Origin
Larkspur, CA
Late night in Larkspur on Wednesday
Local time
5:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Larkspur, CA to San Francisco, CA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
30m
Distance
15.7 mi
25 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Larkspur, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Larkspur, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 15.7 miles and takes about 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Redwood Highway, Golden Gate Bridge, Presidio Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7.2 miles on Redwood Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.61 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
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
7.9 miles from Larkspur, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 30m drive with frequent turns across 15.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Redwood Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 7.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 around 1.7 miles in near US 101 / Redwood Highway.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 15.7 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 1.7 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 12.7 miles (Divisadero Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 101 / Redwood Highway
Merge onto US 101 / Redwood Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
10.6 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
12.7 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Divisadero Street
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
14 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
Webster Street
Turn right onto Webster Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
15 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Oak Street
Turn left onto Oak Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Highway | 7.2 mi | 9m |
| Golden Gate Bridge | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Presidio Parkway | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Webster Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Divisadero Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Tamalpais Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Magnolia Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| California Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 7.2 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Larkspur, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on King Street
141 ft
·
9 sec
·
King Street
2
Turn left onto Magnolia Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Magnolia Avenue
3
Continue on Corte Madera Avenue
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Corte Madera Avenue
4
Turn left onto Redwood Avenue
304 ft
·
10 sec
·
Redwood Avenue
5
Continue on Tamalpais Drive
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Tamalpais Drive
6
Keep slight right at fork onto Tamalpais Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Tamalpais Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 101 South: San Francisco
8
Merge onto US 101
7.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 101
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden Gate Bridge
10
Merge
34 ft
·
0 sec
11
Keep slight left at fork
130 ft
·
1 sec
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
13
Continue on US 101; CA 1
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Presidio Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 101
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Richardson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on US 101
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Lombard Street
16
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Divisadero Street
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto California Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
California Street
18
Turn right onto Webster Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Webster Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn left onto Oak Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Oak Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto Gough Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Gough Street
21
Turn slight left onto Market Street
183 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
Use the slight left lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Market Street
23
Arrive at destination
Market Street
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 7.9 miles from Larkspur, CA, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.2 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 15.7 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 7.9 miles or 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 23m
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 Larkspur, 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 Larkspur, CA
This is one driving day of about 15.7 miles and 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Larkspur, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Redwood Highway for about 7.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 7.9 mi from Larkspur, CA · 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 15.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 7.9 miles from Larkspur, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in San Francisco, CA
The final approach into San Francisco, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around San Francisco, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.61 one way
$7.22 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $3.72 | $7.44 |
| premium | $6.18 | $3.82 | $7.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.47 | $6.93 |
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.75 |
| Efficient EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.37 | $0.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.20 | $1.00 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Late night in San Francisco on Wednesday
Local time
5:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Richmond, CA
8 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
20 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
30m 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 Larkspur, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 15.7 miles and takes about 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Redwood Highway, Golden Gate Bridge, Presidio Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.9 miles from Larkspur, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.61 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 demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 15.7 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 12.7 miles (Divisadero Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Larkspur, CA to San Francisco, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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