How far is San Francisco, CA from Thornton, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Thornton, CA is about 84.4 miles (135.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 48m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 62.5 miles (100.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PST.
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 01h 48m.
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.
The most populous city in Contra Costa County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Patchy Fog then Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Thornton.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Thornton.
-
1
Start on Market Street
95 m · 8 sec · Market Street
-
2
Turn right onto 11th Street
3173 ft · 2 min · 11th Street
-
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
3218 ft · 42 sec · MacArthur Freeway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward CA 24 East: Berkeley, Walnut Creek
1.4 km · 2 min
-
10
Keep slight left to continue on CA 24 East: Walnut Creek
1259 ft · 31 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto Grove Shafter Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Grove Shafter Freeway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Grove Shafter Freeway
874 ft · 13 sec · Grove Shafter Freeway
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13
Continue on Caldecott Tunnel
9.8 mi · 11 min · Caldecott Tunnel
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14
Merge slight right onto Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
3.8 mi · 4 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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15
Keep slight right to continue on CA 242 North: Concord, Pittsburg
3.9 mi · 4 min
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16
Merge slight left
15 mi · 17 min
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17
Keep slight right to continue on CA 160: Rio Vista, Sacramento
13.6 mi · 18 min
-
18
Turn right
15.8 mi · 22 min
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19
Turn left
2166 ft · 53 sec
-
20
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
7.4 mi · 8 min · Westside Freeway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward Walnut Grove Road
1290 ft · 30 sec
-
22
Turn right onto West Walnut Grove Road
127 m · 8 sec · West Walnut Grove Road
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23
Continue on Thornton Road
1035 ft · 21 sec · Thornton Road
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Thornton Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Thornton.
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.
Longest stretch
Turn right
15.8 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.
Mostly Sunny leaving San Francisco and Patchy Fog then Sunny near Thornton.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Thornton?
The road trip is about 84.4 miles (135.8 km) and usually takes 01h 48m 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?
Antioch is a useful midpoint, sitting about 42.1 miles from San Francisco and 42.3 miles from Thornton.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 62.5 miles (100.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.9 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 PST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:52 PM PST.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $17.40 one way or $34.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 26.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Francisco and Patchy Fog then Sunny near Thornton.
Stop Ideas Near Antioch
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 Antioch.
Antioch–Pittsburg
Rio Vista, CA
Martinez station
Suisun–Fairfield station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Thornton. Straight-line distance: 62.49 mi (100.56 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 Thornton
Situated at an elevation of 13 feet in San Joaquin County, this census-designated place lies within the low-lying Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta region.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 38.2260300, -121.4246700 |
| Altitude | 4 |
| Country | United States |
End: Thornton (-121.42467, 38.22603)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 136 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 02h 48m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 02h 06m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 01h 41m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 01h 24m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 01h 12m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 03m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.84 | $17.40 | $34.81 |
| Mid-grade | $6.09 | $18.14 | $36.27 |
| Premium | $6.28 | $18.70 | $37.40 |
| Diesel | $8.28 | $24.68 | $49.35 |
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 · Nov 06, 2026