San Francisco to Vail: Road Trip Guide & Distance

873.5 miles 1405.7 km · straight line
1163.5 miles actual route 1872.5 km · driving distance
20h 26min estimated drive time
$112 - $138 estimated fuel cost
~2h 15min flight time
77° ENE bearing direction

How far is San Francisco from Vail?

The distance from San Francisco to Vail is 873.5 miles (1405.7 km) as the crow flies. Vail is located ENE of San Francisco. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1163.5 miles, taking about 20h 26min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 15min. Both are located in United States — San Francisco in California and Vail in Colorado.

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. Heading East means you'll be driving into the sunrise if you start early. Keep your windshield clean for the best visibility. 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 San Francisco and Vail. 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 Vail

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 20h 26min $112 - $138 Flexible stops
Fly ~2h 15min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~24h 31min $93–$175* Budget
Train ~26h 34min $140–$407* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between San Francisco & Vail

Quick Facts

San Francisco
37.77°N, 122.42°W
America/Los_Angeles
16m elevation
Vail
39.64°N, 106.37°W
America/Denver
2500m elevation
Explore more routes from Vail

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 291 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 73 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 28.5 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · OSRM