How far is Woodside, CA from San Francisco, CA?

The driving distance from Woodside, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 30.7 miles (49.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 25.5 miles (41 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
30.7 mi
00h 37m
Flight
25.5 mi
41.04 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Woodside.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
25.5 mi
Kilometers
41.04 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
30.7 mi
Kilometers
49.41 km
Drive Time
00h 37m

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 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Francisco
Sat, May 30, 4:03 PM PDT
Return by in Woodside
Sat, May 30, 4:40 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Woodside
2026-05-30T15:26
Arrive San Francisco
Sat, May 30, 4:03 PM PDT
Route Timing
00h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:37 AM to 7:37 PM PDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:16 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Woodside
10:00 PM PDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Millbrae
CA

City in California

From Woodside
15.3 mi
00h 18m
To San Francisco
15.3 mi
00h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 11:00 AM PDT
Wind
8 mph SW
Destination
75°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 9:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 10 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Woodside and San Francisco.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    15 m · 5 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Cañada Lane

    42 m · 7 sec · Cañada Lane

  3. 3

    Continue on Woodside Road

    59 m · 12 sec · Woodside Road

  4. 4

    Turn slight right onto Cañada Road

    2.8 mi · 6 min · Cañada Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left toward I 280 North: San Francisco

    1299 ft · 32 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Junipero Serra Freeway

    14.6 mi · 17 min · Junipero Serra Freeway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 380 East: San Francisco International Airport

    1975 ft · 26 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on Quentin L. Kopp Freeway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Quentin L. Kopp Freeway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North: San Francisco

    1.3 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway

    4.9 mi · 6 min · Bayshore Freeway

  11. 11

    Continue on James Lick Freeway

    4.2 mi · 6 min · James Lick Freeway

  12. 12

    Continue on Central Freeway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Central Freeway

  13. 13

    Continue on Octavia Boulevard

    2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Market Street

    629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Market Street

    961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Market Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

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.

Directions
16 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
52.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Junipero Serra Freeway
14.6 mi · 47%
Bayshore Freeway
4.93 mi · 16%
James Lick Freeway
4.2 mi · 14%
Cañada Road
2.79 mi · 9%
Quentin L. Kopp Freeway
1.13 mi · 4%
Central Freeway
0.8 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Junipero Serra Freeway

Merge slight left onto Junipero Serra Freeway

14.6 mi · 00h 17m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
00h 37m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.2 mi
25.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Millbrae
00h 18m from Woodside
Leave By
7:16 PM PDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Woodside 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 Woodside to San Francisco?

The road trip is about 30.7 miles (49.4 km) and usually takes 00h 37m 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 15.3 miles from Woodside and 15.3 miles from San Francisco.

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

The direct path is about 25.5 miles (41 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.2 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 7:16 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.23 one way or $12.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Woodside and Sunny near San Francisco.

Stop Ideas Near Millbrae

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 Millbrae and the surrounding midpoint area.
San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer
Practical stop 13.5 mi away

San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer

San Francisco , CA
3365 Sacramento St #435, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States
Rating 5.0/5 21 reviews Wedding photographer,Photographer,Wedding service
City of South San Francisco: City Attorney
Meeting point 4.3 mi away

City of South San Francisco: City Attorney

South San Francisco , CA
601 Grand Ave, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Government office
Foster City - City Hall
Nearby stop 8.5 mi away

Foster City - City Hall

Foster City , CA
610 Foster City Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404, United States
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews City or town hall
My City Hall Wedding
Practical stop 13.3 mi away

My City Hall Wedding

San Francisco , CA
1480 Sutter St #302, San Francisco, CA 94109, United States
Rating 5.0/5 8 reviews Wedding photographer,Wedding planner,Wedding service,Wedding store

Transit and Meeting Points

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

BUS

San Francisco (Civic Center), California

20 mi away
1150 Market Street
BUS

San Francisco (Caltrain), California

20 mi away
700 4th St.
BUS

San Francisco (Shopping), California

21 mi away
835 Market Street
BUS

San Francisco (Conv Ctr), California

21 mi away
747 Howard St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Woodside and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 25.5 mi (41.04 km).

Woodside

#1 Woodside

Town in San Mateo County, California, United States

Population5,508
Coordinates37.4299400, -122.2538600
Altitude118
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: (-122.253874, 37.429918)
End: Market Street (-122.419433, 37.774953)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 49 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.08 gal
4.1 L · about $6.23
Round trip
$12.46
2.16 gal · 8.2 L
Estimated CO2
9.6 kg one way
Round trip: 19.2 kg / 42 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $6.23 $12.46
Mid-grade $6.07 $6.55 $13.10
Premium $6.24 $6.74 $13.48
Diesel $7.57 $8.17 $16.34

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Woodside and San Francisco. The current time is 15:26:37.

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.