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San Francisco air right now

ModerateAQI 53

San Francisco’s five-day smoke forecast shows the current index and the clearest time ahead.

53
AQI now
10
PM2.5 · µg/m³
4 cleaner spots within 3 hr drive

Where are you?

Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

Stockton looks like the better move.80% cleaner air with a verified 1 h 40 min road trip. Rankings balance cleaner air with trip ease.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
San Francisco Local readings Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Stockton
Cel-shaded illustration of Stockton
AQI 11
#1Stockton~1 h 40 min drive

California· Good

A major California city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

80% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 2 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

80% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Stockton - University Park monitor.

Directions
Modesto
Cel-shaded illustration of Modesto
AQI 13
#2Modesto~1 h 50 min drive

California· Good

A major California city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

76% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 2.4 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2.4/22 × 7 = 0.8 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

76% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Modesto - 14th Street monitor.

Directions
St. Helena
Cel-shaded illustration of St. Helena
AQI 17
#3St. HelenaChecking road route

California· Good

Central Napa Valley wine town beneath Mount St. Helena, with a walkable Main Street of inns.

70% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

70% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 4:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Sebastopol monitor.

Directions
Occidental
Cel-shaded illustration of Occidental
AQI 17
#4OccidentalChecking road route

California· Good

Small redwood-forest village in the Sonoma hills, cooler than the valley floor with inns and B&Bs.

70% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

70% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 4:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Sebastopol monitor.

Directions
Calistoga
Cel-shaded illustration of Calistoga
AQI 17
#5CalistogaChecking road route

California· Good

Napa Valley spa town at the valley's north end, ringed by hills with a deep base of inns and resorts.

70% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

70% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 4:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Sebastopol monitor.

Directions
Guerneville
Cel-shaded illustration of Guerneville
AQI 17
#6GuernevilleChecking road route

California· Good

Redwood-canopy Russian River resort town, cooled by coastal fog pulled inland, with cabins and inns.

70% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

70% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 4:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Sebastopol monitor.

Directions
Healdsburg
Cel-shaded illustration of Healdsburg
AQI 17
#7HealdsburgChecking road route

California· Good

Russian River wine town north of Santa Rosa, with a walkable plaza and a deep base of inns.

70% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

70% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 4:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Sebastopol monitor.

Directions
Bodega Bay
Cel-shaded illustration of Bodega Bay
AQI 17
#8Bodega Bay~1 h 35 min drive

California· Good

Fishing village on an open Sonoma Coast bay, exposed to constant Pacific wind north of San Francisco, with harbourside lodges.

70% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

70% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 4:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Sebastopol monitor.

Directions
Sacramento
Cel-shaded illustration of Sacramento
AQI 23
#9Sacramento~1 h 45 min drive

California· Good

A major California city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

59% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.1 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

59% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Downtown Sacramento - T Street monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Stinson Beach
Cel-shaded illustration of Stinson Beach
AQI 44
#10Stinson BeachChecking road route

California· Good

Marin County beach town below Mount Tamalpais, swept by onshore ocean wind, with cottages.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 8 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 8/22 × 7 = 2.5 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
20% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the San Rafael monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Bolinas
Cel-shaded illustration of Bolinas
AQI 44
#11BolinasChecking road route

California· Good

Secluded lagoon-side village on the Marin coast, cooled by constant onshore Pacific air.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 8 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 8/22 × 7 = 2.5 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
20% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the San Rafael monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Point Reyes Station
Cel-shaded illustration of Point Reyes Station
AQI 44
#12Point Reyes StationChecking road route

California· Good

Gateway village to Point Reyes National Seashore, wrapped in Pacific fog and marine air.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 8 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 8/22 × 7 = 2.5 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
20% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the San Rafael monitor.

Directions
Sutter Creek
Cel-shaded illustration of Sutter Creek
AQI 6
#13Sutter CreekChecking road route

California· Good

Small Gold Country town on Highway 49, a walkable historic Main Street above the valley haze.

90% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

90% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the San Andreas monitor.

Directions
Jackson
Cel-shaded illustration of Jackson
AQI 6
#14JacksonChecking road route

California· Good

Amador County Gold Rush town in the Sierra foothills, above the valley haze with historic inns.

90% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

90% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the San Andreas monitor.

Directions
Murphys
Cel-shaded illustration of Murphys
AQI 6
#15MurphysChecking road route

California· Good

Calaveras County Gold Rush village with a wine-tasting Main Street, above the Central Valley haze.

90% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

90% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the San Andreas monitor.

Directions
Sonora
Cel-shaded illustration of Sonora
AQI 6
#16SonoraChecking road route

California· Good

Gold Rush county seat in the Sierra foothills, set higher than the Central Valley with a historic Main Street.

90% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

90% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the San Andreas monitor.

Directions
Placerville
Cel-shaded illustration of Placerville
AQI 11
#17PlacervilleChecking road route

California· Good

Gold Country town on Highway 50 toward Tahoe, at higher elevation than the Sacramento Valley below.

80% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 2 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

80% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Folsom monitor.

Directions
Willits
Cel-shaded illustration of Willits
AQI 4
#18WillitsChecking road route

California· Good

Mendocino County valley town on Highway 101, higher and cooler than the coast with motels.

93% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 0.7 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 0.7/22 × 7 = 0.2 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

9.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

93% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Willits Blosser Lane monitor.

Directions
Mendocino
Cel-shaded illustration of Mendocino
AQI 4
#19Mendocino~3 h 35 min drive

California· Good

Clifftop village on the wild Mendocino Coast, wrapped in cool onshore ocean air, with historic inns and B&Bs.

93% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 0.7 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 0.7/22 × 7 = 0.2 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

9.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

93% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Willits Blosser Lane monitor.

Directions
Fort Bragg
Cel-shaded illustration of Fort Bragg
AQI 4
#20Fort Bragg~3 h 45 min drive

California· Good

Working coastal town on the Mendocino shoreline, swept by open Pacific wind, with motels and rentals just off the water.

93% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 0.7 µg/m³ here vs 10 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 0.7/22 × 7 = 0.2 here; 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

9.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than San Francisco right now

93% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Willits Blosser Lane monitor.

Directions
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT · 49 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

Browse all 200 cities by province & state →

More air-quality pages in California →
Anaheim air qualityBakersfield air qualityChico air qualityFresno air qualityLos Angeles air qualityModesto air qualityRedding air qualityRiverside air qualitySacramento air qualitySan Bernardino air qualitySan Diego air qualitySan Jose air qualityStockton air quality
Air quality in nearby cities →
Reno air qualityMedford air qualityLas Vegas air qualityHenderson air qualityEugene air qualityBend air qualitySalem air qualityBoise air qualityPortland air qualityYuma air qualitySalt Lake City air qualityProvo air quality

What this means · San Francisco

Moderate

AQI 53

AQI = Air Quality Index

Typical person. Most people can stay active outside.

Kids, seniors, heart or lung conditions. Unusually sensitive people should consider shorter or easier outdoor effort.

The AQI on this page follows fine particles (PM2.5). Particles here are 10 µg/m³ (Elevated), so the headline and the particle scale below tell the same story.

Act two · Fine particles only

Where PM2.5 lands

This bar is smoke and fine particles (PM2.5) only. Left is cleaner air; right is heavier particle pollution. Today's particles sit in Elevated.

10 µg/m³
Clean · 0Smoky · 40Severe · 80+

Act three · Particle ladder

What each PM2.5 rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · Felt number

Cigarettes a week

A secondary feel for the particle load only — not a medical claim, and not a substitute for AQI.

3.2/wk

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 10 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →