Boulder to San Francisco: Road Trip Guide & Distance

933.5 miles 1502.4 km · straight line
1246.3 miles actual route 2005.7 km · driving distance
21h 31min estimated drive time
$120 - $148 estimated fuel cost
~2h 23min flight time
266° W bearing direction

How far is Boulder from San Francisco?

The distance from Boulder to San Francisco is 933.5 miles (1502.4 km) as the crow flies. San Francisco is located W of Boulder. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1246.3 miles, taking about 21h 31min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 23min. Both are located in United States — Boulder in Colorado and San Francisco in California.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Boulder and San Francisco. The driving distance uses an OSRM road-route result when route data is available. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Boulder to San Francisco

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 21h 31min $120 - $148 Flexible stops
Fly ~2h 23min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~25h 49min $100–$187* Budget
Train ~27h 58min $150–$436* Comfort

Quick Facts

Boulder
40.02°N, 105.27°W
America/Denver
1655m elevation
San Francisco
37.77°N, 122.42°W
America/Los_Angeles
16m elevation
Explore more routes from San Francisco

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 311 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 78 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 26.7 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · OSRM