How far is San Francisco, CA from Mendota, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Mendota, CA is about 159.1 miles (256.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 15m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 132.4 miles (213.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 30m 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 15m.
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.
City in Stanislaus County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Mendota.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Mendota.
-
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
66.3 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Westside Freeway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward Shields Avenue
1359 ft · 38 sec
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15
Turn left onto West Shields Avenue
8.8 mi · 16 min · West Shields Avenue
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16
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Fairfax Avenue
2 mi · 4 min · North Fairfax Avenue
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17
Turn left onto Belmont Avenue
10 mi · 18 min · Belmont Avenue
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18
Turn left onto Derrick Avenue
129 m · 11 sec · Derrick Avenue
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19
Turn right onto 7th Street
1854 ft · 1 min · 7th Street
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20
Turn right onto Quince Street
38 m · 5 sec · Quince Street
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21
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Quince Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Mendota.
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
66.3 mi · 01h 11m
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.
Patchy Fog then Sunny leaving San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near Mendota.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Mendota?
The road trip is about 159.1 miles (256.1 km) and usually takes 03h 15m 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?
Patterson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79.5 miles from San Francisco and 79.6 miles from Mendota.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 132.4 miles (213.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.7 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 10:30 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.36 one way or $64.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Sunny around San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near Mendota.
Stop Ideas Near Patterson
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 Patterson.
Modesto station
Denair station
Tracy, CA
Manteca, CA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Mendota. Straight-line distance: 132.42 mi (213.11 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 Mendota
City in Illinois, United States
| Population | 12,427 |
| Coordinates | 36.7535600, -120.3815600 |
| Altitude | 53 |
| Country | United States |
End: Mendota (-120.38156, 36.75356)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 256 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 18m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 58m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 10m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 39m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 16m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 59m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $32.36 | $64.73 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $34.03 | $68.06 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $35.02 | $70.05 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $42.45 | $84.90 |
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.