How far is San Francisco, CA from Oakland, CA?

The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Oakland, CA is about 12.4 miles (19.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 8.4 miles (13.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 40m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
12.35 mi
00h 20m
Flight
8.36 mi
13.46 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San Francisco.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
8.36 mi
Kilometers
13.46 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
12.35 mi
Kilometers
19.87 km
Drive Time
00h 20m

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 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Oakland
Wed, Apr 22, 3:22 PM PDT
Return by in San Francisco
Wed, Apr 22, 3:42 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Francisco
2026-04-22T15:02
Arrive Oakland
Wed, Apr 22, 3:22 PM PDT
Route Timing
00h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:20 AM to 7:20 PM PDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:50 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in San Francisco
10:00 PM PDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Emeryville
CA

City in the United States state of California

From San Francisco
5.7 mi
00h 10m
To Oakland
6.6 mi
00h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph WSW
Destination
65°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Oakland.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Oakland.

  1. 1

    Start on Market Street

    95 m · 8 sec · Market Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 11th Street

    3173 ft · 2 min · 11th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Bryant Street

    1724 ft · 1 min · Bryant Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left toward I 80 East: Oakland

    1538 ft · 26 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight right onto Route 80

    1.5 km · 1 min · Route 80

  6. 6

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    5.8 mi · 9 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-Stockton

    1.6 km · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto MacArthur Freeway

    157 m · 7 sec · MacArthur Freeway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight left toward MacArthur Boulevard, San Pablo Avenue, Emery Street

    897 ft · 14 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on San Pablo Avenue, Emery Street

    637 ft · 12 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Watts Street

    66 m · 12 sec · Watts Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Peralta Street

    56 m · 12 sec · Peralta Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto 35th Street

    886 ft · 23 sec · 35th Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto San Pablo Avenue

    1.1 mi · 2 min · San Pablo Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Junior Way

    1758 ft · 1 min · Martin Luther King Junior Way

  16. 16

    Turn left onto 14th Street

    1636 ft · 1 min · 14th Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 14th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Oakland.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

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.

Directions
17 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
138.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.76 mi · 47%
San Pablo Avenue
1.25 mi · 10%
I 580 East
0.97 mi · 8%
Route 80
0.95 mi · 8%
11th Street
0.6 mi · 5%
Martin Luther King Junior Way
0.33 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

5.76 mi · 00h 09m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
00h 20m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4 mi
8.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Emeryville
00h 10m from San Francisco
Leave By
7:50 PM PDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain leaving San Francisco and Chance Light Rain near Oakland.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Oakland?

The road trip is about 12.4 miles (19.9 km) and usually takes 00h 20m 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?

Emeryville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 5.7 miles from San Francisco and 6.6 miles from Oakland.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 8.4 miles (13.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 4 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 7:50 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.54 one way or $5.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around San Francisco and Chance Light Rain near Oakland.

Stop Ideas Near Emeryville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Emeryville and the surrounding midpoint area.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer
Practical stop 5.9 mi away

San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer

San Francisco , CA
3365 Sacramento St #435, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States
Rating 5.0/5 21 reviews Wedding photographer,Photographer,Wedding service
Alameda Public Works Department
Meeting point 3.3 mi away

Alameda Public Works Department

Alameda , CA
950 W Mall Square, Alameda, CA 94501, United States
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews City government office,Home and construction
Old Berkeley City Hall
Nearby stop 5.3 mi away

Old Berkeley City Hall

Berkeley , CA
2134 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley, CA 94703, United States
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Civic center
My City Hall Wedding
Practical stop 4.8 mi away

My City Hall Wedding

San Francisco , CA
1480 Sutter St #302, San Francisco, CA 94109, United States
Rating 5.0/5 8 reviews Wedding photographer,Wedding planner,Wedding service,Wedding store

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Emeryville.

RAIL

Emeryville station

1 mi away
5885 Horton Street
RAIL

Oakland – Jack London Square station

4 mi away
245 Second Street
RAIL

Berkeley station

4 mi away
University Ave. and Third St.
BUS

San Francisco (Ferry), California

10 mi away
101 The Embarcadero

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Oakland. Straight-line distance: 8.36 mi (13.46 km).

San Francisco

#1 San Francisco

The seventeenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Population866,606
Coordinates37.7749300, -122.4194200
Altitude16
CountryUnited States
Oakland

#2 Oakland

The third most populous city in California, Oakland is a major center for business, manufacturing, and culture.

Population424,891
Coordinates37.8043700, -122.2708000
Altitude13
CountryUnited States
Start: Market Street (-122.419433, 37.774953)
End: 14th Street (-122.270903, 37.804207)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 20 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.44 gal
1.65 L · about $2.54
Round trip
$5.08
0.88 gal · 3.3 L
Estimated CO2
3.9 kg one way
Round trip: 7.8 kg / 17 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $2.54 $5.08
Mid-grade $6.07 $2.67 $5.34
Premium $6.24 $2.75 $5.49
Diesel $7.57 $3.33 $6.66

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between San Francisco and Oakland. The current time is 15:02:43.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.