How far is South San Francisco, CA from Hillsborough, CA?
The driving distance from South San Francisco, CA to Hillsborough, CA is about 7.6 miles (12.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 14m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 5.8 miles (9.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 28m 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 14m.
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 California
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 South San Francisco and Hillsborough.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South San Francisco and Hillsborough.
-
1
Start on Airport Boulevard
112 m · 16 sec · Airport Boulevard
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2
Turn left onto Miller Avenue
75 m · 12 sec · Miller Avenue
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3
Turn right onto Cypress Avenue
111 m · 17 sec · Cypress Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Lux Avenue
65 m · 12 sec · Lux Avenue
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5
Turn right onto Airport Boulevard
2662 ft · 59 sec · Airport Boulevard
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6
Continue on Produce Avenue
1386 ft · 27 sec · Produce Avenue
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7
Take the ramp straight toward US 101 South: San Jose
802 ft · 22 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
2286 ft · 30 sec · Bayshore Freeway
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
2.7 mi · 3 min · Bayshore Freeway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward Millbrae Avenue
1487 ft · 40 sec
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11
Turn right onto East Millbrae Avenue
1815 ft · 40 sec · East Millbrae Avenue
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12
Turn left onto El Camino Real
1.2 mi · 2 min · El Camino Real
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13
Turn right onto Hillside Drive
1.2 km · 2 min · Hillside Drive
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14
At the end of the road, turn left onto Alvarado Avenue
80 m · 14 sec · Alvarado Avenue
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15
Turn right onto Hillside Circle
134 m · 21 sec · Hillside Circle
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16
Turn left onto Summit Drive
574 ft · 20 sec · Summit Drive
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17
Continue on Summit Drive
1987 ft · 1 min · Summit Drive
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18
At the end of the road, turn left onto Summit Drive
1189 ft · 41 sec · Summit Drive
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19
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Summit Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between South San Francisco and Hillsborough.
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
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
2.67 mi · 00h 03m
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.
Sunny leaving South San Francisco and Sunny near Hillsborough.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from South San Francisco to Hillsborough?
The road trip is about 7.6 miles (12.3 km) and usually takes 00h 14m 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?
Millbrae is a useful midpoint, sitting about 3.8 miles from South San Francisco and 3.8 miles from Hillsborough.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 5.8 miles (9.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.8 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 8:02 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.56 one way or $3.12 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 2.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around South San Francisco and Sunny near Hillsborough.
Stop Ideas Near Millbrae
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
Foster City - City Hall
My City Hall Wedding
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Millbrae.
San Francisco (Civic Center), California
San Francisco (Caltrain), California
San Francisco (Shopping), California
San Francisco (Conv Ctr), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between South San Francisco and Hillsborough. Straight-line distance: 5.78 mi (9.3 km).
#1 South San Francisco
The most populous city in San Mateo County, California.
| Population | 66,558 |
| Coordinates | 37.6546600, -122.4077500 |
| Altitude | 4 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Hillsborough
City in California
| Population | 11,527 |
| Coordinates | 37.5741000, -122.3794200 |
| Altitude | 98 |
| Country | United States |
End: Hillsborough (-122.37942, 37.5741)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 12 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 15m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 11m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 09m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 07m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 06m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 05m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $1.56 | $3.12 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $1.64 | $3.28 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $1.69 | $3.37 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $2.04 | $4.09 |
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.