Driving Time from Palo Alto to South San Francisco
Driving from Palo Alto to South San Francisco is about 29 mi and takes roughly 40 min. See the fuel-cost estimate, distance and route tips.
Palo Alto and South San Francisco are about 21 mi (33 km) apart in a straight line. By road that works out to roughly 29 mi (47 km), a drive of about 40 min. A nonstop flight covers the great-circle distance in approximately 32 min.
| Straight-line distance | 21 mi / 33 km |
| Road distance (est.) | 29 mi / 47 km |
| Driving time (est.) | 40 min |
| Nonstop flight (est.) | 32 min |
| Driving fuel (est., 1-way) | $4 |
| Typical flight fare | $80–$250 |
| Geographic midpoint | 37.548, -122.275 |
How these estimates work
Straight-line distance uses the haversine formula on each city's coordinates. Road distance applies a circuity factor (~1.2–1.4×) and driving time a blended average speed. Flight time uses typical jet cruise speed plus ~30 minutes for taxi, climb and descent. Treat all figures as planning estimates.
Frequently asked questions
Palo Alto to South San Francisco is about 21 mi (33 km) in a straight line, and roughly 29 mi (47 km) by road.