San Francisco to Santa Cruz: Road Trip Guide & Distance

59.3 miles 95.4 km · straight line
73.3 miles actual route 117.9 km · driving distance
1h 33min estimated drive time
$7 - $9 estimated fuel cost
~37min flight time · usually no direct flights
159° SSE bearing direction

How far is San Francisco from Santa Cruz?

The distance from San Francisco to Santa Cruz is 59.3 miles (95.4 km) as the crow flies. Santa Cruz is located SSE of San Francisco. By car, the driving distance is approximately 73.3 miles, taking about 1h 33min. A direct flight would take roughly 37min. Both are located in United States.

This is a quick and easy drive, perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway. You can easily make the round trip in a single day. Heading East means you'll be driving into the sunrise if you start early. Keep your windshield clean for the best visibility. Given the short distance, driving or taking a train is often faster and more convenient than dealing with airport security and flight boarding times.

Coordinates come from public place data for San Francisco and Santa Cruz. 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 San Francisco to Santa Cruz

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 1h 33min $7 - $9 Flexible stops
Bus ~1h 52min $6–$11* Budget

Suggested Stops Between San Francisco & Santa Cruz

Quick Facts

San Francisco
37.77°N, 122.42°W
America/Los_Angeles
16m elevation
Santa Cruz
36.97°N, 122.03°W
America/Los_Angeles
9m elevation
Explore more routes from Santa Cruz

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 20 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 5 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 420.1 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · OSRM