Planning a trip from San Francisco, CA, to Seacliff, CA? This 77.9-mile drive will take you about 1 hour and 38 minutes of pure travel time, making it a perfect candidate for a day trip. With 89% of the journey on highways, you'll experience a predominantly fast-paced drive focused on covering ground. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $18. You'll be traveling within the Pacific Coast region for the entirety of this trip, offering a consistent regional feel. This route is straightforward and efficient, ideal if you're looking to get from point A to point B without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 77.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is largely highway-focused, with 89% of the route utilizing freeways. Expect a significant portion of your time to be spent on the Bayshore Freeway, where you'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 30.2 miles. The primary roads guiding you are the Bayshore Freeway, CA 17, and CA 85, indicating a consistent and often high-speed driving experience. While primarily a highway journey, be aware that transitions between these main roads will occur. The overall character is one of efficient travel, prioritizing speed and directness over leisurely scenic cruising.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Bayshore Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 30.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bayshore Freeway and CA 17. 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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.9 miles you will encounter 16 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 35.6 miles (CA 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
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
9
35.6 mi into trip|~43m in|CA 85
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 85 toward CA 85 South: Cupertino, Santa Cruz
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 398B
Toward CA 85 South: Cupertino, Santa Cruz
8
48.9 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the exit toward CA 17: San Jose, Santa Cruz
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 11A
Toward CA 17: San Jose, Santa Cruz
7
49 mi into trip|~59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CA 17 South: Santa Cruz
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 17 South: Santa Cruz
8
70.8 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward Watsonville, Monterey
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward Watsonville, Monterey
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between San Francisco, CA and Seacliff, CA, road signs point toward Santa Cruz, Watsonville and Monterey.
Santa Cruz
35.6 mi in|~43m|via CA 85
Watsonville
70.8 mi in|~1h 29m
Monterey
70.8 mi in|~1h 29m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Bayshore Freeway
30.2 mi
34m
CA 17
21.5 mi
29m
CA 85
13.3 mi
15m
Cabrillo Highway
6.1 mi
7m
James Lick Freeway
4.3 mi
6m
11th Street
0.6 mi
1m
Seacliff Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
State Park Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Bayshore Freeway
— 30.2 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Seacliff, CA.
1
Start on Market Street
312 ft·7 sec·Market Street
2
Turn right onto 11th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·11th Street
3
Turn left onto Bryant Street
470 ft·18 sec·Bryant Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·28 sec
Toward US 101 South: San Jose
5
Merge onto US 101
4.3 mi·6 min·James Lick Freeway
Toward US 101 South: San JoseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 101
5.2 mi·6 min·Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
25 mi·28 min·Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 85
13 mi·15 min·CA 85
Exit 398BToward CA 85 South: Cupertino, Santa CruzUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 11AToward CA 17: San Jose, Santa CruzUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward CA 17 South: Santa CruzUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto CA 17
21 mi·29 min·CA 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·22 sec
Exit 1BToward Watsonville, MontereyUse the right lane.
13
Continue on Cabrillo Highway
0.4 mi·54 sec·Cabrillo Highway
14
Merge onto CA 1
5.7 mi·6 min·Cabrillo Highway
Use the slight left lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward State Park Beach
16
Turn right onto State Park Drive
0.1 mi·17 sec·State Park Drive
17
Turn right onto Seacliff Drive
0.2 mi·33 sec·Seacliff Drive
18
Turn left onto Beachgate Way
268 ft·12 sec·Beachgate Way
19
At end of road, turn right onto Coates Drive
75 ft·3 sec·Coates Drive
20
Arrive at destination
Coates Drive
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 38-minute drive, a single day is definitely manageable. Consider departing early to take advantage of lighter traffic on the Bayshore Freeway, especially if you're traveling on a weekday. Since there are no designated stops in the data, you'll have the flexibility to pause when needed; however, plan for fuel stops based on your vehicle's range, given the $18 estimated fuel cost. The longest stretch without a break is over 30 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration behind the wheel. A good tip is to check real-time traffic conditions before you leave San Francisco, as freeway congestion can significantly impact your arrival time.
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 39 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.2 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 17 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39 miles or 47m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seacliff, 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 77.9 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from San Francisco, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Bayshore Freeway for about 30.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39 mi from San Francisco, CA
· 47m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.4
0
$8.18
$3.74
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.82
$3.12
EV Truck/SUV
31.2
0
$10.91
$4.99
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
San Francisco, CA
Late night
in San Francisco on Friday
Local time
3:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Clear
N 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 3:02AM MST until April 17 at 1:00PM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 2:56AM PDT until April 17 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Seacliff, CA
Late night
in Seacliff on Friday
Local time
3:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°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.
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 38m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Seacliff, CA covers 77.9 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bayshore Freeway, CA 17, CA 85. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39 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 $17.90 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.9 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 35.6 miles (CA 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between San Francisco, CA and Seacliff, CA, road signs point toward Santa Cruz, Watsonville and Monterey.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
