Los Angeles to San Francisco: Exactly 559 km (347 mi)

Los Angeles, United States → San Francisco, United States

559
Kilometers
347
Miles
~1h 12min
Flight time (est.)
~727 km
Rough road-length estimate

302 nautical miles · Direction: northwest

Quick Answer

The straight-line distance from Los Angeles to San Francisco is 559 km (347 miles). San Francisco lies roughly northwest of Los Angeles; the initial great-circle bearing is 319° (NW). It is a domestic route within United States.

Coordinates & Bearing

Los Angeles (West Coast, United States) sits at 34.0522°N, 118.2437°W; San Francisco (West Coast, United States) is at 37.7749°N, 122.4194°W. The initial great-circle bearing is 319° (NW); on a great circle the heading changes along the way.

Travel Options: Los Angeles to San Francisco

ModeFigureBasis
✈️ Flight ~1h 12min Estimate: 800 km/h + 30 min taxi. Not a schedule; total trip time is longer.
🚗 Road ~727 km · ~9h 5min Rough estimate: straight line × 1.3 at 80 km/h. Not live routing.
🚆 Rail No timetable data Same landmass, so rail may exist — check an operator.

Rough road-length estimate for Los Angeles to San Francisco: about 727 km. This is an estimate, not a routed drive — the actual road distance depends on the road network, crossings and the route chosen.

Halfway Point

The geographic halfway point of the great-circle path between Los Angeles and San Francisco lies at approximately 35.9316°N, 120.2824°W — the position that is an equal 280 km from each city along that path. It is a geometric midpoint, not a halfway point by road.

Time Zone Difference

Los Angeles and San Francisco both use the America/Los_Angeles time zone, so there is no normal clock difference between them.

Travel Insight: Los Angeles to San Francisco

California's most driven route. Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) adds 200 km but offers dramatic clifftop views. The inland I-5 is faster but less scenic.

Other Routes from Los Angeles

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Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Los Angeles from San Francisco?

The straight-line distance from Los Angeles to San Francisco is approximately 559 km (347 miles, 302 nautical miles).

What direction is San Francisco from Los Angeles?

San Francisco lies roughly northwest of Los Angeles; the initial great-circle bearing is 319° (NW).

How long does it take to fly from Los Angeles to San Francisco?

Estimated flight time is about 1h 12min (great-circle distance at 800 km/h plus 30 min for taxi, take-off and landing). It is not an airline schedule; total airport-to-airport trip time is longer.

Can you drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco?

Rough road-length estimate for Los Angeles to San Francisco: about 727 km. This is an estimate, not a routed drive — the actual road distance depends on the road network, crossings and the route chosen.

Is there a time difference between Los Angeles and San Francisco?

Los Angeles and San Francisco both use the America/Los_Angeles time zone, so there is no normal clock difference between them.

Straight-line distance uses the great-circle (Haversine) method. Flight and road figures, where shown, are estimates rather than schedules or live routing. How SnapDistance calculates distances

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