How far is South San Francisco, CA from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance from South San Francisco, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 9.9 miles (16 km), with a travel time of about 00h 14m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 8.3 miles (13.4 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.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City located in San Mateo County, California, United States
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 San Francisco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South San Francisco and San Francisco.
-
1
Start on Airport Boulevard
43 m · 5 sec · Airport Boulevard
-
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
-
5
Continue on Central Freeway
1.3 km · 1 min · Central Freeway
-
6
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard
-
7
Turn right onto Market Street
629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street
-
8
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street
-
9
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between South San Francisco and San Francisco.
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.
James Lick Freeway
Continue on James Lick Freeway
4.2 mi · 00h 06m
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 San Francisco.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from South San Francisco to San Francisco?
The road trip is about 9.9 miles (16 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?
Brisbane is a useful midpoint, sitting about 5 miles from South San Francisco and 5 miles from San Francisco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 8.3 miles (13.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.6 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 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 $2.02 one way or $4.04 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around South San Francisco and Mostly Sunny near San Francisco.
Stop Ideas Near Brisbane
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer
Brisbane City Hall
SF City Hall Photographer
My City Hall Wedding
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Brisbane.
San Francisco (Civic Center), California
San Francisco (Caltrain), California
San Francisco (Conv Ctr), California
San Francisco (Shopping), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between South San Francisco and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 8.33 mi (13.41 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 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: 16 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 19m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 14m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 11m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 09m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 08m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 07m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $2.02 | $4.04 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $2.12 | $4.25 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $2.19 | $4.37 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $2.65 | $5.30 |
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.