Best way to get past San Francisco

[KenandCarol]

I'm headed up from California Central Coast to Oregon on the 101 this spring. What is the best way to drive through or bypass San Francisco in a Motorhome?

We will be staying overnight in Gilroy and the next stop is the NW side of Clear Lake in Nice, CA then on up the 101 into Oregon.

[rockfordroo]

Well, I wouldn't want to drive through SF in a motorhome. Only way is across the Golden Gate Bridge. Better to go around, I'd say.

Mapquest says either
a) I-680 to I-80 through Concord to I-505 to Route 16 (3 hrs, 51 min) or
b) I-880 to Oakland, I-80 to Richmond, I-580 to San Rafael and back onto Rt 101 (3 hrs, 52 min).

It's been 40 yrs since I lived there, but I'd take the Concord route; I doubt either way has gotten any better.

[High Desert]

If you are staying in Gilroy, the only other option north for you is I5, over Pachecho Pass headed towards Los Banos. Depending on where you are headed in Oregon, and time of the year (weather wise) there are several options. I5 north to Weed, then to US 97 to Klamath Falls, North to Bend. I5 North to Ashland, Medford, then up towards the Willamette Valley and ultimately, Portland. Driving or dragging an RV through SF to 19th ave to the GG is never a good time, especially iff you hit traffic. Did that a lot when I lived in Gilroy and wanted to go north to the wine country. Now, I live in Central Oregon and never have to worry about that again

[KenandCarol]

I need to get back to the 101 as quickly as possible since I want to explore the redwoods along there and the "Avenue of the Giants". We will eventually cut over to my sons house in Albany by cutting over from Newport, OR. We want to visit as many of the lighthouses as we can along the Oregon coast. Just trying to get around the SF Metro area.

That Concord route and up the 505 and across the 16 might work since we are going to Clear Lake anyways. Plus we can go through Fairfield and my wife wants to visit the Jelly Belly factory there sometime.

How is 16/20 from the 505 to 101?

[formerFR]

WHY do you want to bypass it? Motorhomes of all lengths and sizes do it everyday... a street is a street.

in 2014 we came down thru San Rafael, over the 580 to Oakland, over the 80 into San Fran, thru downtown, up the 101 to and over the Golden Gate, and into one of my favorite 'song towns' of Sausalito(DIESEL: "Sausalito Summer Nights")! We turned around after driving thru town and headed back over the Golden Gate, again!, down to 1 to 280 and Capertino and Mountainview, eventually taking the 1 from Santa Cruz by Pebble Beach, thru Big Sur, along the extraordinary BEACH CLIFFS, past the Hearst Castle, and several nights at the beautiful RV resort in Paso Robles! We eventually also took more of the 1 down to a 'on the beach' overnight below Santa Barbara.... what a few days it was!


enjoy : )

[todtc318]

16 to 20 is a nice ride...on a motorcycle. It's doable in a MH but the roads get narrow and twisty...that's why it's a favorite for motorcyclists.

[bikendan]

101 to 680 Concord.
Then 780 at Benecia to Vallejo to the 37W to 101N

[KenandCarol]

Originally Posted by formerFR

WHY do you want to bypass it? Motorhomes of all lengths and sizes do it everyday... a street is a street.

No reason except to avoid traffic and narrow lanes. I mighty just take the 101 over the GG bridge if that makes sense.

We just got our 1st motor home and are busily exploring out local spots. Morro Bay is 50 miles from home and Paso Robles is an easy 90 minute drive. San Simeon State Park just below Hearst Castle looks great for a future outing too.

[KenandCarol]

Originally Posted by todtc318

16 to 20 is a nice ride...on a motorcycle. It's doable in a MH but the roads get narrow and twisty...that's why it's a favorite for motorcyclists.

Thanks for the information. I think I'll cross the 16/20 off my possible routes!

[KenandCarol]

Originally Posted by bikendan

101 to 680 Concord.
Then 780 at Benecia to Vallejo to the 37W to 101N

Thanks...that looks pretty direct and by the map the 37W doesn't look windy. Do you consider that a pretty easy drive? We have all day for a 4 hour trip!

Something I just noticed...windy as in breezy and windy as in curvy road are both spelled the same! I'm talking about curvy!! But I don't like wind either!!

[Dp26]

To make wife happy, it would be 101 to 680. 680 to 80E, to Jelly Belly. 80W to 12W to 116 to 101. JB has JB shaped burgers... If you like the beans, check out the belly flops.

101 in SF and GG bridge are not a problem for a MH. Outside lanes on GG bridge are plenty wide. Through SF can be a bit narrow, but doable. GG toll, and all bridges in the area, are a nasty bite if you are towing.

[KenandCarol]

Another related question. What would be a good time of day to miss the most traffic. Let's say what time to hit San Jose (which is only 40 miles to by overnight in Gilroy) to avoid or beat the rush hour traffic in the SF metro area?

I only have a 4 hour drive so I should be pretty flexible on my timing.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by KenandCarol

Thanks...that looks pretty direct and by the map the 37W doesn't look windy. Do you consider that a pretty easy drive? We have all day for a 4 hour trip!

Something I just noticed...windy as in breezy and windy as in curvy road are both spelled the same! I'm talking about curvy!! But I don't like wind either!!

Not curvy and relatively flat.
All freeway except 37.
Rarely gets windy.

Lived in Napa and Sonoma Valleys for 22 years.

[Dp26]

If you choose 37, check the Sears Point Raceway calendar, as it can be a real mess if a decent size event is on. 37 is one lane each way for those coming or going to the East, and only 2 lanes each way towards the west...

[KenandCarol]

Originally Posted by Dp26

To make wife happy, it would be 101 to 680. 680 to 80E, to Jelly Belly. 80W to 12W to 116 to 101. .

Thanks. I'll take a look at that and see how happy she will be with or without the JB tour!

[High Desert]

Another option, if you want to go up I5 north, is go to Grants Pass, Or., and cut over to Smith River, Ca., just below the Oregon border. From there, you can go up the coast, past several nice state parks, seeing lighthouses, etc, and then cut over to Albany.

[Dp26]

Originally Posted by KenandCarol

Thanks. I'll take a look at that and see how happy she will be with or without the JB tour!

On 12W, between Cordelia/Fairfield and Napa, is a winery, with parking, you can take a quick tour or tasting...

[KenandCarol]

Originally Posted by High Desert

Another option, if you want to go up I5 north, is go to Grants Pass, Or., and cut over to Smith River, Ca., just below the Oregon border. From there, you can go up the coast, past several nice state parks, seeing lighthouses, etc, and then cut over to Albany.

Thanks, I'm going to explore the Redwood Forests in Calif (Avenue of the Giants) on the way up so I want to cut over to the 101 lower down. I am coming back I-5 south to below SF on the way home.

[gectisme]

We just did a similar trip from Gilroy to Cloverdale back in December. We are from Benicia, I have driven in just a car from that area to Benicia/Vallejo hundreds of times or more. I was going to go 101 to 680 to 780 to 37 to 101 but Google and our Garmin routed us on 101 to 880 to 580 to 101 with a significant amount of time saving, so we decided to try it. Both Google and our Garmin take traffic into account. It was an easy drive, we only hit a little traffic in Hayward, but no real slow down since we were doing 55 mph pulling the trailer anyway, some traffic in Oakland, slow down to ~20-30mph for about 3-4 miles and then back to normal speeds. You will cross the San Rafael Bridge which has a toll in that direction, but you will cross a bridge or 2, and pay a toll, no matter which way you go. We left the area around Hollister on a Monday at 8:30am, probably got onto 101 around 9:15am at Gilroy and never hit any real slow down traffic on 101 to San Jose which really surprised me.

Having driven 19th Ave in the City many many times also, there is no way I would drive or pull an RV that way across the GG. I know buses do it all the time but I just don't want to deal with the stress, there is always heavy traffic on 19th Ave and the lanes are close together...

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by KenandCarol

Thanks. I'll take a look at that and see how happy she will be with or without the JB tour!

You can do the Budweiser tour, while she's at JB.
They're right next to each other.
Free tastings at the Budweiser plant.