Origin
Salton City, CA
Afternoon in Salton City on Monday
Local time
12:12 PM
PDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salton City, CA to San Francisco, CA
Drive Time
8h 59m
Distance
545.5 mi
878 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$126
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 51m
★
6 AM
8h 59m
8 AM
9h 15m
10 AM
9h 5m
12 PM
9h 3m
3 PM
9h 6m
5 PM
9h 15m
8 PM
8h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salton City, CA
Julian Dahl
San Francisco, CA
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
The drive from Salton City, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 545.5 miles and takes about 8h 59m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Marlin Drive, Harbor Drive, Marina Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $126.32 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
272.7 miles from Salton City, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 545.5 miles and 8h 59m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Marlin Drive and Harbor Drive.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 48 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Marlin Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 8h 59m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 59m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Salton City, CA to San Francisco, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Marlin Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Harbor Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Marina Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Azure Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sunrise Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 86 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Marlin Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salton City, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Shore Gem Avenue
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Shore Gem Avenue
2
Turn right onto Marlin Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Marlin Drive
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto Harbor Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Harbor Drive
4
At the end of the road, turn left onto Marina Drive
89 ft
·
4 sec
·
Marina Drive
5
Turn right onto Harbor Drive
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Harbor Drive
6
Continue on Azure Avenue
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Azure Avenue
7
Turn left onto Sunrise Drive
351 ft
·
12 sec
·
Sunrise Drive
8
Turn right onto Highway 86
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 86
9
Continue straight
32 mi
·
37 min
10
Merge slight right onto Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
33 mi
·
34 min
·
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
11
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
40 mi
·
43 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
12
Continue on San Bernardino Freeway
14 mi
·
16 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
13
Keep slight left to continue on I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
9.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
14
Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
15
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
16
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
17
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
18
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
San Bernardino Freeway
19
Take the exit slight right toward CA 57: Santa Ana
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
CA 57: Santa Ana
20
Keep slight right to continue on CA 57 North
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
CA 57 North
21
Continue straight
3.4 mi
·
3 min
22
Keep slight left to continue on I 210 West: Pasadena
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 210 West: Pasadena
23
Merge slight left onto Foothill Freeway
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Foothill Freeway
24
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Foothill Freeway
25
Keep slight right
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
26
Merge slight right
1.0 mi
·
1 min
27
Keep slight left
36 mi
·
41 min
28
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
29
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
30
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
31
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
32
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
33
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
34
Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
35
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
36
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: San Francisco
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 West: San Francisco
37
Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
38
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
39
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
40
Continue on Route 80
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Route 80
41
Continue on Route 80
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Route 80
42
Continue on Route 80
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Route 80
43
Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge
44
Merge slight right onto Central Freeway
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Central Freeway
45
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Octavia Boulevard
46
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Market Street
47
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Market Street
48
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 272.7 miles from Salton City, CA, or about 4h 29m into the drive.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 120 miles or 1h 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 272.7 miles or 4h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 272.7 miles or 4h 29m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h
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 Salton City, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Salton City, CA
Aim for roughly 273 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into San Francisco, CA
Aim for roughly 273 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 120 miles from Salton City, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 272.7 mi from Salton City, CA · 4h 29m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
180 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
360 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Modesto, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
273 mi · about 4.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Santa Clarita, CA after about 273 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 120 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 272.7 miles from Salton City, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 273 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach San Francisco, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$126.32 one way
$252.65 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
191 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $130.28 | $260.55 |
| premium | $6.24 | $134.08 | $268.15 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $121.19 | $242.38 |
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
$126
Tolls
$9
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$265–$375
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 190.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $57 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 163.7 | 2 | $57.28 | $26.18 |
| Efficient EV | 136.4 | 1 | $47.73 | $21.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 218.2 | 2 | $76.37 | $34.91 |
Gas CO2
191 kg
EV CO2
64 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Afternoon in San Francisco on Monday
Local time
12:12 PM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
8h 59m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Salton City, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 545.5 miles and takes about 8h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Marlin Drive, Harbor Drive, Marina Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 273 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 272.7 miles from Salton City, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $126.32 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 59m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Salton City, CA to San Francisco, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Salton City, CA to San Francisco, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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