How far is San Francisco, CA from Novato, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Novato, CA is about 28.9 miles (46.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 44m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 24.4 miles (39.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 29m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 44m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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 Marin County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Novato.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Novato.
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1
Start on Market Street
13 m · 7 sec · Market Street
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2
Turn sharp right onto South Van Ness Avenue
740 ft · 28 sec · South Van Ness Avenue
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3
Turn right onto Otis Street
649 ft · 17 sec · Otis Street
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4
Turn right onto Gough Street
628 ft · 16 sec · Gough Street
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5
Turn right onto Market Street
9 m · 1 sec · Market Street
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6
Keep slight left
151 m · 10 sec
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7
Continue on Franklin Street
1096 ft · 51 sec · Franklin Street
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8
Turn left onto Hayes Street
2406 ft · 1 min · Hayes Street
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9
Turn right onto Webster Street
1.5 km · 2 min · Webster Street
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10
Turn left onto California Street
2416 ft · 1 min · California Street
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11
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
1.2 km · 1 min · Divisadero Street
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12
Turn left onto Lombard Street
616 ft · 30 sec · Lombard Street
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13
Continue on Richardson Avenue
1231 ft · 41 sec · Richardson Avenue
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14
Continue on Presidio Parkway
1.8 mi · 4 min · Presidio Parkway
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15
Continue on Golden Gate Bridge
1.7 mi · 3 min · Golden Gate Bridge
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16
Continue on Redwood Highway
20.9 mi · 27 min · Redwood Highway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward De Long Avenue
1102 ft · 29 sec
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18
Turn left onto De Long Avenue
2651 ft · 1 min · De Long Avenue
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19
Turn sharp right onto Redwood Boulevard
875 ft · 25 sec · Redwood Boulevard
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20
Turn right onto Grant Avenue
38 m · 5 sec · Grant Avenue
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21
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Grant Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Novato.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Redwood Highway
Continue on Redwood Highway
20.9 mi · 00h 27m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny leaving San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near Novato.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Novato?
The road trip is about 28.9 miles (46.5 km) and usually takes 00h 44m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Corte Madera is a useful midpoint, sitting about 14.5 miles from San Francisco and 14.4 miles from Novato.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 24.4 miles (39.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.5 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:00 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.88 one way or $11.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny around San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near Novato.
Stop Ideas Near Corte Madera
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer
Town Hall
Old Maple Hall
My City Hall Wedding
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Corte Madera.
Richmond station
San Francisco (Wharf), California
San Francisco (Civic Center), California
San Francisco (Ferry), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Novato. Straight-line distance: 24.39 mi (39.25 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 Novato
A city in Marin County, California.
| Population | 53,351 |
| Coordinates | 38.1074200, -122.5697000 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
End: Novato (-122.5697, 38.10742)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 47 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 57m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 43m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 34m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 28m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 24m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 21m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $5.88 | $11.77 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $6.19 | $12.37 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $6.37 | $12.74 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $7.72 | $15.44 |
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 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.