How far is San Francisco, CA from Three Rivers, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Three Rivers, CA is about 255.9 miles (411.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 07m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 214.6 miles (345.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 14m 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 07m.
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
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Three Rivers.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Three Rivers.
-
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
-
4
Take the ramp left toward I 80 East: Oakland
1538 ft · 26 sec
-
5
Merge slight right onto Route 80
1.5 km · 1 min · Route 80
-
6
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.8 mi · 9 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-Stockton
1.6 km · 1 min
-
8
Merge slight left onto MacArthur Freeway
15.9 mi · 18 min · MacArthur Freeway
-
9
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.5 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
-
10
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
-
11
Keep slight left to continue on Robert T. Monagan Freeway
3.9 mi · 4 min · Robert T. Monagan Freeway
-
12
Keep slight left to continue on Robert T. Monagan Freeway
10.7 mi · 12 min · Robert T. Monagan Freeway
-
13
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
1.6 km · 1 min · Westside Freeway
-
14
Take the exit slight right toward CA 120 East: Manteca, Sonora
143 m · 6 sec
-
15
Continue straight
6.2 mi · 7 min
-
16
Take the exit slight right toward CA 99 South: Modesto, Fresno
1.1 km · 2 min
-
17
Merge slight left
108.4 mi · 2 hr 4 min
-
18
Keep slight left
35 mi · 38 min
-
19
Take the exit slight right toward CA 198: Visalia, Sequoia National Park, Hanford, Lemoore
1129 ft · 27 sec
-
20
Keep slight left to continue on CA 198 East: Visalia, Sequoia National Park
1997 ft · 49 sec
-
21
Merge slight right
35.1 mi · 51 min
-
22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Sierra Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Three Rivers.
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 Three Rivers.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Three Rivers?
The road trip is about 255.9 miles (411.8 km) and usually takes 05h 07m 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 127.8 miles from San Francisco and 128.1 miles from Three Rivers.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 214.6 miles (345.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.3 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:46 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $56.54 one way or $113.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Francisco and Sunny near Three Rivers.
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 Three Rivers. Straight-line distance: 214.53 mi (345.26 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 Three Rivers
Situated in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Tulare County at an elevation of 843 feet, this community lies at the confluence of the North, Middle, and South Forks of the Kaweah River.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 36.4388400, -118.9045400 |
| Altitude | 257 |
| Country | United States |
End: Three Rivers (-118.90454, 36.43884)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 412 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 08h 31m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 23m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 07m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 15m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 39m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 11m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $56.54 | $113.07 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $58.69 | $117.37 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $60.40 | $120.80 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $75.97 | $151.94 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026