Memphis to San Francisco: Road Trip Guide & Distance

1798.9 miles 2895.1 km · straight line
2092.5 miles actual route 3367.6 km · driving distance
36h 24min estimated drive time
$201 - $248 estimated fuel cost
~4h 7min flight time
285° WNW bearing direction

How far is Memphis from San Francisco?

The distance from Memphis to San Francisco is 1798.9 miles (2895.1 km) as the crow flies. San Francisco is located WNW of Memphis. By car, the driving distance is approximately 2092.5 miles, taking about 36h 24min. A direct flight would take roughly 4h 7min. Both are located in United States — Memphis in Tennessee 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 Memphis 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 Memphis to San Francisco

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 36h 24min $201 - $248 Flexible stops
Fly ~4h 7min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~43h 41min $167–$314* Budget
Train ~47h 19min $251–$732* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Memphis & San Francisco

Quick Facts

Memphis
35.15°N, 90.05°W
America/Chicago
102m 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 600 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 150 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 13.8 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · OSRM