Kansas City to San Francisco: Road Trip Guide & Distance

1503.7 miles 2419.9 km · straight line
1810.8 miles actual route 2914.2 km · driving distance
30h 57min estimated drive time
$174 - $214 estimated fuel cost
~3h 31min flight time
275° W bearing direction

How far is Kansas City from San Francisco?

The distance from Kansas City to San Francisco is 1503.7 miles (2419.9 km) as the crow flies. San Francisco is located W of Kansas City. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1810.8 miles, taking about 30h 57min. A direct flight would take roughly 3h 31min. Both are located in United States — Kansas City in Missouri 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 Kansas City 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 Kansas City to San Francisco

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 30h 57min $174 - $214 Flexible stops
Fly ~3h 31min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~37h 8min $145–$272* Budget
Train ~40h 14min $217–$634* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Kansas City & San Francisco

Quick Facts

Kansas City
39.10°N, 94.58°W
America/Chicago
277m 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 501 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 125 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 16.6 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · OSRM