Trip from San Francisco, CA to Brookdale, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 39m

Distance

65.8 mi

106 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min

4 AM

1h 32m ★

6 AM

1h 39m

8 AM

1h 54m

10 AM

1h 45m

12 PM

1h 43m

3 PM

1h 45m

5 PM

1h 54m

8 PM

1h 35m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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consolidated city and county in California, United States

San Francisco, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Brookdale, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from San Francisco, CA to Brookdale, CA covers 65.8 miles and takes about 1h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Skyline Boulevard, CA 9, Junipero Serra Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.1 miles on Skyline Boulevard. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.12 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.

Midpoint

32.9 miles from San Francisco, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 65.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from San Francisco, CA to Brookdale, CA covers 65.8 miles and takes about 1h 39m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Skyline Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 27.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 1.1 miles in near US 101 / James Lick Freeway.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 1.1 miles (US 101 / James Lick Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles (I 380 / Quentin L. Kopp Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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

10.4 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the exit toward I 380 West: San Bruno

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 423B Toward I 380 West: San Bruno

11.1 mi into trip | ~15m in | I 380 / Quentin L. Kopp Freeway

Merge onto I 380 / Quentin L. Kopp Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

12.2 mi into trip | ~16m in | I 380

Keep slight left at fork onto I 380 toward I 280 South: San Jose

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 5B Toward I 280 South: San Jose

20.8 mi into trip | ~26m in | CA 35

Take the exit onto CA 35 toward CA 35, CA 92 West: Half Moon Bay, Bunker Hill Drive

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 34 Toward CA 35, CA 92 West: Half Moon Bay, Bunker...

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Skyline Boulevard	27.1 mi	40m
CA 9	9.6 mi	18m
Junipero Serra Freeway	8 mi	9m
Big Basin Way	6 mi	10m
Bayshore Freeway	5 mi	5m
James Lick Freeway	4.3 mi	6m
Half Moon Bay Road	2 mi	3m
Quentin L. Kopp Freeway	1.1 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Skyline Boulevard — 27.1 mi, about 40m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Brookdale, CA.

Start on Market Street

312 ft · 7 sec · Market Street

Turn right onto 11th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · 11th Street

Turn left onto Bryant Street

470 ft · 18 sec · Bryant Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 28 sec

Toward US 101 South: San Jose

Merge onto US 101

4.3 mi · 6 min · James Lick Freeway

Toward US 101 South: San Jose Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 101

5.0 mi · 5 min · Bayshore Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 43 sec

Exit 423B Toward I 380 West: San Bruno Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 380

1.1 mi · 1 min · Quentin L. Kopp Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 380

0.6 mi · 56 sec · I 380

Exit 5B Toward I 280 South: San Jose Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 280

8.0 mi · 9 min · Junipero Serra Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto CA 35

0.2 mi · 35 sec · CA 35

Exit 34 Toward CA 35, CA 92 West: Half Moon Bay, Bunker Hill Drive Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on CA 35

1.1 mi · 1 min · Skyline Boulevard

Use the left / right lanes.

At end of road, turn right onto CA 92; CA 35

2.0 mi · 3 min · Half Moon Bay Road

Turn left onto CA 35

26 mi · 38 min · Skyline Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Turn slight right

371 ft · 17 sec

Turn straight onto CA 9

6.0 mi · 10 min · Big Basin Way

Turn left onto CA 9

9.6 mi · 18 min · CA 9

Turn left onto Larkspur Street

61 ft · 2 sec · Larkspur Street

Arrive at destination

Larkspur 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 32.9 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 45m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.1 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 14 miles or 19m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 32.9 miles or 45m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brookdale, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from San Francisco, CA

This is one driving day of about 65.8 miles and 1h 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from San Francisco, CA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Skyline Boulevard for about 27.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 32.9 mi from San Francisco, CA · 45m into the drive

town in San Mateo County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Woodside, CA

33 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

San Bruno, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Woodside, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 32.9 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Brookdale, CA

The final approach into Brookdale, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour Free

View on nps.gov

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour Free

View on nps.gov

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...

12 mi from route ~29 min detour Free

View on nps.gov

Muir Woods National Monument

National Monument

Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...

12 mi from route ~30 min detour $15

View on nps.gov

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

National Memorial

On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...

29 mi from route ~72 min detour Free

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.12 one way

$30.25 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.02	$15.58	$31.17
premium	$6.18	$16.00	$32.00
diesel	$5.61	$14.53	$29.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 23 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	19.7	$6.91	$3.16
Efficient EV	16.5	$5.76	$2.63
EV Truck/SUV	26.3	$9.21	$4.21

Gas CO2

23 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (65% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

San Francisco, CA

Afternoon in San Francisco on Thursday

Local time

3:47 PM

PDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Brookdale, CA

Afternoon in Brookdale on Thursday

Local time

3:47 PM

PDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

66°F

Woodside, CA

33 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

5 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

1h 39m 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 San Francisco, CA to Brookdale, CA covers 65.8 miles and takes about 1h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Skyline Boulevard, CA 9, Junipero Serra Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 32.9 miles from San Francisco, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.12 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.

The route from San Francisco, CA to Brookdale, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.

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Trip from San Francisco, CA to Brookdale, CA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Brookdale, CA

National Parks Near This Route

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Muir Woods National Monument

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

San Francisco, CA

Brookdale, CA

Same local time

5 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 39m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More

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