Origin
San Francisco, CA
Night in San Francisco on Saturday
Local time
9:24 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Francisco, CA to Santa Rosa, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
55 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Santa Rosa, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from San Francisco to Santa Rosa covers approximately 55 miles, typically taking about 1 hour and 15 minutes. This journey is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to easily complete the trip without an overnight stay. You can expect to spend around $7 on fuel for the trek between these two Pacific Coast locations. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it offers a distinct, turn-heavy experience compared to standard highway travel. Whether you are heading north for a weekend escape or a quick change of scenery, this drive is straightforward and manageable. It serves as a practical connection between the urban landscape of San Francisco and the character of Santa Rosa.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Highway | 47.2 mi | 57m |
| Presidio Parkway | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Golden Gate Bridge | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Webster Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Divisadero Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| California Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Fell Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Richardson Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 47.2 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Santa Rosa, CA.
1
Start on Market Street
41 ft
·
6 sec
·
Market Street
2
Turn sharp right onto US 101
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Van Ness Avenue
3
Turn right onto Otis Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Otis Street
4
Turn right onto Gough Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Gough Street
Use the right lane.
5
Turn right onto Market Street
29 ft
·
1 sec
·
Market Street
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
497 ft
·
10 sec
7
Continue on Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
Franklin Street
8
Turn left onto Fell Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Fell Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Turn right onto Webster Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Webster Street
10
Turn left onto California Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
California Street
11
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Divisadero Street
12
Turn left onto US 101
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Lombard Street
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on US 101
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Richardson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 101
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Presidio Parkway
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 101
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden Gate Bridge
16
Continue on US 101; CA 1
47 mi
·
57 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 489
Toward Third Street, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 489
Toward Third Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn right onto 3rd Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
3rd Street
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto B Street
329 ft
·
18 sec
·
B Street
21
Turn right onto 4th Street
446 ft
·
12 sec
·
4th Street
22
Arrive at destination
4th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.5 miles from San Francisco, 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 0 and 54.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue
Turn sharp right onto US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Gough Street
Turn right onto Gough Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
54.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward Third Street, Downtown
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 489
Toward Third Street, Downtown
10
54.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Third Street, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 489
Toward Third Street, Downtown
7
54.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
3rd Street
Turn right onto 3rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.64 one way
$25.28 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $13.03 | $26.05 |
| premium | $6.18 | $13.38 | $26.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.14 | $24.29 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.00
Golden Gate Bridge
$9.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$9
Total
$22
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.81 | $2.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22 | 0 | $7.70 | $3.52 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Santa Rosa, CA
Night in Santa Rosa on Saturday
Local time
9:24 PM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
59°F
San Rafael, CA
28 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
1h 15m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike long, monotonous interstate stretches, this 55-mile journey features 0% highway driving, meaning you will navigate surface streets for the entire duration. Your path takes you through segments like South Van Ness Avenue, Otis Street, and Gough Street, which define the technical nature of the trip. Because there is no long uninterrupted stretch of road, the drive requires frequent adjustments and consistent focus. You will find that the road's personality is defined by its local, urban pace rather than high-speed cruising.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.2 mi on Redwood Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55 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: near the start (US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (Gough Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 54.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
432 ft
-1 ft
Total Climb
835 ft
Total Descent
725 ft
Highest Point
432 ft
~7.9 mi in
Elevation Range
433 ft
About the Cities
Starting in San Francisco, CA
Full guide →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.
Arriving in Santa Rosa, CA
Full guide →Santa Rosa is the largest city in Sonoma County, California, and fifth largest in the San Francisco Bay Area. The city is a jumping off point for visiting the wine country of Sonoma County and the Napa Valley, or driving out to the beautiful coastal and parks throughout the Sonoma County.
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 15m. Total distance: 55 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.2 miles on Redwood Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.00 in tolls one way, starting with Golden Gate Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Santa Rosa, 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: near the start (US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (Gough Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 54.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Santa Rosa, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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