Origin
San Francisco, CA
Late night in San Francisco on Tuesday
Local time
3:44 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Francisco, CA to Vandenberg Village, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 35m
Distance
286.2 mi
461 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$66
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 22m
★
6 AM
5h 36m
8 AM
6h 2m
10 AM
5h 45m
12 PM
5h 42m
3 PM
5h 46m
5 PM
6h 1m
8 PM
5h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Vandenberg Village, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
San Francisco to Vandenberg Village is 286.2 miles and takes about 5h 35m via El Camino Real, Bayshore Freeway, and Cabrillo Highway, with a fuel budget near $66 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip hugs the Pacific Coast for its entirety, offering a coastal California experience. The route is largely comprised of surface roads with a significant portion on El Camino Real, making it a more relaxed drive than a pure freeway run. Given its single-day recommendation and manageable duration, it's a solid option for a straightforward coastal cruise.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
143.1 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| El Camino Real | 167.4 mi | 3h 12m |
| Bayshore Freeway | 79 mi | 1h 31m |
| Cabrillo Highway | 26.1 mi | 30m |
| Orcutt Expressway | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| James Lick Freeway | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| East Betteravia Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Constellation Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 11th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
El Camino Real
— 167.4 mi, about 3h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Vandenberg Village, CA.
1
Start on Market Street
312 ft
·
7 sec
·
Market Street
2
Turn right onto 11th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
11th Street
3
Turn left onto Bryant Street
470 ft
·
18 sec
·
Bryant Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 101 South: San Jose
5
Merge onto US 101
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
James Lick Freeway
Toward US 101 South: San Jose
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 101
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
25 mi
·
28 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
49 mi
·
56 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
Toward US 101 South: San Jose, Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 101
10 mi
·
11 min
·
El Camino Real
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
11
Merge onto US 101; CA 156
136 mi
·
2 hr 36 min
·
El Camino Real
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 101
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Cabrillo Highway
13
Continue on US 101
21 mi
·
24 min
·
El Camino Real
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Betteravia Road
15
Turn right onto East Betteravia Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Betteravia Road
16
Turn left onto CA 135
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Broadway
17
Continue on CA 135
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Orcutt Expressway
18
Merge onto CA 1; CA 135
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Cabrillo Highway
19
Continue on CA 1
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Cabrillo Highway
20
Turn left onto CA 1
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Cabrillo Highway
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
22
Turn left onto Constellation Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Constellation Road
23
Turn left onto Aldebaran Avenue
31 ft
·
1 sec
·
Aldebaran Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Aldebaran Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5.5-hour drive, leaving San Francisco in the morning should allow you to reach Vandenberg Village with plenty of daylight. While the route is manageable in one day, consider making a stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs; the longest continuous stretch is over 167 miles on El Camino Real, so breaking it up is advisable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $66, and plan your refueling stops accordingly, especially before heading into longer sections of surface roads. The flexibility of a single-day trip means you can adjust your timing as needed.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 143.1 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 167.4 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 63 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.1 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vandenberg Village, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, CA
This is one driving day of about 286.2 miles and 5h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from San Francisco, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on El Camino Real for about 167.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
143 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 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 143.1 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before El Camino Real if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 167.4 miles.
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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 95.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Bryant Street
Turn left onto Bryant Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 101 / James Lick Freeway
Merge onto US 101 / James Lick Freeway toward US 101 South: San Jose
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 101 South: San Jose
6
10.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 101 / Bayshore Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101 / Bayshore Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
35.6 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
US 101 / Bayshore Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101 / Bayshore Freeway toward US 101 South: San Jose, Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 101 South: San Jose, Los Angeles
5
95.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
|
US 101; CA 156 / El Camino Real
Merge onto US 101; CA 156 / El Camino Real
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.78 one way
$131.56 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
100 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $67.79 | $135.57 |
| premium | $6.18 | $69.60 | $139.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $63.19 | $126.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 85.9 | 1 | $30.05 | $13.74 |
| Efficient EV | 71.6 | 0 | $25.04 | $11.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 114.5 | 1 | $40.07 | $18.32 |
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Vandenberg Village, CA
Late night in Vandenberg Village on Tuesday
Local time
3:44 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Soledad, CA
143 mi in
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
5h 35m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a 31% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on surface streets. You'll encounter a long stretch of 167.4 miles on El Camino Real, which will feel more like navigating through towns than open highway. Expect to transition from freeway driving on Bayshore Freeway to these more local roads as you head south. The mix of driving will require paying attention to speed limits and local traffic patterns.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 167.4 mi on El Camino Real.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 0.7 miles in near Bryant Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 286.2 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 0.7 miles (Bryant Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 101 / James Lick Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (US 101 / Bayshore Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 San Francisco, CA to Vandenberg Village, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Los Angeles along the way.
Los Angeles
35.6 mi in
|
~43m
|
via US 101
About the Cities
Starting 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 5h 35m. Total distance: 286.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 167.4 miles on El Camino Real. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Vandenberg Village, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Bryant Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 101 / James Lick Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (US 101 / Bayshore Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Vandenberg Village, CA before the return drive.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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