How far is San Francisco, CA from Portola Valley, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Portola Valley, CA is about 35.9 miles (57.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 46m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 28.8 miles (46.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
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 46m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Portola Valley.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Portola Valley.
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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
143 m · 18 sec · Bryant Street
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4
Take the ramp slight right toward US 101 South: San Jose
1719 ft · 29 sec
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5
Merge slight right onto James Lick Freeway
4.3 mi · 6 min · James Lick Freeway
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6
Continue on Bayshore Freeway
5 mi · 6 min · Bayshore Freeway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward I 380 West: San Bruno
1 km · 44 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Quentin L. Kopp Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Quentin L. Kopp Freeway
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9
Keep slight left to continue on I 280 South: San Jose
3057 ft · 57 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Junipero Serra Freeway
19.2 mi · 22 min · Junipero Serra Freeway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward Sand Hill Road
892 ft · 19 sec
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Sand Hill Road West
1182 ft · 25 sec
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13
Turn straight onto Sand Hill Road
1.9 mi · 3 min · Sand Hill Road
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14
Continue on Portola Road
1.5 mi · 3 min · Portola Road
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15
Turn right onto Wayside Road
47 m · 7 sec · Wayside Road
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16
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Wayside Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Portola Valley.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Junipero Serra Freeway
Merge slight left onto Junipero Serra Freeway
19.2 mi · 00h 22m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A comfortable day-trip route
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
Mostly Sunny leaving San Francisco and Partly Sunny near Portola Valley.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Portola Valley?
The road trip is about 35.9 miles (57.7 km) and usually takes 00h 46m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Hillsborough is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18 miles from San Francisco and 17.9 miles from Portola Valley.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 28.8 miles (46.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:56 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.33 one way or $14.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Francisco and Partly Sunny near Portola Valley.
Stop Ideas Near Hillsborough
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Hillsborough.
San Francisco (Civic Center), California
San Francisco (Caltrain), California
San Francisco (Conv Ctr), California
San Francisco (Shopping), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Portola Valley. Straight-line distance: 28.83 mi (46.39 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 Valley
Town in California
| Population | 4,528 |
| Coordinates | 37.3841100, -122.2352400 |
| Altitude | 140 |
| Country | United States |
End: Portola Valley (-122.23524, 37.38411)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 58 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 11m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 53m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 43m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 35m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 30m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 26m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $7.33 | $14.65 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $7.70 | $15.41 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $7.93 | $15.86 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $9.61 | $19.22 |
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.