How far is San Francisco, CA from Lucerne, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Lucerne, CA is about 221.2 miles (356 km), with a travel time of about 04h 14m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 179.8 miles (289.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 28m 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 04h 14m.
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.
The county seat of Merced County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Lucerne.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Lucerne.
-
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
5.8 mi · 9 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-Stockton
1.6 km · 1 min
-
8
Merge slight left onto MacArthur Freeway
15.9 mi · 18 min · MacArthur Freeway
-
9
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.5 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
-
10
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
-
11
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
-
12
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
-
13
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
111.5 mi · 1 hr 59 min · Westside Freeway
-
14
Take the exit slight right toward CA 198: Lemoore, Hanford
1214 ft · 30 sec
-
15
Keep slight left
43 m · 12 sec
-
16
Turn left onto West Dorris Avenue
32.6 mi · 38 min · West Dorris Avenue
-
17
Take the exit slight right toward 12th Avenue
1873 ft · 51 sec
-
18
Turn left onto 12th Avenue
4.7 mi · 9 min · 12th Avenue
-
19
Turn right onto Elder Avenue
2517 ft · 2 min · Elder Avenue
-
20
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Elder Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Lucerne.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
111 mi · 01h 59m
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.
Chance Light Rain leaving San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near Lucerne.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Lucerne?
The road trip is about 221.2 miles (356 km) and usually takes 04h 14m 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?
Los Banos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 110.5 miles from San Francisco and 110.6 miles from Lucerne.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 179.8 miles (289.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.4 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 8:32 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $45.00 one way or $90.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 69.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near Lucerne.
Stop Ideas Near Los Banos
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 Los Banos.
Merced station
Denair station
Gilroy, California
Modesto station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Lucerne. Straight-line distance: 179.83 mi (289.41 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 Lucerne
Census-designated place in Lake County, California
| Population | 3,443 |
| Coordinates | 36.3807800, -119.6643000 |
| Altitude | 79 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lucerne (-119.6643, 36.38078)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 356 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 22m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 31m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 25m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 41m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 09m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 45m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $45.00 | $90.00 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $47.31 | $94.63 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $48.70 | $97.39 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $59.02 | $118.05 |
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.