Moving from San Francisco, CA to Los Angeles, CA: Distance, Drive Time & Checklist

Moving from San Francisco, CA to Los Angeles, CA means a straight-line distance of about 338 miles (544 km) toward the southeast. By road that is typically 372 to 439 miles, which is 6 h 12 min to 7 h 59 min of non-stop driving. The move involves a move inside California and no time zone change (both places are on Pacific time). This page gives you the numbers, a fuel estimate you can adjust, and a checklist.

What are the key numbers for this move?

How far is San Francisco from Los Angeles?

The straight-line (great-circle) distance between the two places is 338 miles, calculated from their coordinates (37.756°N, 122.443°W and 34.114°N, 118.407°W). Roads rarely run straight, so the driving distance is longer. We use a range of 10 to 30 percent more than the straight line, which gives 372 to 439 miles. The real figure depends on the route you choose, the mountains or rivers in between, and where in each city you start and finish. For a precise route, check a navigation app, and read how city distances are calculated.

How long does the drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles take?

At an average moving-truck speed of 55 to 60 miles per hour, the road distance works out to 6 h 12 min to 7 h 59 min of driving. A loaded truck or a trailer is slower than a car, and fuel, meals and rest stops add time, so most people split a trip like this into 1 driving day of about eight hours each. A trip this short can usually be done in a single day, which makes a weekday move or a one-way truck rental realistic.

How much fuel will the move cost?

Fuel is the one cost this page can estimate from distance alone. The calculator below uses the road-distance range and the fuel economy and price you enter. The starting values are assumptions, not quotes, so replace them with your vehicle's real mileage and today's local price. Mover fees, truck rental rates, tolls and insurance are not included.

For comparison, a vehicle that gets 10 miles per gallon would use about 37 to 44 gallons on this route. Illustrative fuel cost at three prices:

What changes when you move from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

In our data, Los Angeles is about 3.5 times as large as San Francisco. San Francisco is an urban core at about 18,793 people per square mile, while Los Angeles is an urban core at about 8,485. The two places have a similar density profile, so daily distances may feel familiar. You will also see no time zone change (both places are on Pacific time). These figures are dataset estimates; see how to read density.

What should you put on your moving checklist?

• Book a truck, container or movers early, especially for weekend and end-of-month dates.
• Get written quotes from at least three movers and confirm whether the price is by weight, volume or hours.
• Update your address with the USPS, your bank, your employer and your insurers, and note that Los Angeles uses 196 ZIP codes, so check the exact code for your new street.
• Look up the county rules in your new county, since services such as trash pickup and school enrollment are set locally.
• Confirm utilities and internet are scheduled to start on your arrival day.
• Keep a folder of receipts, since some moving costs may matter at tax time. Ask a tax professional.

Which other routes are popular?

If you are still deciding where to go or where to start, compare these routes.

Where to go next

Distances, drive times and fuel figures are estimates for planning, not quotes. Always confirm routes and prices with your mover or navigation provider.