How far is San Francisco, CA from Portola, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Portola, CA is about 234.2 miles (376.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 43m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 175.5 miles (282.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 27m 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 04h 43m.
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.
City in California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Portola.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Portola.
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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
Keep slight right to continue on North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
12.5 mi · 14 min · North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
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20
Keep slight left to continue on North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
1.3 km · 55 sec · North Sacramento Beltline Freeway
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21
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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22
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
78 mi · 1 hr 30 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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23
Take the exit slight right toward Donner Lake
2253 ft · 30 sec
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24
Merge slight left onto Alan S. Hart Freeway
6.2 mi · 7 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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25
Take the exit slight right toward Truckee
1435 ft · 41 sec
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26
Turn left onto Truckee Way
1091 ft · 21 sec · Truckee Way
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27
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Truckee Way
34 m · 2 sec · Truckee Way
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28
Exit the roundabout onto Truckee Way
789 ft · 16 sec · Truckee Way
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29
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route
82 m · 4 sec
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30
Exit the roundabout
1488 ft · 24 sec
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31
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
40 m · 2 sec
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32
Exit the roundabout
22.5 mi · 32 min
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33
Turn left onto West Main Street
4 mi · 6 min · West Main Street
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34
Turn right onto Westside Road
6.8 mi · 8 min · Westside Road
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35
Continue on Beckwourth Calpine Road
8.6 mi · 10 min · Beckwourth Calpine Road
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36
Turn left onto Feather River Highway
3.8 mi · 5 min · Feather River Highway
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37
Continue on East Sierra Avenue
2774 ft · 1 min · East Sierra Avenue
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38
Turn left
21 m · 5 sec
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39
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Portola.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Alan S. Hart Freeway
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
78 mi · 01h 30m
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.
Chance Light Rain leaving San Francisco and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Portola.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Portola?
The road trip is about 234.2 miles (376.9 km) and usually takes 04h 43m 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?
Auburn is a useful midpoint, sitting about 117.1 miles from San Francisco and 117.1 miles from Portola.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 175.5 miles (282.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.7 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 7:32 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.65 one way or $89.30 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around San Francisco and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Portola.
Stop Ideas Near Auburn
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Roseville Transit
Roseville City Clerk's Department
Roseville Police Department
City of Folsom Solid Waste
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Auburn.
Auburn
Rocklin
Roseville station
Colfax
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Portola. Straight-line distance: 175.52 mi (282.47 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 Portola
City in Plumas County, California, United States
| Population | 1,913 |
| Coordinates | 39.8104600, -120.4691000 |
| Altitude | 1480 |
| Country | United States |
End: Portola (-120.4691, 39.81046)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 377 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 48m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 51m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 41m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 54m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 20m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 55m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $44.65 | $89.30 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $46.95 | $93.90 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $48.32 | $96.64 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $58.57 | $117.14 |
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.