How far is San Francisco, CA from National City, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to National City, CA is about 505.7 miles (813.8 km), with a travel time of about 09h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 462.6 miles (744.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 07m 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 09h 33m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Place in Kern 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 National City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and National City.
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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
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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17
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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19
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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22
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
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23
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
-
24
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
25
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
26
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
27
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min
-
28
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
1943 ft · 44 sec · Newport Avenue
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29
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi · 4 min · Walnut Avenue
-
30
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
2595 ft · 38 sec · Jamboree Road
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31
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
1479 ft · 21 sec
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32
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
5.5 mi · 6 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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33
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 56 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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34
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
62.4 mi · 1 hr 13 min · San Diego Freeway
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35
Take the exit slight left
1.3 km · 55 sec
-
36
Continue on Jacob Dekema Freeway
16.4 mi · 19 min · Jacob Dekema Freeway
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37
Take the exit slight right toward Palm Avenue, 47th Street
1652 ft · 40 sec
-
38
Keep slight right
50 m · 4 sec
-
39
Turn right onto South 47th Street
46 m · 3 sec · South 47th Street
-
40
Continue on North Palm Avenue
911 ft · 24 sec · North Palm Avenue
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41
Turn right onto Division Street
2387 ft · 55 sec · Division Street
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42
Turn left onto Highland Avenue
2659 ft · 51 sec · Highland Avenue
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43
Turn right onto East 8th Street
42 m · 7 sec · East 8th Street
-
44
Turn right
12 m · 3 sec
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45
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and National City.
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.
Chance Light Rain leaving San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near National City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to National City?
The road trip is about 505.7 miles (813.8 km) and usually takes 09h 33m 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?
Buttonwillow is a useful midpoint, sitting about 252.9 miles from San Francisco and 252.7 miles from National City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 462.6 miles (744.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.1 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 $102.92 one way or $205.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 158.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near National City.
Stop Ideas Near Buttonwillow
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 Buttonwillow.
Wasco station
Bakersfield
Corcoran station
Kettleman City, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and National City. Straight-line distance: 462.61 mi (744.5 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 National City
The most populous city in San Diego County, California.
| Population | 61,394 |
| Coordinates | 32.6781100, -117.0992000 |
| Altitude | 21 |
| Country | United States |
End: National City (-117.0992, 32.67811)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 814 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 50m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 38m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 06m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 25m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 13m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 18m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $102.92 | $205.84 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $108.22 | $216.43 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $111.38 | $222.75 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $135.00 | $269.99 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.