San Francisco to Los Angeles Fuel Cost
Driving distance and fuel cost for a trip from San Francisco, CA to Los Angeles, CA: 380.6 miles (612.5 km) one way. Use the calculator below with your own vehicle and fuel price.
Calculator Parameters
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Your Calculation Results
Average Consumption (5.5 - 8.5 L/100km)- Total Fuel Needed (for this trip)
- 12.69 US gallons (48.0 liters total)
- Total Fuel Cost (for this trip)
- $19.03
- Cost breakdown per distance unit
- $0.050 per mile • $0.031 per km
Fuel economy in every unit
- L/100km
- 7.8
- MPG US
- 30.0
- MPG UK
- 36.0
- km/L
- 12.8
Cost by vehicle type
One way trip cost at $1.50 per US gallon (placeholder price), using one representative vehicle from each category in the 30 vehicle dataset tracked on this site.
| Category | Vehicle | Combined | Fuel needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | Hyundai Elantra | 34 MPG | 11.2 US gallons | $16.79 |
| Midsize Sedan | Nissan Altima | 31 MPG | 12.3 US gallons | $18.42 |
| Compact SUV | Toyota RAV4 | 30 MPG | 12.7 US gallons | $19.03 |
| Midsize SUV | Chevrolet Traverse | 23 MPG | 16.5 US gallons | $24.82 |
| Truck | Ford F-150 | 21 MPG | 18.1 US gallons | $27.19 |
| Hybrid | Honda CR-V Hybrid | 40 MPG | 9.5 US gallons | $14.27 |
| Electric | Tesla Model Y | 120 MPGe | 3.2 US gallons | $4.76 |
About this route & highway corridor
At 380.6 miles (612.5 km) and approximately 7.1 hours of continuous driving via Interstate 5 North (or scenic US-101 / Pacific Coast Highway CA-1), San Francisco to Los Angeles represents an easy single-day journey or weekend road trip. Because driving takes place predominantly at sustained highway speeds, overall fuel consumption tracks closer to your vehicle's official highway EPA rating.
Driving south on I-5, steady northwesterly winds in the Central Valley often provide slight tailwind efficiency until you reach the steep ascent up the Grapevine into Los Angeles County. This route traverses The steep Tejon Pass (The Grapevine, elevation 4,144 ft), followed by flat agricultural cruising through the San Joaquin Valley.. Toll considerations: Bay Area bridge tolls (Bay Bridge or San Mateo Bridge eastbound/northbound).
Because this journey stays within CA, state gasoline taxes remain uniform, though retail prices can vary by 20 to 40 cents per gallon between rural highway exits and congested metropolitan centers. Fuel up in Central Valley farming hubs (Bakersfield, Coalinga) to avoid elevated urban prices in both LA and SF.
Covering 381 miles, most passenger vehicles will require approximately 1 fuel stop, assuming a standard 300 to 400 mile driving range between fill-ups. Trucks towing trailers or vehicles with smaller fuel tanks may require additional stops.
Plan on roughly 1 to 2 rest or refueling stops along the San Francisco to Los Angeles drive. To maximize fuel economy, maintain steady speeds between 65 and 70 mph; aerodynamic drag causes fuel consumption to increase by roughly 10% for every 5 mph driven over 65 mph.
Distance and driving time source: OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoding and OSRM driving routing. Last updated July 24, 2026.
Gas Prices & Fuel Planning for San Francisco to Los Angeles
Fuel prices vary along this driving corridor. Check current average fuel benchmarks at both ends of your trip to plan the most economical fill-ups:
Specialized Fuel Calculators for This Trip
Reverse route
Los Angeles to San Francisco Trip CostFrequently asked questions
The standard highway driving route from San Francisco to Los Angeles covers 380.6 miles (612.5 km) and takes approximately 7.1 hours in typical traffic conditions, traveling primarily via Interstate 5 North (or scenic US-101 / Pacific Coast Highway CA-1).
Divide the trip distance of 380.6 miles by your car's combined MPG rating to find the gallons of fuel required, then multiply by the average pump price along your route. For example, a 30 MPG vehicle will burn roughly 12.7 gallons of fuel.
Bay Area bridge tolls (Bay Bridge or San Mateo Bridge eastbound/northbound). Terrain notes: The steep Tejon Pass (The Grapevine, elevation 4,144 ft), followed by flat agricultural cruising through the San Joaquin Valley..
Fuel up in Central Valley farming hubs (Bakersfield, Coalinga) to avoid elevated urban prices in both LA and SF.
Covering 381 miles, most passenger vehicles will require approximately 1 fuel stop, assuming a standard 300 to 400 mile driving range between fill-ups. Trucks towing trailers or vehicles with smaller fuel tanks may require additional stops.
The physical road distance is identical in both directions. However, fuel costs may vary depending on where you purchase gas, as state fuel tax rates and prevailing winds (such as headwinds when driving west) can slightly influence consumption and spending.