How far is San Mateo, CA from Daly City, CA?
The driving distance from San Mateo, CA to Daly City, CA is about 16.5 miles (26.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 23m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 12.4 miles (19.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 47m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 23m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
A city in San Mateo County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Mateo and Daly City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Mateo and Daly City.
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1
Start on South El Camino Real
29 m · 7 sec · South El Camino Real
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2
Turn right onto East 3rd Avenue
2254 ft · 50 sec · East 3rd Avenue
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3
Turn right onto South Delaware Street
114 m · 15 sec · South Delaware Street
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4
Turn left onto East 4th Avenue
954 ft · 29 sec · East 4th Avenue
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5
Keep slight left to continue on East 4th Avenue
1461 ft · 29 sec · East 4th Avenue
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6
Take the ramp slight right toward US 101 North: San Francisco
807 ft · 20 sec
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7
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 North: San Francisco
1114 ft · 31 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
6.4 mi · 7 min · Bayshore Freeway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward I 380 West: San Bruno
1 mi · 2 min
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10
Merge slight left onto Quentin L. Kopp Freeway
1.5 km · 1 min · Quentin L. Kopp Freeway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on I 280 North: San Francisco
2107 ft · 40 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Junipero Serra Freeway
5 mi · 6 min · Junipero Serra Freeway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward John Daly Boulevard, Junipero Serra Boulevard
1458 ft · 36 sec
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14
Turn straight onto Junipero Serra Boulevard
2921 ft · 1 min · Junipero Serra Boulevard
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15
Turn right onto John Daly Boulevard
2477 ft · 58 sec · John Daly Boulevard
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16
Turn left onto Mission Street
92 m · 15 sec · Mission Street
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17
Turn left onto Hillcrest Drive
30 m · 6 sec · Hillcrest Drive
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18
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Hillcrest Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Mateo and Daly City.
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.
Bayshore Freeway
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
6.39 mi · 00h 07m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny leaving San Mateo and Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny near Daly City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Mateo to Daly City?
The road trip is about 16.5 miles (26.5 km) and usually takes 00h 23m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
San Bruno is a useful midpoint, sitting about 8.2 miles from San Mateo and 8.3 miles from Daly City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 12.4 miles (19.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.1 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:42 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.35 one way or $6.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny around San Mateo and Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny near Daly City.
Stop Ideas Near San Bruno
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer
City of South San Francisco: City Attorney
SF City Hall Photographer
My City Hall Wedding
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to San Bruno.
San Francisco (Caltrain), California
San Francisco (Civic Center), California
San Francisco (Shopping), California
San Francisco (Conv Ctr), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Mateo and Daly City. Straight-line distance: 12.37 mi (19.91 km).
#1 San Mateo
The second most populous city in San Mateo County, California.
| Population | 102,398 |
| Coordinates | 37.5629900, -122.3255300 |
| Altitude | 13 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Daly City
The most populous city in San Mateo County, California.
| Population | 106,280 |
| Coordinates | 37.7057700, -122.4619200 |
| Altitude | 124 |
| Country | United States |
End: Hillcrest Drive (-122.461921, 37.705769)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 27 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 32m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 24m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 19m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 16m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 14m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 12m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $3.35 | $6.69 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $3.52 | $7.04 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $3.62 | $7.24 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $4.39 | $8.78 |
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.