How far is San Francisco, CA from San Rafael, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to San Rafael, CA is about 18.7 miles (30.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 15 miles (24.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 06m 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 33m.
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, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and San Rafael.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and San Rafael.
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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
755 ft · 37 sec · Franklin Street
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8
Turn left onto Fell Street
2406 ft · 2 min · Fell Street
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9
Turn right onto Webster Street
1.6 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 · 2 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
10.6 mi · 14 min · Redwood Highway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward Central San Rafael
1526 ft · 39 sec
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18
Continue on Irwin Street
654 ft · 21 sec · Irwin Street
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19
Turn left onto Fourth Street
3034 ft · 1 min · Fourth Street
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20
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Fourth Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and San Rafael.
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
10.6 mi · 00h 14m
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near San Rafael.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to San Rafael?
The road trip is about 18.7 miles (30.1 km) and usually takes 00h 33m 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?
Sausalito is a useful midpoint, sitting about 9.3 miles from San Francisco and 9.3 miles from San Rafael.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 15 miles (24.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.7 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:24 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.81 one way or $7.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near San Rafael.
Stop Ideas Near Sausalito
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer
Albert Teglia Community Center
SF City Hall Photographer
My City Hall Wedding
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Sausalito.
San Francisco (Wharf), California
San Francisco (Civic Center), California
San Francisco (Ferry), California
San Francisco (Financial), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and San Rafael. Straight-line distance: 15.01 mi (24.16 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 San Rafael
The most populous city in Marin County, California.
| Population | 58,528 |
| Coordinates | 37.9735300, -122.5310900 |
| Altitude | 13 |
| Country | United States |
End: San Rafael (-122.53109, 37.97353)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 30 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 37m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 28m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 22m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 18m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 16m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 13m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $3.81 | $7.62 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $4.00 | $8.01 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $4.12 | $8.24 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $4.99 | $9.99 |
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 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.