How far is San Francisco, CA from Nevada City, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Nevada City, CA is about 146.7 miles (236.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 00m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 127.6 miles (205.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 01m 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 00m.
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 most populous city in Yolo County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Nevada City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Nevada 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
6.4 mi · 10 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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7
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 East
2949 ft · 45 sec
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8
Merge slight right onto Nimitz Freeway
124 m · 6 sec · Nimitz Freeway
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9
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Eastshore Freeway
7.4 mi · 9 min · Eastshore Freeway
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11
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway
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12
Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.5 mi · 4 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway
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13
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
1718 ft · 27 sec · Eastshore Freeway
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14
Continue on Carquinez Bridge
1.6 km · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge
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15
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
14.5 mi · 17 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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16
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27.3 mi · 31 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8.4 mi · 10 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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18
Continue on Yolo Causeway
3.7 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway
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19
Continue on North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
13.3 mi · 15 min · North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
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20
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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21
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
16.9 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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22
Take the exit slight right toward CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville
943 ft · 31 sec
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23
Turn left onto Grass Valley Highway
5.8 mi · 9 min · Grass Valley Highway
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24
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
36 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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25
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Grass Valley Highway
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26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
36 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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27
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Grass Valley Highway
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28
Continue on State Highway 49
18.9 mi · 25 min · State Highway 49
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29
Take the exit slight right toward Broad Street
1025 ft · 24 sec
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30
Turn left onto Broad Street
65 m · 10 sec · Broad Street
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31
Take the ramp left
73 m · 4 sec
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32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Nevada City.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27.3 mi · 00h 31m
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 Nevada City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Nevada City?
The road trip is about 146.7 miles (236.1 km) and usually takes 03h 00m 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?
Davis is a useful midpoint, sitting about 73.4 miles from San Francisco and 73.4 miles from Nevada City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 127.6 miles (205.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.1 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:58 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.88 one way or $59.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 46 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Francisco and Sunny near Nevada City.
Stop Ideas Near Davis
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City of Sacramento
Sacramento City Hall
City of Refuge Sacramento
Hall Park Off Leash Dog Park
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Davis.
Davis station
Sacramento Valley Station
Sacramento (State Capitol), California
Elk Grove, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Nevada City. Straight-line distance: 127.64 mi (205.42 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 Nevada City
Town in California, County Seat of Nevada County, historic mining town
| Population | 3,148 |
| Coordinates | 39.2617300, -121.0177900 |
| Altitude | 755 |
| Country | United States |
End: Nevada City (-121.01779, 39.26173)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 236 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 04h 53m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 40m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 02h 56m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 26m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 05m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 49m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $29.88 | $59.77 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $31.42 | $62.84 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $32.34 | $64.68 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $39.20 | $78.39 |
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 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.