How far is San Francisco, CA from Santa Clarita, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Santa Clarita, CA is about 351.2 miles (565.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 31m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 318.5 miles (512.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 03m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 06h 31m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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 Fresno 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 Santa Clarita.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Santa Clarita.
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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
5.8 mi · 9 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-Stockton
1.6 km · 1 min
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8
Merge slight left onto MacArthur Freeway
15.9 mi · 18 min · MacArthur Freeway
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9
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.5 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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13
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224.4 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway
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14
Keep slight right
53 mi · 1 hr 1 min
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15
Take the exit slight right toward McBean Parkway
1363 ft · 37 sec
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16
Turn left
33 m · 3 sec
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17
Turn straight onto Stevenson Ranch Parkway
66 m · 4 sec · Stevenson Ranch Parkway
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18
Continue on McBean Parkway
1.1 mi · 2 min · McBean Parkway
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19
Turn right onto Orchard Village Road
1.2 km · 1 min · Orchard Village Road
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20
Turn left onto 16th Street
1674 ft · 46 sec · 16th Street
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21
Turn left onto Newhall Avenue
137 m · 20 sec · Newhall Avenue
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Newhall Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Santa Clarita.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224 mi · 04h 00m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Sunny leaving San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near Santa Clarita.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Santa Clarita?
The road trip is about 351.2 miles (565.2 km) and usually takes 06h 31m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Coalinga is a useful midpoint, sitting about 175.6 miles from San Francisco and 175.5 miles from Santa Clarita.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 318.5 miles (512.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.7 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 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $71.48 one way or $142.96 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 110.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near Santa Clarita.
Stop Ideas Near Coalinga
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 Coalinga.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Lemoore, California
Paso Robles station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Santa Clarita. Straight-line distance: 318.53 mi (512.63 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 Santa Clarita
The second most populous city in Los Angeles County, California.
| Population | 209,990 |
| Coordinates | 34.3916600, -118.5425900 |
| Altitude | 368 |
| Country | United States |
End: Santa Clarita (-118.54259, 34.39166)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 565 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 42m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 46m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 01m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 51m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 01m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 22m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $71.48 | $142.96 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $75.16 | $150.32 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $77.35 | $154.70 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $93.76 | $187.51 |
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.