My daughter and I will be arriving in san francisco intl airport july 5th at 5:20 pm. We are planning to divide our time between sf and pacific grove. If we rented a car and drove to pacific grove, would we make it by dark? If we left monday morning instead, what would traffic be like going down hwy 1?

Thank You

Once you get the car, and get on the road, it will take you about 2 hours to get to PG. You'll make it by dark, because that won't happen until 8;30/9pm.... From SFO, Take #280 South to the #80 and then #101 to the Monterey turn off...possibly the #152?? It will say the Monterey penninsula...near Prunedale, before Salinas. That will take you to the #1 to PG. Since its a Saturday, you could take #101 all the way from SFO, but the way I've suggested is more beautiful and faster.

152 does not go to Pacific Grove. Kleroux, do you mean 156?. Traffic is horrendous. Also, I'm not sure what kleroux means by 280 to 80 to 101. The scenic route would be 101 to 880 to 17 to 1, or 101 to 92 to 280 to 85 to 17 to 1.

I believe Kleroux meant 280 to 85 to 101 and then 156 to 1. You will get very differing opinions on which route to take with many recommending some route which includes 17. I prefer the one above and find it very quick. I can usually make it to Carmel on this route from SF, which is further than SFO in a little over 2 hours. The easiest i.e. easiest in terms of directions from SFO is 101 to 156 to 1 after rush hour. FYI I have only found traffic on 156 to be slow going into the Monterey Pennisula on a Friday evening and coming back on a Sunday.

I know #17 is lovely but she wanted to be in Pacific Grove by dark, and I didn't think she'd have time to take the #17 scenic route. Sorry about my confusion on the highway numbers. My sister lives in PG and I was trying to remember which roads I take to get to her.

Okay, I'm confused. Does 101 run down the coastline? We really prefer to see strawberry fields, etc. more of what we won't encounter in sf and pacific grove.

thanks

Hwy 101 doesn't run down the coastline in that section. You could cut over to Hwy 1, though that will add over an hour I think. One option that gives you a little more coast and more variety of scenery is to do 280 to 85 to 17 to Hwy 1. Or just 101 to 85 to 17 to 1. That will take more time as well (traffic depending at least a 1/2 hour more).