How far is San Francisco, CA from Terra Bella, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Terra Bella, CA is about 261.1 miles (420.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 05m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 224.7 miles (361.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 10m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 05h 05m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
The most populous city in Merced County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Terra Bella.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Terra Bella.
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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 left to continue on Robert T. Monagan Freeway
3.9 mi · 4 min · Robert T. Monagan Freeway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Robert T. Monagan Freeway
10.7 mi · 12 min · Robert T. Monagan Freeway
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13
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
1.6 km · 1 min · Westside Freeway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward CA 120 East: Manteca, Sonora
143 m · 6 sec
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15
Continue straight
6.2 mi · 7 min
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16
Take the exit slight right toward CA 99 South: Modesto, Fresno
1.1 km · 2 min
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17
Merge slight left
108.4 mi · 2 hr 4 min
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18
Keep slight left
41 mi · 44 min
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19
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway
3.6 mi · 4 min · Golden State Highway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward CA 137: Tulare Avenue
1413 ft · 35 sec
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21
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Tulare Avenue
1.5 mi · 2 min · East Tulare Avenue
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22
Continue on East Tulare Avenue
2117 ft · 34 sec · East Tulare Avenue
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23
Continue on Tulare Lindsay Highway
4.2 mi · 6 min · Tulare Lindsay Highway
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24
Continue on Avenue 232
24.4 mi · 30 min · Avenue 232
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25
Turn left onto Terra Bella Avenue
2768 ft · 1 min · Terra Bella Avenue
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Terra Bella Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Terra Bella.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
CA 99 South
Merge slight left
108 mi · 02h 04m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Sunny leaving San Francisco and Sunny near Terra Bella.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Terra Bella?
The road trip is about 261.1 miles (420.2 km) and usually takes 05h 05m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Merced is a useful midpoint, sitting about 130.5 miles from San Francisco and 130.6 miles from Terra Bella.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 224.7 miles (361.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.4 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:50 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $53.13 one way or $106.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 81.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Francisco and Sunny near Terra Bella.
Stop Ideas Near Merced
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 Merced.
Merced station
Denair station
Mariposa, CA
Mariposa, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Terra Bella. Straight-line distance: 224.67 mi (361.57 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 Terra Bella
Census designated place in California, USA
| Population | 3,310 |
| Coordinates | 35.9624500, -119.0442700 |
| Altitude | 148 |
| Country | United States |
End: Terra Bella (-119.04427, 35.96245)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 420 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 08h 41m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 31m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 13m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 21m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 43m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 15m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $53.13 | $106.26 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $55.87 | $111.74 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $57.50 | $115.00 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $69.69 | $139.38 |
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 30, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.