Origin
Ben Lomond, CA
Morning in Ben Lomond on Saturday
Local time
11:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ben Lomond, CA to San Francisco, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 25, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 41m
Distance
75.6 mi
122 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ben Lomond, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ben Lomond to San Francisco is 75.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 41 minutes via Bayshore Freeway and Santa Cruz Highway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Pacific Coast region of California to another part of the same region, primarily on highways. You'll experience a mostly highway profile, making it a relatively straightforward trip. Given its short duration and manageable distance, this is a perfect same-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.8 miles from Ben Lomond, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bayshore Freeway | 30.2 mi | 34m |
| Santa Cruz Highway | 17.9 mi | 25m |
| West Valley Freeway | 12.7 mi | 14m |
| James Lick Freeway | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Mount Hermon Road | 3.8 mi | 7m |
| Highway 9 | 2.9 mi | 6m |
| Central Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| CA 85 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Bayshore Freeway
— 30.2 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ben Lomond, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Glen Arbor Road
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Glen Arbor Road
2
Turn left onto CA 9
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Highway 9
3
Turn left onto Graham Hill Road
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Graham Hill Road
4
Turn left onto Mount Hermon Road
3.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Mount Hermon Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
188 ft
·
4 sec
6
Turn right
423 ft
·
5 sec
7
Merge onto CA 17
18 mi
·
25 min
·
Santa Cruz Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 22
Toward CA 85 North, CA 85 South: Mountain View, Gilroy
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Toward CA 85 North: Mountain View
Use the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward CA 85 North: Mountain View
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
this road
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward CA 85: Mountain View
13
Merge onto CA 85
13 mi
·
14 min
·
West Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on CA 85
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
·
CA 85
Exit 24B
Toward US 101 North: San Francisco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto US 101
30 mi
·
34 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 101
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
James Lick Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 101
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Freeway
Toward Civic Center, Golden Gate Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434B
Toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Market Street
Use the right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Market Street
21
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 1 hour and 41 minute drive, consider leaving Ben Lomond mid-morning to avoid early rush hour traffic. With a total distance of 75.6 miles and a fuel cost estimated at $17, this is a trip you can easily complete in one day without needing an overnight stay. Since the longest stretch is 30.2 miles, you won't need to worry about extended periods without services. Take advantage of the relatively short drive time by packing snacks and enjoying the flexibility to stop if you see something interesting along the way.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.8 miles from Ben Lomond, CA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 17 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.8 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Francisco, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ben Lomond, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ben Lomond, CA
This is one driving day of about 75.6 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Ben Lomond, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Bayshore Freeway for about 30.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.8 miles from Ben Lomond, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 25.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Mount Hermon Road
Turn left onto Mount Hermon Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
7.1 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
CA 17 / Santa Cruz Highway
Merge onto CA 17 / Santa Cruz Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
25 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward CA 85 North, CA 85 South: Mountain View, Gilroy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 22
Toward CA 85 North, CA 85 South: Mountain View,...
7
25.2 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 85 North: Mountain View
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward CA 85 North: Mountain View
7
25.6 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CA 85 North: Mountain View
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward CA 85 North: Mountain View
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.14 one way
$34.27 round trip
$5.76/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.96 | $17.73 | $35.45 |
| premium | $6.09 | $18.13 | $36.26 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $16.08 | $32.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.94 | $3.63 |
| Efficient EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.61 | $3.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.2 | 0 | $10.58 | $4.84 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Morning in San Francisco on Saturday
Local time
11:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
22 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 41m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 78.1
Park Closure: Hyde Street Pier Closure
Caution: Sick Birds and Wildlife, H5N1
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 78.1
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 78.1
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument
National Monument
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
$15
near mile 78.1
View on nps.gov
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 78.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 68% highway, with the longest continuous stretch on the Bayshore Freeway spanning 30.2 miles. You'll encounter a significant portion of highway driving, so expect consistent speeds and merging traffic in certain areas. The transition to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination, bringing a change in pace and more frequent exits. Keep an eye out for dense exit patterns as you get closer to San Francisco.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.2 mi on Bayshore Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bayshore Freeway and Santa Cruz Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.2 miles in near Mount Hermon Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.6 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (Mount Hermon Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (CA 17 / Santa Cruz Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ben Lomond, CA to San Francisco, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Gilroy along the way.
Gilroy
25 mi in
|
~39m
About the Cities
Arriving in San Francisco, CA
Full guide →“Frisco” · Founded 1776
The centerpiece of the Bay Area, San Francisco is one of the most visited cities in the world, and with good reason. The cultural center of northern California, San Francisco is renowned for its mixture of scenic beauty and unique culture that makes it one of the most vibrant and desirable cities in the nation, if not the world. Sandwiched between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean on a small square of land seven miles (11 km) on each side, San Francisco offers a wealth of treasures for the visitor, from the windswept and often foggy bay to the steep hills lined with Victorian homes that overlook the spectacular scenery of the city.
Top landmarks
- • Golden Gate Bridge — suspension bridge on the San Francisco Bay
- • Alcatraz Island — island in San Francisco, California, United States of America
- • San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge — suspension bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland, California, USA
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 75.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.2 miles on Bayshore Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at San Francisco, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (Mount Hermon Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (CA 17 / Santa Cruz Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at San Francisco, CA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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