Origin
Belmont, CA
Morning in Belmont on Saturday
Local time
11:44 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Belmont, CA to San Francisco, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
31m
Distance
23.4 mi
38 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Belmont, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Belmont, CA to San Francisco, CA is 23.4 miles and takes about 31m via Bayshore Freeway and James Lick Freeway, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, direct drive connects two points within the Pacific Coast region, staying within California. It's a straightforward journey, primarily on freeways, making it an efficient option for getting from the Peninsula into the city. Given its short length and highway focus, this trip is best suited for a quick transit rather than a leisurely exploration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bayshore Freeway | 16.5 mi | 19m |
| James Lick Freeway | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Central Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Octavia Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Marine Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| El Camino Real | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Ralston Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Bayshore Freeway
— 16.5 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belmont, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on CA 82
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
El Camino Real
2
Continue on CA 82
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
El Camino Real
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto Ralston Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Ralston Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on Marine Parkway
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Marine Parkway
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 101 North: San Francisco
Use the straight lane.
6
Merge onto US 101
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 101
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
James Lick Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 101
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Freeway
Toward Civic Center, Golden Gate Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Octavia Boulevard
Exit 434B
Toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Market Street
Use the right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Market Street
12
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 22.6 — 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
|
CA 82 / El Camino Real
Continue onto CA 82 / El Camino Real
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Ralston Avenue
Turn right onto Ralston Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 101 North: San Francisco
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 101 North: San Francisco
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 101 / Bayshore Freeway
Merge onto US 101 / Bayshore Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
22.6 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
Octavia Boulevard
Continue onto Octavia Boulevard toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 434B
Toward Octavia Boulevard, Fell Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.38 one way
$10.76 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $5.54 | $11.08 |
| premium | $6.18 | $5.69 | $11.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.17 | $10.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7 | 0 | $2.46 | $1.12 |
| Efficient EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.05 | $0.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.28 | $1.50 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
11:44 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
31m 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?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with a 93% highway share, making it a fast-paced drive. You'll spend most of your time on the Bayshore Freeway and James Lick Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 16.5 miles on the Bayshore Freeway, allowing for a consistent pace. Expect a smooth, efficient journey primarily on well-maintained freeways, with minimal changes in road type.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.5 mi on Bayshore Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bayshore Freeway and James Lick Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near CA 82 / El Camino Real.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 23.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.2 miles (CA 82 / El Camino Real): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (Ralston Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: 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 Belmont, CA to San Francisco, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Civic Center along the way.
Civic Center
21.8 mi in
|
~28m
|
via US 101
About the Cities
Starting in Belmont, CA
Full guide →Founded 1926
Belmont is on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California.
Arriving 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.
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 31m. Total distance: 23.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.5 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 0.2 miles (CA 82 / El Camino Real): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (Ralston Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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 Trip.ovh 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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