Half Moon Bay to Petaluma via Golden Gate Bridge

[zulutron]

In a few weeks we'll be leaving Pelican Point RV Park in Half Moon Bay and traveling to a KOA in Petaluma.

I'd like to take Hwy 1 & 101, but looks like a lot of traffic going through San Fran.

Has anyone taken this route?

 

[8Muddypaws]

I have. Multiple times towing a trailer, never with a motorhome.

There is a lot of traffic in SF. It’s scary going through the approach to the Golden Gate Bridge, get in the middle lane if you can. Better yet go around SF. There are dozens of other (less stressful) ways.

 

[DonTom]

Has anyone taken this route?

Only a few thousand times. I used to live in that area.

I will assume here that nothing much has changed in the last ten years. I have stayed out of that area for that long.

Don't even think about taking 101 from the south of SF during the daytime. The traffic can look fast until it gets to "hospital curve" which you cannot see until it is too late. But the traffic is stopped there every day and then there are no exits.

Take Hwy 35 up to the Great Hwy and then to the end where it tuns right just past the Clift House. On the left side is the ocean. Then Point Lobos Drive will quickly become Geary Street. Up there, 13th Ave is Highway One which will take you all the way to the GGB.

Farter south Hwy One is 19th AVE, it changes to 13th Ave north of Golden Gate Park.

The Great Hwy can be closed because of "blowing sand" Happens fairly often. Almost 50-50 odds. Then you have no choice than to take 19th Ave all the way with a red lights every few blocks, with extra traffic because of the Great Hwy being closed. Still a lot better than Hwy 101.

It is easy to get to 19th Ave from the Great Hwy if it is closed. Just turn tight and go to 19th Ave which is Hwy One which will take you all the way to the GG Bridge. Some people will pass 19th and take 18th, 17th or 16th. Often less traffic but smaller streets, but all those roads also go north up to GG Park at Lincoln Way where you then turn left.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Lou Schneider]

Only a few thousand times. I used to live in that area.

I will assume here that nothing much has changed in the last ten years. I have stayed out of that area for that long.
...

Last year San Francisco permanently closed the Great Highway between Sloat Blvd and Lincoln Way so you can't take the route Don recommended. It's now Sunset Dunes Park.

You can take Hwy 1 north from Half Moon Bay, it will join I-280 north of Pacifica (Colma). Move to the left after you get on 280 as the left 3 lanes will exit left about a mile later to continue north on 19th Ave. Signals are timed and it's 3 lanes each way. Stay in the middle lane and go with the traffic flow. Avoid the right lane because of stopping Muni buses and other obstructions.

Don't take Hwy 101 through downtown San Francisco - it's very congested with short blocks and a signal at every cross street.

The northbound Golden Gate Bridge is toll free. Stay on 101 all the way to Petaluma.

Best time to avoid rush hour traffic is to start out around 10 AM. You want to be in Petaluma before 3 PM.

 

[DonTom]

Last year San Francisco permanently closed the Great Highway between Sloat Blvd and Lincoln Way so you can't take the route Don recommended. It's now Sunset Dunes Park.

Leave it to SF to do something so stupid--or was there a good reason to do such (which I doubt, knowing SF well)?

I am glad to be out of that area! I was born in SF and I lived just south of there for most of my life--all in San Mateo County. I worked in SF, but I never lived in SF. When I was born in SF, my parents lived in Daly City (San Mateo County).

BTW, is there a good reason to not take Sunset Blvd north these days? It goes the same way as the Great Hwy.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[zulutron]

How about 92 to 880 and 580?

 

[DonTom]

How about 92 to 880 and 580?

East Bay traffic can be even worse and for more miles. I wouldn't chance going that way.

Just north of the Bay Bridge on Hwy 101 is often going at the speed limits, if not faster, beats the traffic in the Oakland and Berkley areas by a lot compared to the east side of the bay when an equal distance north.

At least that was the case when I lived in SSF, but that was ten years ago.

But on the west side you will have to go up the some what steep Waldo Grade. 4% incline that ascends over 400 feet just north of the GG Bridge.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Lou Schneider]

How about 92 to 880 and 580?

That's the long way around with much heavier traffic. Especially truck traffic - they're prohibited from using 580 through Oakland so everything coming in from I-5 has to use 880.

Waldo Grade north of the Golden Gate Bridge isn't bad - and you get to go under the rainbow at the entrance to the Robin Williams Tunnel at the summit.

 

[zulutron]

You can take Hwy 1 north from Half Moon Bay, it will join I-280 north of Pacifica (Colma).

Sounds like a plan. Tx!

 

[garyb1st]

Just do the 101 early in the morning. You'll be fine. Done it with a travel trailer and motorhome.