Embarking on the 108.4-mile journey from Folsom, CA to San Francisco, CA will take approximately 2 hours and 12 minutes of driving time. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $25. You'll primarily be navigating the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, El Dorado Freeway, and Eastshore Freeway, with 39% of the drive being on highways. The overall feel of this route is a mixed drive, offering a straightforward transition between these two Pacific Coast locations within California.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.2 miles from Folsom, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
56.3 mi
1h 7m
El Dorado Freeway
17.2 mi
19m
Eastshore Freeway
15.2 mi
17m
Capital City Freeway
5 mi
5m
Yolo Causeway
3.9 mi
4m
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.4 mi
3m
Folsom Boulevard
2.6 mi
4m
Route 80
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 56.3 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Folsom, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Sutter Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Sutter Street
2
Turn right onto Wool Street
366 ft·18 sec·Wool Street
3
Turn left onto Leidesdorff Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Leidesdorff Street
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·31 sec
5
Turn straight onto Folsom Boulevard
2.6 mi·4 min·Folsom Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 50 West: SacramentoUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto US 50
17 mi·19 min·El Dorado Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 50
5.0 mi·5 min·Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 80
3.9 mi·4 min·Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 80
50 mi·58 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi·1 min·Carquinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Eastshore Freeway
13
Continue on I 80
3.4 mi·3 min·Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 80
14 mi·16 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway
0.8 mi·1 min·Eastshore Freeway
Toward San FranciscoUse the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 80
0.4 mi·33 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi·33 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
19
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
20
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi·1 min·Route 80
Exit 2AUse the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi·32 sec·Route 80
Exit 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 1BToward US 101 North: Golden Gate BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi·25 sec·Central Freeway
24
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi·42 sec·Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434BToward Octavia Boulevard, Fell StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Market Street
Use the right lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
27
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
With a driving duration of just over 2 hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart Folsom at a time that best suits your schedule, perhaps avoiding peak morning commute hours into San Francisco. Given the relatively short distance and manageable fuel cost of $25, extensive planning for stops isn't strictly necessary, but it's always wise to take breaks as needed. A specific tip for this drive is to monitor traffic conditions on the Eastshore Freeway as you get closer to San Francisco, as congestion can build up during certain times of the day.
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 54.2 miles from Folsom, CA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.3 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 24 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.2 miles or 1h 4m 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 45m
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 Folsom, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Folsom, CA
This is one driving day of about 108.4 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Folsom, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 56.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 107 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Leidesdorff Street
Turn left onto Leidesdorff Street
Navigation decision point
5
3.1 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward US 50 West: Sacramento
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 50 West: Sacramento
6
98.6 mi into trip|~1h 56m in|Eastshore Freeway
Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway toward San Francisco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward San Francisco
6
100.2 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
107 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.91 one way
$49.83 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$25.67
$51.35
premium
$6.18
$26.36
$52.72
diesel
$5.61
$23.93
$47.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.5
0
$11.38
$5.20
Efficient EV
27.1
0
$9.49
$4.34
EV Truck/SUV
43.4
0
$15.18
$6.94
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Folsom, CA
Late night
in Folsom on Tuesday
Local time
2:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 2 to 6 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Winter Storm Watch
Winter Storm Watch issued April 19 at 5:35PM PDT until April 22 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 19 at 2:32PM PDT until April 20 at 6:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Late night
in San Francisco on Tuesday
Local time
2:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Partly Cloudy then Chance Light Rain
SSW 8 to 13 mph47% chanceLive forecast
Winter Storm Watch
Winter Storm Watch issued April 19 at 5:35PM PDT until April 22 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 19 at 2:32PM PDT until April 20 at 6:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
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
4 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
2h 12m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
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...
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 108.4
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 78.5
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 108.4
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 108.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive from Folsom to San Francisco presents a mixed driving profile, with a significant portion, 39%, spent on highways. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 56.3 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which can feel like a steady cruise. As you progress, the road character will likely shift, transitioning from freeway segments to other major arteries as you approach the San Francisco area. This route avoids overly technical or winding sections, focusing more on efficient travel.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.3 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Leidesdorff Street.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 108.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Leidesdorff Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 98.6 miles (Eastshore Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Folsom is a city of 82,000 people (2019) in Sacramento County in California. Folsom is home to Folsom Lake College, Folsom Dam, Folsom Prison and a historic district. Folsom is also home to the largest private employer in the Sacramento area, Intel.
Top landmarks
•Folsom Depot — train station in Folsom, California
•Murer House and Gardens — house in Folsom, California, United States
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 12m. Total distance: 108.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Leidesdorff Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 98.6 miles (Eastshore Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (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.
