How far is South San Francisco, CA from Oakland, CA?
The driving distance from South San Francisco, CA to Oakland, CA is about 19.7 miles (31.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 26m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 12.7 miles (20.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 53m 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 26m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
The seventeenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Francisco Bay Area.
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 South San Francisco and Oakland.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South San Francisco and Oakland.
-
1
Start on Airport Boulevard
43 m · 5 sec · Airport Boulevard
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2
Take the ramp right toward US 101 North: San Francisco
1413 ft · 36 sec
-
3
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
3.8 mi · 4 min · Bayshore Freeway
-
4
Continue on James Lick Freeway
4.2 mi · 6 min · James Lick Freeway
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5
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Bay Bridge, Oakland
7.5 mi · 11 min
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6
Take the exit slight right toward I 580 East: Downtown Oakland, Hayward-Stockton
1.6 km · 1 min
-
7
Merge slight left onto MacArthur Freeway
157 m · 7 sec · MacArthur Freeway
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8
Take the exit slight left toward MacArthur Boulevard, San Pablo Avenue, Emery Street
897 ft · 14 sec
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9
Keep slight right to continue on San Pablo Avenue, Emery Street
637 ft · 12 sec
-
10
Turn right onto Watts Street
66 m · 12 sec · Watts Street
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11
Turn right onto Peralta Street
56 m · 12 sec · Peralta Street
-
12
Turn left onto 35th Street
886 ft · 23 sec · 35th Street
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13
Turn right onto San Pablo Avenue
1.1 mi · 2 min · San Pablo Avenue
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14
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Junior Way
1758 ft · 1 min · Martin Luther King Junior Way
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15
Turn left onto 14th Street
1636 ft · 1 min · 14th Street
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16
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 14th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between South San Francisco and Oakland.
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.
I 80 East
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Bay Bridge, Oakland
7.52 mi · 00h 11m
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 South San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near Oakland.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from South San Francisco to Oakland?
The road trip is about 19.7 miles (31.7 km) and usually takes 00h 26m 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?
San Francisco is a useful midpoint, sitting about 9.6 miles from South San Francisco and 10.1 miles from Oakland.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 12.7 miles (20.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:36 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.98 one way or $7.96 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around South San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near Oakland.
Stop Ideas Near San Francisco
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer
Alameda Public Works Department
SF City Hall Photographer
My City Hall Wedding
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to San Francisco.
San Francisco (Civic Center), California
San Francisco (Conv Ctr), California
San Francisco (Caltrain), California
San Francisco (Shopping), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between South San Francisco and Oakland. Straight-line distance: 12.77 mi (20.55 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 Oakland
The third most populous city in California, Oakland is a major center for business, manufacturing, and culture.
| Population | 424,891 |
| Coordinates | 37.8043700, -122.2708000 |
| Altitude | 13 |
| Country | United States |
End: 14th Street (-122.270903, 37.804207)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 32 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 39m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 29m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 23m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 19m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 16m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 14m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $3.98 | $7.96 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $4.19 | $8.37 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $4.31 | $8.62 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $5.22 | $10.44 |
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.