Origin
Scotts Valley, CA
Morning in Scotts Valley on Thursday
Local time
9:43 AM
PDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scotts Valley, CA to San Francisco, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
70.2 mi
113 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scotts Valley, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Scotts Valley, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 70.2 miles and takes about 1h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Granite Creek Road, Santa Cruz Highway, CA 85 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.13 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 70.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m 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.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 13m drive with frequent turns across 70.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Granite Creek Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Scotts Valley, CA to San Francisco, CA is easy. At 1h 13m 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 Scotts Valley, CA to San Francisco, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Granite Creek Road | — | — |
| Santa Cruz Highway | — | — |
| CA 85 North | — | — |
| CA 85 | — | — |
| West Valley Freeway | — | — |
| US 101 North | — | — |
| Bayshore Freeway | — | — |
| James Lick Freeway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Granite Creek Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scotts Valley, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Scotts Valley Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Scotts Valley Drive
2
Turn right onto Granite Creek Road
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Granite Creek Road
3
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
4
Merge slight left onto Santa Cruz Highway
16 mi
·
22 min
·
Santa Cruz Highway
5
Take the exit slight right toward CA 85 North, CA 85 South: Mountain View, Gilroy
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
CA 85 North, CA 85 South: Mountain View, Gilroy
6
Keep slight left to continue on CA 85 North: Mountain View
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
CA 85 North: Mountain View
7
Keep slight right to continue on CA 85 North: Mountain View
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
CA 85 North: Mountain View
8
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
9
Keep slight left to continue on CA 85: Mountain View
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
CA 85: Mountain View
10
Merge slight left onto West Valley Freeway
13 mi
·
14 min
·
West Valley Freeway
11
Continue on US 101 North: San Francisco
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
US 101 North: San Francisco
12
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
30 mi
·
34 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
13
Continue on James Lick Freeway
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
James Lick Freeway
14
Continue on Central Freeway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Freeway
15
Continue on Octavia Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Octavia Boulevard
16
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Market Street
17
Keep slight right to continue on Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Market Street
18
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.1 mi from Scotts Valley, CA · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.1 miles from Scotts Valley, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.13 one way
$32.27 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $16.63 | $33.25 |
| premium | $6.18 | $17.07 | $34.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.50 | $31.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$16
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.37 | $3.37 |
| Efficient EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.14 | $2.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.83 | $4.49 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Morning in San Francisco on Thursday
Local time
9:43 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
18 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 13m 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 Scotts Valley, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 70.2 miles and takes about 1h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Granite Creek Road, Santa Cruz Highway, CA 85 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.1 miles from Scotts Valley, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.13 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 drive from Scotts Valley, CA to San Francisco, CA is easy. At 1h 13m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Scotts Valley, CA to San Francisco, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Scotts Valley, CA to San Francisco, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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