Origin
San Francisco, CA
Afternoon in San Francisco on Friday
Local time
3:46 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
17.3 mi
28 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Richmond, CA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from San Francisco, CA to Richmond, CA covers 17.3 miles and takes about 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 11th Street, Bryant Street, I 80 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.98 one way before food or hotel costs.
Though it was a booming industrial center during World War II, the subsequent decades were not kind to Richmond, California. After the war, deindustrialization hit hard. The shipyards closed. Desperation set in. A reputation for violent crime kept visitors away. But in the 21st century crime has gone down, and a revitalization has begun. Richmond still isn't on any tourism shortlists, but its historic sites, nature, and strategic location between the East Bay and Marin County do attract some interest to this often-overlooked part of the San Francisco Bay Area. Areas of note include the charming and historic Point Richmond neighborhood on the bay in the southwest of Richmond, as well as the World War II sites at the southern edge of the city. This article also covers Richmond's near-enclave of San Pablo.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 17.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 26m drive with frequent turns across 17.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from San Francisco, CA to Richmond, CA is easy. At 26m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Francisco, CA to Richmond, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 11th Street | — | — |
| Bryant Street | — | — |
| I 80 East | — | — |
| Route 80 | — | — |
| Dwight D | — | — |
| Nimitz Freeway | — | — |
| Eastshore Freeway | — | — |
| John T | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Richmond, CA.
Start on Market Street
Turn right onto 11th Street
Turn left onto Bryant Street
Take the ramp left toward I 80 East: Oakland
Merge slight right onto Route 80
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 East
Merge slight right onto Nimitz Freeway
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Marina Bay Parkway, South 23rd Street
Turn right onto South 23rd Street
Turn left
At the end of the road, turn right onto Macdonald Avenue
Arrive at your destination
Regular Gas
$3.98 one way
$7.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $4.10 | $8.20 |
| premium | $6.18 | $4.21 | $8.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.82 | $7.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.82 | $0.83 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.51 | $0.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.42 | $1.11 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in San Francisco on Friday
Local time
3:46 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Richmond on Friday
Local time
3:46 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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