How far is San Rafael, CA from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance from San Rafael, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 18.6 miles (29.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 34m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 15 miles (24.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 09m 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 34m.
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.
City in Marin County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Rafael and San Francisco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Rafael and San Francisco.
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1
Start on Fourth Street
2667 ft · 1 min · Fourth Street
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2
Turn right onto Hetherton Street
652 ft · 17 sec · Hetherton Street
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3
Take the ramp straight toward US 101 South: San Francisco, Oakland
1389 ft · 36 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
1805 ft · 28 sec · Redwood Highway
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5
Keep slight left to continue on Redwood Highway
10.3 mi · 14 min · Redwood Highway
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6
Continue on Golden Gate Bridge
1.7 mi · 3 min · Golden Gate Bridge
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7
Merge slight left
10 m · 1 sec
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8
Keep slight left
40 m · 2 sec
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9
Keep slight left
666 ft · 8 sec
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10
Continue on Presidio Parkway
1.6 mi · 3 min · Presidio Parkway
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11
Continue on Richardson Avenue
1257 ft · 44 sec · Richardson Avenue
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12
Continue on Lombard Street
601 ft · 26 sec · Lombard Street
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13
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
1.2 km · 2 min · Divisadero Street
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14
Turn left onto California Street
2416 ft · 1 min · California Street
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15
Turn right onto Webster Street
1 mi · 2 min · Webster Street
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16
Turn left onto Oak Street
1926 ft · 1 min · Oak Street
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17
Turn right onto Gough Street
655 ft · 25 sec · Gough Street
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18
Turn slight left onto Market Street
56 m · 16 sec · Market Street
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19
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street
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20
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Rafael and San Francisco.
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.
Redwood Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Redwood Highway
10.3 mi · 00h 14m
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving San Rafael and Mostly Sunny near San Francisco.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Rafael to San Francisco?
The road trip is about 18.6 miles (29.9 km) and usually takes 00h 34m 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?
Sausalito is a useful midpoint, sitting about 9.2 miles from San Rafael and 9.4 miles from San Francisco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 15 miles (24.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.6 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 7:20 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.81 one way or $7.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Rafael and Mostly Sunny near San Francisco.
Stop Ideas Near Sausalito
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer
Albert Teglia Community Center
SF City Hall Photographer
My City Hall Wedding
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Sausalito.
San Francisco (Wharf), California
San Francisco (Civic Center), California
San Francisco (Ferry), California
San Francisco (Financial), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Rafael and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 15.01 mi (24.16 km).
#1 San Rafael
The most populous city in Marin County, California.
| Population | 58,528 |
| Coordinates | 37.9735300, -122.5310900 |
| Altitude | 13 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: Market Street (-122.419433, 37.774953)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 30 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 37m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 27m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 22m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 18m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 15m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 13m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $3.81 | $7.62 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $4.00 | $8.01 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $4.12 | $8.24 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $4.99 | $9.99 |
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 · Apr 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.