Origin
Hillsborough Park, CA
Night in Hillsborough Park on Wednesday
Local time
10:17 PM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Hillsborough Park, CA to Pacifica, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
19m
Distance
12.3 mi
20 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pacifica, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Hillsborough Park, CA to Pacifica, CA covers 12.3 miles and takes about 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Junipero Serra Freeway, CA 35, Sharp Park Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 4.3 miles on Junipero Serra Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.83 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
6.2 miles from Hillsborough Park, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 19m highway drive covering 12.3 miles, with most of the trip on Junipero Serra Freeway and CA 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 4.3 miles on Junipero Serra Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Junipero Serra Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 4.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Junipero Serra Freeway and CA 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near Hayne Road.
Route Complexity
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 12.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 19m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (Hayne Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (I 280; CA 35 / Junipero Serra Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Hayne Road
Enter roundabout onto Hayne Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 280 North: San Francisco
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 280 North: San Francisco
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 280; CA 35 / Junipero Serra Freeway
Merge onto I 280; CA 35 / Junipero Serra Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
5.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
CA 35
Take the exit onto CA 35 toward CA 35: Pacifica, Skyline Boulevard
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 41
Toward CA 35: Pacifica, Skyline Boulevard
7
11.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the ramp toward CA 1 South: Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward CA 1 South: Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz
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 Hillsborough Park, CA to Pacifica, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Cruz along the way.
Santa Cruz
11.3 mi in
|
~18m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Junipero Serra Freeway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| CA 35 | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| Sharp Park Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Cabrillo Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Hayne Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Sandra Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| San Raymundo Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Golf Course Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Junipero Serra Freeway
— 4.3 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hillsborough Park, CA and Pacifica, CA.
1
Start on San Raymundo Road
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
San Raymundo Road
2
Continue on Sandra Road
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Sandra Road
3
Turn right onto Hayne Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hayne Road
4
Enter roundabout onto Hayne Road
161 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hayne Road
5
Continue on Hayne Road
287 ft
·
9 sec
·
Hayne Road
6
Continue on Golf Course Drive
377 ft
·
8 sec
·
Golf Course Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 280 North: San Francisco
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 280; CA 35
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Junipero Serra Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto CA 35
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
CA 35
Exit 41
Toward CA 35: Pacifica, Skyline Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto Sharp Park Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Sharp Park Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn slight right
159 ft
·
7 sec
Toward Francisco Boulevard
Use the right lane.
12
Turn straight onto Francisco Boulevard
218 ft
·
6 sec
·
Francisco Boulevard
13
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward CA 1 South: Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz
Use the right lane.
14
Merge onto CA 1
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Cabrillo Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn sharp left onto Reina del Mar Avenue
90 ft
·
4 sec
·
Reina del Mar Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Reina del Mar Avenue
Trip Plan
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 6.2 miles from Hillsborough Park, CA, or about 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.3 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 12 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.2 miles or 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pacifica, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Hillsborough Park, CA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hillsborough Park, CA
This is one driving day of about 12.3 miles and 19m.
At 12.3 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Junipero Serra Freeway for about 4.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.2 mi from Hillsborough Park, CA · 9m into the drive
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 6.2 miles from Hillsborough Park, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Pacifica, CA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Pacifica, CA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.83 one way
$5.65 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $2.91 | $5.83 |
| premium | $6.18 | $2.99 | $5.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.72 | $5.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.29 | $0.59 |
| Efficient EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.08 | $0.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.79 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Pacifica, CA
Night in Pacifica on Wednesday
Local time
10:17 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°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.
Road read
19m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Hillsborough Park, CA to Pacifica, CA covers 12.3 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Junipero Serra Freeway, CA 35, Sharp Park Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.2 miles from Hillsborough Park, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.83 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 12.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 19m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (Hayne Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (I 280; CA 35 / Junipero Serra Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Hillsborough Park, CA to Pacifica, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Cruz along the way.
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