue on West Avenue D
23.5 mi · 32 min · West Avenue D
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21
At the end of the road, turn right onto Sierra Highway
5.5 mi · 8 min · Sierra Highway
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Sierra Highway
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Lancaster.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224 mi · 04h 00m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny leaving San Francisco and Sunny near Lancaster.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Lancaster?
The road trip is about 361.5 miles (581.7 km) and usually takes 06h 50m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Huron is a useful midpoint, sitting about 180.7 miles from San Francisco and 180.8 miles from Lancaster.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 319.6 miles (514.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.9 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 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $73.55 one way or $147.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 113.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny around San Francisco and Sunny near Lancaster.
Stop Ideas Near Huron
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Huron.
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Hanford station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Lancaster. Straight-line distance: 319.55 mi (514.27 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 Lancaster
The most populous city in Los Angeles County, California.
| Population | 155,822 |
| Coordinates | 34.6980400, -118.1367400 |
| Altitude | 719 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lancaster (-118.13674, 34.69804)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 582 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 02m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 02m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 13m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 01m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 09m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 30m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $73.55 | $147.11 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $77.34 | $154.68 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $79.60 | $159.20 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $96.48 | $192.96 |
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 02, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.