Radius Map of San Francisco

The map above is centered on San Francisco, United States, near Union Square, with a default 10 mi radius. Drag to move it, search for a different address, or change the radius and unit using the controls.

San Francisco sits near the northern tip of a peninsula, with the Pacific Ocean to the west, San Francisco Bay to the east, and the Golden Gate to the north. That geometry means a radius drawn from Union Square runs out over water in several directions, so the land it adds is concentrated south down the Peninsula and east across the Bay. Every measurement on this page starts from Union Square (37.788° N, 122.407° W). Distances here are straight-line from Union Square, the same way the radius map measures them.

Map of a 10-mile radius around San Francisco — Example: a radius circle on the map of San Francisco · Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Population: 873,965 (2020 Census)
Country: United States
Coordinates: 37.7879, -122.4075
Time zone: America/Los_Angeles

Population figure: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171), Table P1.

San Francisco proper sits at the tip of a peninsula, with San Francisco Bay to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, so a radius drawn from Union Square runs out over water in several directions before it covers much land.

Also known as: SF, San Fran, The City, Frisco, Fog City, The City by the Bay.

What's within each radius from Union Square

Coverage at common radii, including notable places that fall just outside the circle. Use these as a quick reference, and check exact boundaries before relying on a circle for real-estate, retail, or service-area decisions.

Place locations: USGS GNIS and GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Distances are straight-line (great-circle) from Union Square, the same way the radius map measures them.

5 miles from Union Square

A 5-mile radius from Union Square covers most central San Francisco neighborhoods: the Mission, SoMa, Castro, Haight, Sunset, Richmond, North Beach, the Marina, and down toward the southern city limit. Much of the circle still falls over the Bay and the Pacific.

About 713,000 people live inside this circle (2020 Census).

Inside the circle

✓Most central San Francisco neighborhoods (Mission, SoMa, Castro, Haight)
✓Golden Gate Park and the Sunset
✓The Marina, North Beach, and Fisherman's Wharf
✓Twin Peaks and Bernal Heights
✓The southern city limit

Just outside

✗Sausalito (~6.5 miles northwest)
✗Oakland (~7.5 miles east)
✗Berkeley (~9.4 miles northeast)

10 miles from Union Square

A 10-mile radius from Union Square reaches across the Bay to Oakland and Berkeley and north to Sausalito, while most of the land it adds lies on the inner Peninsula south of the city.

About 1,520,000 people live inside this circle (2020 Census).

Inside the circle

✓The inner Peninsula just south of the city
✓Sausalito (~6.5 miles northwest)
✓Oakland (~7.5 miles east)
✓Berkeley (~9.4 miles northeast)

15 miles from Union Square

A 15-mile radius covers the inner Bay Area: the near East Bay around Oakland and Berkeley, Sausalito and southern Marin, and the inner Peninsula heading south toward San Mateo.

About 2,280,000 people live inside this circle (2020 Census).

Inside the circle

✓The inner East Bay and inner Peninsula
✓Sausalito (~6.5 miles northwest)
✓Oakland (~7.5 miles east)
✓Berkeley (~9.4 miles northeast)

Just outside

✗San Mateo (~16 miles south)
✗Walnut Creek (~20 miles northeast)
✗Half Moon Bay (~22 miles south)

25 miles from Union Square

A 25-mile radius covers the inner and middle Bay Area, reaching San Mateo down the Peninsula, Walnut Creek in the East Bay, and Half Moon Bay on the coast.

About 3,730,000 people live inside this circle (2020 Census).

Inside the circle

✓The near East Bay
✓Sausalito (~6.5 miles northwest)
✓Oakland (~7.5 miles east)
✓Berkeley (~9.4 miles northeast)
✓San Mateo (~16 miles south)
✓Walnut Creek (~20 miles northeast)
✓Half Moon Bay (~22 miles south)

Just outside

✗Palo Alto (~28 miles southeast)
✗Livermore (~36 miles east)
✗Napa (~36 miles north)
✗San Jose (~42 miles southeast)
✗Santa Rosa (~48 miles north)

50 miles from Union Square

A 50-mile radius from Union Square reaches south to San Jose and Palo Alto, east to Livermore, and north to Napa and Santa Rosa, extending well across the wider Bay Area.

About 7,450,000 people live inside this circle (2020 Census).

Inside the circle

✓Sausalito (~6.5 miles northwest)
✓Oakland (~7.5 miles east)
✓Berkeley (~9.4 miles northeast)
✓San Mateo (~16 miles south)
✓Walnut Creek (~20 miles northeast)
✓Half Moon Bay (~22 miles south)
✓Palo Alto (~28 miles southeast)
✓Livermore (~36 miles east)
✓Napa (~36 miles north)
✓San Jose (~42 miles southeast)
✓Santa Rosa (~48 miles north)

Just outside

✗Tracy (~54 miles east)
✗Santa Cruz (~60 miles south)
✗Stockton (~62 miles east)
✗Modesto (~78 miles east)
✗Monterey (~87 miles south)

Population counts a 2020 Census block group when its population center falls inside the circle. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census Centers of Population by Block Group. See the 100-city population rings table.

A 30-minute drive from Union Square reaches about 2,780,000 people and covers about 498 sq mi (no traffic). See the drive-time reach table.

How San Francisco radius maps get used

City-specific scenarios where a radius is the right tool, and a sensible radius to start with.

Inner-SF apartment search

A 3–5 mile radius from Union Square covers the major San Francisco neighborhoods. Draw it to keep a rental search focused on the city itself rather than spilling across the Bay or down the Peninsula.

Suggested starting radius: 3–5 miles for SF-only

Bay Area commute zone

A 25-mile radius from Union Square captures the inner Bay Area but stops short of San Jose (~42 miles southeast). Because the Bay forces traffic onto a few bridges and corridors, pair the radius with the Drive Time Map so travel time, not straight-line distance, defines the commute zone.

Suggested starting radius: 25 miles for the inner Bay

Peninsula and East Bay reach

A 15-mile radius reaches Oakland (~8 miles east), Berkeley (~9 miles northeast), and the inner Peninsula. Use it to size a service area that spans the near East Bay and the city without stretching all the way to San Jose.

Suggested starting radius: 15 miles for the inner Bay Area

Bay-wide catchment

A 50-mile radius reaches San Jose (~42 miles southeast), Napa (~36 miles north), and Santa Rosa (~48 miles north), extending well across the wider Bay Area. Bay water and bridge crossings make driving time much longer than the straight-line distance, so validate the edges with the Drive Time Map.

Suggested starting radius: 50 miles plus drive-time validation

Geographic quirks of San Francisco radius mapping

Local geography and infrastructure that change how a radius behaves here. Skipping these is the most common reason a radius-based decision goes wrong.

A radius is mostly water

Union Square sits only a short distance inland from both the Bay and the Pacific, so a radius drawn from the city quickly runs out over water in several directions. Treat any population figure inside an SF radius as land-only, since much of the circle covers open water rather than ground.

Bridges, not distance, define the East Bay

Oakland is only about 8 miles east as the crow flies, but the Bay crossings funnel traffic onto a few bridges and transit lines. A 10-mile radius covers Oakland geographically, yet the actual trip depends on bridge and transit conditions far more than the straight-line distance suggests.

The land extends south and east

San Francisco sits at the tip of a peninsula, so a radius drawn from the city mainly adds land south down the Peninsula and east across the Bay, with the Pacific to the west and the Golden Gate to the north. For Peninsula-focused analyses, a north-south shape along the main corridors is often more useful than a circle.

FAQ: Radius mapping in San Francisco

How big is a 10-mile radius in San Francisco?

A 10-mile radius from Union Square reaches across the Bay to Oakland (~8 miles east) and Berkeley (~9 miles northeast), plus Sausalito (~7 miles northwest) and the inner Peninsula just south of the city. San Mateo, at about 16 miles south, falls just outside.

What's within 25 miles of San Francisco?

A 25-mile radius reaches San Mateo (~16 miles south) down the Peninsula, Walnut Creek (~20 miles northeast) in the East Bay, and Half Moon Bay (~22 miles south) on the coast. Palo Alto (~28 miles southeast), San Jose (~42 miles southeast), Napa (~36 miles north), and Santa Rosa (~48 miles north) are all just outside.

What does a 15-mile radius around San Francisco cover?

A 15-mile radius covers the near East Bay around Oakland (~8 miles east) and Berkeley (~9 miles northeast), Sausalito (~7 miles northwest), and the inner Peninsula. San Mateo (~16 miles south) and Walnut Creek (~20 miles northeast) sit just beyond the edge.

What's the difference between San Francisco proper and the Bay Area?

San Francisco proper is the city itself (873,965 people in the 2020 Census), concentrated at the tip of the peninsula. The Bay Area is the wider region around the Bay, which a radius only begins to reach once it extends out to about 50 miles to include San Jose (~42 miles southeast), Napa (~36 miles north), and Santa Rosa (~48 miles north).

How far is San Jose from San Francisco?

San Jose sits about 42 miles southeast of San Francisco (straight-line from Union Square), outside a 25-mile radius but inside a 50-mile one. Because the distance follows the Bay and busy corridors, actual travel time is considerably longer than the straight-line figure.

Why does an SF radius look smaller than a similar-sized inland city?

Because so much of any San Francisco radius falls over water. The city sits at the tip of a peninsula with the Bay to the east and the Pacific to the west, so a circle that looks large on the map may cover far less land than the same radius drawn inland. Always check population figures against land area, not the raw circle.

How many people live within 10 miles of San Francisco?

About 1,520,000 people live within 10 miles of Union Square (2020 Census). A block group counts when its 2020 population center falls inside the circle.