How far is Shasta Lake, CA from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance from Shasta Lake, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 223.4 miles (359.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 200.8 miles (323.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 07m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 03h 33m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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 Colusa County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Shasta Lake and San Francisco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shasta Lake and San Francisco.
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1
Start on the route
28 m · 12 sec
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2
Turn left
18 m · 10 sec
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3
Turn left onto Montana Avenue
70 m · 14 sec · Montana Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Shasta Dam Boulevard
1.1 mi · 2 min · Shasta Dam Boulevard
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5
Take the ramp straight
26 m · 2 sec
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6
Keep slight right
1311 ft · 32 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway
35.5 mi · 39 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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9
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on I 505 South: Winters, San Francisco
33.2 mi · 36 min
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11
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: San Francisco
2201 ft · 54 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
27.6 mi · 32 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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13
Continue on Carquinez Bridge
1.6 km · 1 min · Carquinez Bridge
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14
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
1847 ft · 24 sec · Eastshore Freeway
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15
Continue on Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Linus F. Claeys Freeway
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16
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
14 mi · 16 min · Eastshore Freeway
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17
Take the exit slight left toward San Francisco
1.3 km · 1 min · Eastshore Freeway
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18
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1941 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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19
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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20
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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21
Continue on Route 80
1438 ft · 24 sec · Route 80
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22
Continue on Route 80
1.2 km · 1 min · Route 80
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23
Continue on Route 80
1893 ft · 32 sec · Route 80
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24
Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
1919 ft · 39 sec
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25
Merge slight right onto Central Freeway
1462 ft · 25 sec · Central Freeway
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26
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard
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27
Turn right onto Market Street
629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street
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28
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Shasta Lake 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.
Westside Freeway
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 01h 40m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Sunny leaving Shasta Lake and Sunny near San Francisco.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Shasta Lake to San Francisco?
The road trip is about 223.4 miles (359.6 km) and usually takes 03h 33m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Williams is a useful midpoint, sitting about 111.6 miles from Shasta Lake and 111.8 miles from San Francisco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 200.8 miles (323.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.6 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:52 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $45.46 one way or $90.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 70 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Shasta Lake and Sunny near San Francisco.
Stop Ideas Near Williams
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Northview Park
Sinclair
City of Colusa
Alsco-Geyer Ace Hardware
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Williams.
Marysville, California
Oroville, California
Chico station
Davis station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Shasta Lake and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 200.76 mi (323.1 km).
#1 Shasta Lake
City located in Shasta County, California
| Population | 10,379 |
| Coordinates | 40.6804300, -122.3708400 |
| Altitude | 246 |
| 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: 360 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 26m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 35m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 28m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 43m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 11m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 47m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $45.46 | $90.92 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $47.80 | $95.60 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $49.19 | $98.39 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $59.63 | $119.26 |
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 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.