Sea distance from San Francisco to Los Angeles
The sea route from San Francisco (United States) to Los Angeles (United States) is about 350 nautical miles, which is 648 km or 403 statute miles. That is about 16% longer than the direct great-circle line, because the practical route follows coastlines and shipping lanes.
Voyage time by boat speed
Time underway is distance divided by speed. These are continuous-passage figures with no stops or weather margin.
| Boat and speed | Time underway |
|---|---|
| Sailboat, conservative (5 kn) | 2d 22h |
| Sailboat, average (6 kn) | 2d 10h |
| Displacement trawler (8 kn) | 1d 20h |
| Fast trawler (10 kn) | 1d 11h |
| Planing motor yacht (15 kn) | 23h |
| Fast motor yacht (20 kn) | 18h |
Planning estimate, not navigation
This distance is computed over the open Eurostat shipping-lane network. It is a realistic passage length for planning, but your sailed distance will differ with weather routing, currents, draft, and the exact berths you leave from and arrive at. Always verify against official charts.
Plan this passage properly
Open San Francisco to Los Angeles in the Marine OS route planner: it suggests the sea route, then you drag waypoints, set your speed and fuel burn, and check weather and tides along the way.
Open this route in the plannerFrequently asked questions
How far is Los Angeles from San Francisco by sea?
About 350 nautical miles (648 km / 403 statute miles) along the practical sea route. The straight-line distance is shorter, but boats follow coastlines, channels, and traffic lanes.
How long does it take to sail from San Francisco to Los Angeles?
At a typical sailing average of 6 knots it is about 2d 10h underway. A 10-knot trawler needs about 1d 11h, and a 20-knot motor yacht about 18h. Add margin for weather, currents, and stops.
How is this distance calculated?
It is computed over the open Eurostat global shipping-lane network, the same kind of network freight routing tools use. It is a realistic planning estimate, not a navigation product: your sailed distance will vary with weather routing, draft, and the exact harbors you use.
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