How far is San Francisco, CA from South San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to South San Francisco, CA is about 9.6 miles (15.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 14m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 8.3 miles (13.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 29m 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 14m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City located in San Mateo 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 South San Francisco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and South San Francisco.
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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
-
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
3.8 mi · 4 min · Bayshore Freeway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward Grand Avenue
1029 ft · 27 sec
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8
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
145 m · 19 sec · Airport Boulevard
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9
Turn right
51 m · 14 sec
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10
At the end of the road, turn right onto Grand Avenue
49 m · 13 sec · Grand Avenue
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11
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Airport Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and South San Francisco.
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.
James Lick Freeway
Merge slight right onto James Lick Freeway
4.33 mi · 00h 06m
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 South San Francisco.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to South San Francisco?
The road trip is about 9.6 miles (15.4 km) and usually takes 00h 14m 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?
Brisbane is a useful midpoint, sitting about 4.8 miles from San Francisco and 4.8 miles from South San Francisco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 8.3 miles (13.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.3 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 8:00 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.96 one way or $3.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near South San Francisco.
Stop Ideas Near Brisbane
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer
Brisbane City Hall
SF City Hall Photographer
My City Hall Wedding
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Brisbane.
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 South San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 8.33 mi (13.41 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 South San Francisco
The most populous city in San Mateo County, California.
| Population | 66,558 |
| Coordinates | 37.6546600, -122.4077500 |
| Altitude | 4 |
| Country | United States |
End: South San Francisco (-122.40775, 37.65466)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 15 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 19m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 14m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 11m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 09m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 08m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 07m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $1.96 | $3.92 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $2.06 | $4.12 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $2.12 | $4.25 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $2.57 | $5.15 |
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.