Cost to drive from Portland to San Francisco
Driving from Portland to San Francisco covers 634 miles (1,021 km) and takes about 12h 14min without stops. At Oregon's current fuel prices (week of 2026-08-31), the fuel for the trip costs about $106.94 in a typical petrol car — here's the full breakdown for petrol, diesel and electric.
Petrol, diesel or electric — priced for your car
Pick the kind of car you drive and whether you are coming back. Everything updates against Oregon's live prices.
Driving Portland → San Francisco in a family car, electric costs $83.78 less than diesel — 73% of the bill.
Portland vs San Francisco: which end is cheaper?
The two ends of this route are priced by different markets, so where you fill up changes what the drive costs.
What if fuel prices move?
Booking this drive for later in the year? Pump prices swing with crude, season and tax changes — here is the same 634 miles in a typical petrol car at four price levels.
Enter your fuel economy and see stops along the way.
How this cost is calculated
We take the real driving distance between Portland and San Francisco (634 miles) from OpenStreetMap routing, then multiply by a typical car's fuel use and Oregon's current average pump price. The petrol figure assumes 30 MPG · 7.8 L/100km; diesel and EV use 35 MPG · 6.7 L/100km and 3.5 mi/kWh. Your real cost depends on your car, traffic, driving style and the stations you pick — use the planner for your exact numbers, and check live prices on the Oregon fuel prices page.
Related routes
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to drive from Portland to San Francisco?
The drive is 634 miles (1,021 km) and takes about 12h 14min without stops. Fuel costs roughly $106.94 in an average petrol car, $114.59 in a diesel, and $30.81 in an electric car, using Oregon's current fuel prices.
How far is it from Portland to San Francisco in miles and km?
About 634 miles or 1,021 kilometres by road — roughly 12h 14min of driving.
Is it cheaper to fill up in Portland or San Francisco?
Petrol is cheaper in Oregon ($5.06/gal) than in California ($5.88/gal), so fill up before you leave.
How many times will I need to fill up between Portland and San Francisco?
About 1 stop. The drive uses roughly 21.1 gal of petrol, and a typical 15 gal tank goes about 450 miles — so plan to refuel roughly every 450 miles, leaving a reserve.
Is it cheaper to drive or fly from Portland to San Francisco?
On fuel alone the drive costs about $107 one way, and that cost splits across everyone in the car — with $27 each for four people, which is where driving usually wins. Against that, the drive takes 12h 14min without stops, and a fair comparison also counts tolls, parking, wear and any overnight stay.
What will this trip cost if fuel prices change?
At today's Oregon average the fuel is about $107. A 10% rise takes it to $118, a 25% rise to $134, and a 10% fall to $96. Prices here update every week from official data, so this page always reflects the current figure.
How do I get the exact cost for my car?
Set the vehicle type on this page for an instant estimate, or open the FuelWide route planner, enter your car's own fuel economy, and it prices the trip on live data — including fuel and charging stops along the way.
Driving distance via OSRM / OpenStreetMap. Fuel prices are Oregon's current official averages; efficiency and electricity rate are typical estimates. Your figure will vary — use the planner for an exact result.