Cost to drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles
Driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles covers 381 miles (613 km) and takes about 7h 6min without stops. At California's current fuel prices (week of 2026-07-20), the fuel for the trip costs about $71.04 in a typical petrol car — here's the full breakdown for petrol, diesel and electric.
| Location | Petrol/gal | Diesel/gal |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $5.59 | $6.81 |
| Los Angeles | $5.59 | $6.81 |
Enter your fuel economy and see stops along the way.
How this cost is calculated
We take the real driving distance between San Francisco and Los Angeles (381 miles) from OpenStreetMap routing, then multiply by a typical car's fuel use and California'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 California fuel prices page.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles?
The drive is 381 miles (613 km) and takes about 7h 6min without stops. Fuel costs roughly $71.04 in an average petrol car, $74.09 in a diesel, and $18.50 in an electric car, using California's current fuel prices.
How far is it from San Francisco to Los Angeles in miles and km?
About 381 miles or 613 kilometres by road — roughly 7h 6min of driving.
Is it cheaper to fill up in San Francisco or Los Angeles?
Both ends use the same regional prices on this route.
How do I get the exact cost for my car?
Open the FuelWide route planner, enter your car's fuel economy, and it prices the trip on live data — and shows fuel or charging stops along the way.
Driving distance via OSRM / OpenStreetMap. Fuel prices are California's current official averages; efficiency and electricity rate are typical estimates. Your figure will vary — use the planner for an exact result.