How far is Santa Clara, CA from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Clara, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 45.3 miles (72.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 49m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 38.6 miles (62.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 39m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
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 00h 49m.
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.
Town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Clara and San Francisco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Clara and San Francisco.
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1
Start on Lincoln Street
695 ft · 29 sec · Lincoln Street
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2
Turn left onto Warburton Avenue
1283 ft · 48 sec · Warburton Avenue
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3
Turn right onto Scott Boulevard
1.8 mi · 4 min · Scott Boulevard
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4
Turn right onto San Tomas Expressway
1581 ft · 29 sec · San Tomas Expressway
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5
Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North: San Francisco
963 ft · 26 sec
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6
Keep slight left
1431 ft · 35 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
5.6 mi · 6 min · Bayshore Freeway
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8
Keep slight left
35.8 mi · 43 min
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9
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard
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10
Turn right onto Market Street
629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street
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11
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street
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12
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Clara and San Francisco.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Bayshore Freeway
Keep slight left
35.8 mi · 00h 43m
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.
Sunny leaving Santa Clara and Patchy Fog then Sunny near San Francisco.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Clara to San Francisco?
The road trip is about 45.3 miles (72.9 km) and usually takes 00h 49m 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?
Belmont is a useful midpoint, sitting about 22.5 miles from Santa Clara and 22.8 miles from San Francisco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 38.6 miles (62.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.7 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 PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:50 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.23 one way or $18.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Santa Clara and Patchy Fog then Sunny near San Francisco.
Stop Ideas Near Belmont
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 Belmont.
Hayward station
Fremont station
Oakland Coliseum station
San Francisco (Caltrain), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Clara and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 38.62 mi (62.16 km).
#1 Santa Clara
The third most populous city in Santa Clara County, California.
| Population | 131,055 |
| Coordinates | 37.3541100, -121.9552400 |
| Altitude | 23 |
| 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: 73 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 30m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 01h 07m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 54m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 45m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 38m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 33m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $9.23 | $18.46 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $9.71 | $19.41 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $9.99 | $19.98 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $12.11 | $24.21 |
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 22, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.