Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The drive from San Francisco to Ventura is about 166 miles (268 km) via US-101 South. Both cities hug the Pacific: San Francisco in central/northern California, Ventura in the southern central coast. The route offers iconic scenery—Golden Gate, Santa Barbara coastline, and the Gaviota Pass. Allow 2.5–3 hours without traffic; more during peak times. It's a classic California road trip.