How far is San Francisco, CA from Ventura, CA?
The driving distance from San Francisco, CA to Ventura, CA is about 352.1 miles (566.6 km), with a travel time of about 06h 58m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 298.1 miles (479.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 56m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 06h 58m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Census designated place
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Francisco and Ventura.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco and Ventura.
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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
5.2 mi · 6 min · Bayshore Freeway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
25 mi · 29 min · Bayshore Freeway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
48.8 mi · 56 min · Bayshore Freeway
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9
Continue on El Camino Real
10 mi · 11 min · El Camino Real
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10
Take the exit slight right
1.2 km · 50 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto El Camino Real
135.9 mi · 2 hr 37 min · El Camino Real
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12
Continue on Cabrillo Highway
11.8 mi · 14 min · Cabrillo Highway
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13
Continue on El Camino Real
44.8 mi · 52 min · El Camino Real
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14
Take the exit slight right toward CA 154: Los Olivos, Lake Cachuma
1266 ft · 39 sec
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15
Turn left onto Chumash Highway
6.4 mi · 10 min · Chumash Highway
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16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chumash Highway
39 m · 2 sec · Chumash Highway
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17
Exit the roundabout onto Chumash Highway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Chumash Highway
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18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chumash Highway
35 m · 2 sec · Chumash Highway
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19
Exit the roundabout onto Chumash Highway
23.9 mi · 33 min · Chumash Highway
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20
Take the ramp slight left toward US 101 South
1206 ft · 32 sec
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21
Merge slight left onto El Camino Real
17 mi · 20 min · El Camino Real
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22
Continue on Ventura Freeway
13.7 mi · 16 min · Ventura Freeway
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23
Take the exit slight right toward Ventura Avenue
1278 ft · 31 sec
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24
Keep slight right
55 m · 6 sec
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25
Turn slight right onto East Thompson Boulevard
2181 ft · 54 sec · East Thompson Boulevard
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26
Turn left onto South California Street
8 m · 1 sec · South California Street
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27
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South California Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Francisco and Ventura.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
El Camino Real
Merge slight left onto El Camino Real
136 mi · 02h 37m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny leaving San Francisco and Sunny near Ventura.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Francisco to Ventura?
The road trip is about 352.1 miles (566.6 km) and usually takes 06h 58m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Lake Nacimiento is a useful midpoint, sitting about 176 miles from San Francisco and 176 miles from Ventura.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 298.1 miles (479.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 54 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 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $71.65 one way or $143.30 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 110.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny around San Francisco and Sunny near Ventura.
Stop Ideas Near Lake Nacimiento
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 Lake Nacimiento.
Paso Robles station
Atascadero, California
San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), California
San Luis Obispo
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Francisco and Ventura. Straight-line distance: 298.09 mi (479.73 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 Ventura
The most populous city in Ventura County, California.
| Population | 96,769 |
| Coordinates | 34.2783400, -119.2931700 |
| Altitude | 11 |
| Country | United States |
End: Ventura (-119.29317, 34.27834)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 567 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 43m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 48m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 02m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 52m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 01m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 23m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $71.65 | $143.30 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $75.34 | $150.68 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $77.54 | $155.08 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $93.98 | $187.96 |
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 02, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.