Rancho Cordova to San Francisco is 98.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 59 minutes via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Pacific Coast region of California to another part of the Pacific Coast, primarily using major freeways. Given its relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day trip. You'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way toward the Bay Area.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.4 miles from Rancho Cordova, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
56.3 mi
1h 7m
Eastshore Freeway
15.2 mi
17m
El Dorado Freeway
9.7 mi
10m
Capital City Freeway
5 mi
5m
Yolo Causeway
3.9 mi
4m
Linus F. Claeys Freeway
3.4 mi
3m
Route 80
1.4 mi
2m
Carquinez Bridge
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 56.3 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rancho Cordova, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Folsom Boulevard
474 ft·14 sec·Folsom Boulevard
2
Continue on Folsom Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Folsom Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto Mather Field Road
0.4 mi·40 sec·Mather Field Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward US 50 West: SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto US 50
9.7 mi·10 min·El Dorado Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 50
5.0 mi·5 min·Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 80
3.9 mi·4 min·Yolo Causeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 80
50 mi·58 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 80
1.0 mi·1 min·Carquinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Eastshore Freeway
11
Continue on I 80
3.4 mi·3 min·Linus F. Claeys Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 80
14 mi·16 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto Eastshore Freeway
0.8 mi·1 min·Eastshore Freeway
Toward San FranciscoUse the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto I 80
0.4 mi·33 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn slight left onto I 80
0.4 mi·33 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the slight left lane.
17
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·24 sec·Route 80
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18
Continue on I 80
0.8 mi·1 min·Route 80
Exit 2AUse the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Continue on I 80
0.4 mi·32 sec·Route 80
Exit 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 1BToward US 101 North: Golden Gate BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto US 101
0.3 mi·25 sec·Central Freeway
22
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi·42 sec·Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434BToward Octavia Boulevard, Fell StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Market Street
Use the right lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
25
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Since this trip takes under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility. Departing early in the morning, perhaps before 7 AM, can help you avoid the heaviest commuter traffic heading into San Francisco. While there are no specific recommended stops, the short duration means you can easily complete the drive without a lengthy break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $23, and plan your fill-up accordingly before you leave Rancho Cordova. Be aware that freeway conditions can change rapidly, especially closer to the city.
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 49.4 miles from Rancho Cordova, CA, or about 57m 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.4 miles or 57m 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 34m
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 Rancho Cordova, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Rancho Cordova, CA
This is one driving day of about 98.7 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Rancho Cordova, 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 97.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|Mather Field Road
Turn left onto Mather Field Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 50 West: Sacramento
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 50 West: Sacramento
6
88.9 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
90.4 mi into trip|~1h 46m 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
97.3 mi into trip|~1h 56m 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
$22.69 one way
$45.37 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$23.38
$46.75
premium
$6.18
$24.00
$48.01
diesel
$5.61
$21.79
$43.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.6
0
$10.36
$4.74
Efficient EV
24.7
0
$8.64
$3.95
EV Truck/SUV
39.5
0
$13.82
$6.32
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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 19, 2026
Origin
Rancho Cordova, CA
Late night
in Rancho Cordova on Sunday
Local time
5:53 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Late night
in San Francisco on Sunday
Local time
5:53 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
WSW 2 to 6 mph0% chanceLive 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
7 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 59m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 35% of this 98.7-mile route is on the highway, with the longest continuous stretch of highway driving being 56.3 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. As you transition off the main freeways like the Eastshore Freeway, you'll encounter more surface streets. Expect a significant number of exits and potential for urban merging as you approach your destination.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 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 0.6 miles in near Mather Field Road.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 98.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.6 miles (Mather Field Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 88.9 miles (Eastshore Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 1h 59m. Total distance: 98.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
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.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 0.6 miles (Mather Field Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 88.9 miles (Eastshore Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at San Francisco, CA before heading back.
