How far is San Francisco, CA from Stanford, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Stanford, CA is about 36.2 miles (58.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 50m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 27.9 miles (44.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 40m 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 50m.
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.
Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Light Rain
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Stanford.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Stanford.
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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 left to continue on Sand Hill Road East, Slac National Accelerator Laboratory
1435 ft · 32 sec
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13
Keep slight right to continue on Sand Hill Road
1056 ft · 26 sec
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14
Turn straight onto Sand Hill Road
1.6 mi · 4 min · Sand Hill Road
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15
Turn right onto Santa Cruz Avenue
158 m · 20 sec · Santa Cruz Avenue
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16
Turn left onto Junipero Serra Boulevard
1.6 km · 2 min · Junipero Serra Boulevard
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17
Turn left onto Campus Drive East
1.1 km · 2 min · Campus Drive East
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18
Turn left onto Arguello Mall
77 m · 19 sec · Arguello Mall
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19
Turn left onto Bowdoin Lane
99 m · 14 sec · Bowdoin Lane
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20
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Bowdoin Lane
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Stanford.
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.
Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Light Rain leaving San Francisco and Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain near Stanford.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Stanford?
The road trip is about 36.2 miles (58.2 km) and usually takes 00h 50m 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 18.1 miles from San Francisco and 18.1 miles from Stanford.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 27.9 miles (44.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:50 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.38 one way or $14.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Light Rain around San Francisco and Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain near Stanford.
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 Stanford. Straight-line distance: 27.92 mi (44.94 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 Stanford
Private research university located in Stanford, California, United States
| Population | 13,809 |
| Coordinates | 37.4241100, -122.1660800 |
| Altitude | 23 |
| Country | United States |
End: Stanford (-122.16608, 37.42411)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 58 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 12m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 43m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 36m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 30m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 27m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $7.38 | $14.77 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $7.76 | $15.53 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $7.99 | $15.98 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $9.69 | $19.37 |
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 · May 04, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.