How far is San Francisco, CA from Madera, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Madera, CA is about 163.4 miles (263 km), with a travel time of about 03h 13m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 141.2 miles (227.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 27m 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 13m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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 California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Madera.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Madera.
-
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 left to continue on Robert T. Monagan Freeway
3.9 mi · 4 min · Robert T. Monagan Freeway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Robert T. Monagan Freeway
10.7 mi · 12 min · Robert T. Monagan Freeway
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13
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
1.6 km · 1 min · Westside Freeway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward CA 120 East: Manteca, Sonora
143 m · 6 sec
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15
Continue straight
6.2 mi · 7 min
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16
Take the exit slight right toward CA 99 South: Modesto, Fresno
1.1 km · 2 min
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17
Merge slight left
85.9 mi · 1 hr 39 min
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18
Take the exit slight right toward Fourth Street
723 ft · 19 sec
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19
Turn left onto North I Street
864 ft · 25 sec · North I Street
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20
Turn left onto West 4th Street
1155 ft · 31 sec · West 4th Street
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21
Turn right onto North Gateway Drive
801 ft · 16 sec · North Gateway Drive
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Gateway Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Madera.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
CA 99 South
Merge slight left
85.9 mi · 01h 39m
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 Madera.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Madera?
The road trip is about 163.4 miles (263 km) and usually takes 03h 13m 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?
Ripon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 81.6 miles from San Francisco and 81.8 miles from Madera.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 141.2 miles (227.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.2 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 10:32 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.29 one way or $66.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Francisco and Sunny near Madera.
Stop Ideas Near Ripon
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 Ripon.
Manteca, CA
Modesto station
Stockton – San Joaquin Street
Robert J. Cabral Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Madera. Straight-line distance: 141.19 mi (227.22 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 Madera
The most populous city in Madera County, California.
| Population | 66,723 |
| Coordinates | 36.9613400, -120.0607200 |
| Altitude | 83 |
| Country | United States |
End: Madera (-120.06072, 36.96134)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 263 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 26m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 05m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 16m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 43m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 20m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 02m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $33.29 | $66.57 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $35.00 | $70.00 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $36.02 | $72.04 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $43.66 | $87.32 |
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 16, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.