How far is Santa Rosa, CA from San Francisco, CA?

The driving distance from Santa Rosa, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 55.1 miles (88.6 km), with a travel time of about 01h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 48.7 miles (78.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 16m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
55.06 mi
01h 08m
Flight
48.7 mi
78.38 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Santa Rosa.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
48.7 mi
Kilometers
78.38 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
55.06 mi
Kilometers
88.61 km
Drive Time
01h 08m

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 01h 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Francisco
Tue, Jun 2, 11:15 AM PDT
Return by in Santa Rosa
Tue, Jun 2, 12:23 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Santa Rosa
2026-06-02T10:07
Arrive San Francisco
Tue, Jun 2, 11:15 AM PDT
Route Timing
01h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:08 AM to 11:08 AM PDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:14 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Santa Rosa
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

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.

Mid-route stop
Novato
CA

A city in Marin County, California.

From Santa Rosa
27.4 mi
00h 34m
To San Francisco
27.7 mi
00h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Santa Rosa Weather
CA
Live fallback forecast
78°F
Tuesday
Using Sebastopol as the closest live forecast in the Sonoma County weather hub.

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 9 mph NNE
Destination
81°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 9 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Rosa and San Francisco.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Santa Rosa and San Francisco.

  1. 1

    Start on 4th Street

    136 m · 19 sec · 4th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto B Street

    100 m · 19 sec · B Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 3rd Street

    1267 ft · 41 sec · 3rd Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left toward CA 12, US 101 South

    1050 ft · 28 sec

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on US 101 South: San Francisco

    748 ft · 18 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway

    36.9 mi · 43 min · Redwood Highway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Redwood Highway

    10.3 mi · 14 min · Redwood Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Golden Gate Bridge

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Golden Gate Bridge

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    10 m · 1 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    40 m · 2 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    666 ft · 8 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on Presidio Parkway

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Presidio Parkway

  13. 13

    Continue on Richardson Avenue

    1257 ft · 44 sec · Richardson Avenue

  14. 14

    Continue on Lombard Street

    601 ft · 26 sec · Lombard Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Divisadero Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Divisadero Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto California Street

    2416 ft · 1 min · California Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Webster Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Webster Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Oak Street

    1926 ft · 1 min · Oak Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Gough Street

    655 ft · 25 sec · Gough Street

  20. 20

    Turn slight left onto Market Street

    56 m · 16 sec · Market Street

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on Market Street

    961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Market Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Rosa and San Francisco.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
39.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Redwood Highway
47.2 mi · 86%
Golden Gate Bridge
1.86 mi · 3%
Presidio Parkway
1.64 mi · 3%
Webster Street
1.04 mi · 2%
Divisadero Street
0.76 mi · 1%
California Street
0.46 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Redwood Highway

Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway

36.9 mi · 00h 43m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
01h 08m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.4 mi
48.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Novato
00h 34m from Santa Rosa
Leave By
4:14 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa to San Francisco?

The road trip is about 55.1 miles (88.6 km) and usually takes 01h 08m 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?

Novato is a useful midpoint, sitting about 27.4 miles from Santa Rosa and 27.7 miles from San Francisco.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 48.7 miles (78.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.4 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 4:14 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.19 one way or $22.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Santa Rosa and Mostly Sunny near San Francisco.

Stop Ideas Near Novato

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Novato and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Practical stop 10.9 mi away

City Hall Records

San Rafael , CA
101 Glacier Point, San Rafael, CA 94901, United States
Rating 4.4/5 7 reviews Distribution service
Sonoma City Hall
Meeting point 14.7 mi away

Sonoma City Hall

Sonoma , CA
1 The Plz, Sonoma, CA 95476, United States
Rating 4.8/5 9 reviews City or town hall,City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 8.6 mi away

San Rafael City Hall

San Rafael , CA
1400 Fifth Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901, United States
Rating 3.7/5 7 reviews Association or organization

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Novato.

BUS

Petaluma, California

16 mi away
100 Fairgrounds Drive
RAIL

Richmond station

27 mi away
1700 Nevin Avenue
BUS

Vallejo, California

28 mi away
4355 Sonoma Blvd.
BUS

Rohnert Park, California

29 mi away
6335 Redwood Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Santa Rosa and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 48.7 mi (78.38 km).

Santa Rosa

#1 Santa Rosa

The fifth most populous city in California.

Population174,613
Coordinates38.4404700, -122.7144300
Altitude50
CountryUnited States
San Francisco

#2 San Francisco

The seventeenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Population866,606
Coordinates37.7749300, -122.4194200
Altitude16
CountryUnited States
Start: 4th Street (-122.714324, 38.440338)
End: Market Street (-122.419433, 37.774953)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 89 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 50m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.94 gal
7.35 L · about $11.19
Round trip
$22.38
3.88 gal · 14.7 L
Estimated CO2
17.2 kg one way
Round trip: 34.5 kg / 76 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $11.19 $22.38
Mid-grade $6.07 $11.77 $23.54
Premium $6.24 $12.11 $24.22
Diesel $7.57 $14.68 $29.36

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 · Jun 02, 2026

There is no time difference between Santa Rosa and San Francisco. The current time is 10:07:13.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.