San Francisco to Washington DC: Road Trip Guide & Distance
How far is San Francisco from Washington DC?
The distance from San Francisco to Washington DC is 2434.8 miles (3918.5 km) as the crow flies. Washington DC is located ENE of San Francisco. By car, the driving distance is approximately 2817 miles, taking about 49h 37min. A direct flight would take roughly 5h 24min. Both are located in United States — San Francisco in California and Washington DC in District of Columbia.
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 Washington DC. 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 Washington DC
Suggested Stops Between San Francisco & Washington DC
- 12163 mi
Quick Facts
Did You Know?
- At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 812 hours of non-stop walking
- By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 203 hours
- You could travel this distance about 10.2 times to circle the Earth's equator