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

The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Orinda, CA is about 17.4 miles (28 km), with a travel time of about 00h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 14.9 miles (23.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 56m 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
17.4 mi
00h 28m
Flight
14.87 mi
23.93 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San Francisco.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
14.87 mi
Kilometers
23.93 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
17.4 mi
Kilometers
28 km
Drive Time
00h 28m

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 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Orinda
Thu, May 7, 8:02 AM PDT
Return by in San Francisco
Thu, May 7, 8:30 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Francisco
2026-05-07T07:34
Arrive Orinda
Thu, May 7, 8:02 AM PDT
Route Timing
00h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:28 AM to 7:28 PM PDT

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

Leave by
7:34 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
8.7 mi
00h 14m
To Orinda
8.7 mi
00h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Thursday

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 7 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 9 mph W
Destination
70°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 7 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    3218 ft · 42 sec · MacArthur Freeway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 24 East: Berkeley, Walnut Creek

    1.4 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on CA 24 East: Walnut Creek

    1259 ft · 31 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Grove Shafter Freeway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · Grove Shafter Freeway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Grove Shafter Freeway

    874 ft · 13 sec · Grove Shafter Freeway

  13. 13

    Continue on Caldecott Tunnel

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Caldecott Tunnel

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Orinda, Moraga

    1673 ft · 38 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Camino Pablo

    151 m · 15 sec · Camino Pablo

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Moraga Way

    140 m · 15 sec · Moraga Way

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Overhill Road

    700 ft · 31 sec · Overhill Road

  18. 18

    Turn straight

    101 m · 51 sec

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    101 m · 24 sec

  20. 20

    Continue on Overhill Road

    700 ft · 32 sec · Overhill Road

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Moraga Way

    82 m · 6 sec · Moraga Way

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Moraga Way

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
126.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.76 mi · 33%
Grove Shafter Freeway
3.43 mi · 20%
Caldecott Tunnel
2.66 mi · 15%
CA 24 East
1.11 mi · 6%
I 580 East
0.97 mi · 6%
Route 80
0.95 mi · 5%
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 28m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.5 mi
14.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Emeryville
00h 14m from San Francisco
Leave By
7:34 PM PDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny leaving San Francisco and Sunny near Orinda.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 17.4 miles (28 km) and usually takes 00h 28m 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 8.7 miles from San Francisco and 8.7 miles from Orinda.

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

The direct path is about 14.9 miles (23.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.5 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 7:34 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.52 one way or $7.04 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny around San Francisco and Sunny near Orinda.

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 8.9 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 2.9 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 3.1 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 7.7 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 Orinda. Straight-line distance: 14.87 mi (23.93 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
Orinda

#2 Orinda

City in California, USA

Population19,557
Coordinates37.8771500, -122.1796900
Altitude151
CountryUnited States
Start: San Francisco (-122.41942, 37.77493)
End: Orinda (-122.17969, 37.87715)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 28 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.61 gal
2.32 L · about $3.52
Round trip
$7.04
1.22 gal · 4.64 L
Estimated CO2
5.4 kg one way
Round trip: 10.8 kg / 24 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $3.52 $7.04
Mid-grade $6.07 $3.70 $7.40
Premium $6.24 $3.81 $7.62
Diesel $7.57 $4.62 $9.23

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 07, 2026

There is no time difference between San Francisco and Orinda. The current time is 07:34:35.

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.