Hi all-

I'm trying to figure out which way is best to get to Lassen NP on a Friday late afternoon/early evening (leaving Woodside around 4:30 or 5pm). One way I've looked up has me going north on 280 and across the bridge in San Francisco, the other has me going south on 280 back towards San Jose and around the bay. I'm just wondering which way would have the least amount of traffic/would be the shortest drive. I'm new to the area and unfamiliar with the traffic volume at certain times of the day in different directions. Thanks!

Having lived or traveled to the mid-Peninsula most of my life I think you'll find it a nightmare any way you go on Friday at that time. I wouldn't do it, period.

Here are the problems. 280 north won't be too bad, relatively speaking, until you get to the City and continue north toward Marin. Avoid 80/Bay Bridge/East Bay north at all costs, I think the worst of all. Going across the San Mateo Bridge and east through Livermore to I-5 is a bottleneck too. All ways you're contending with commuters and those leaving for the weekend.

There is no best way that you can predict. If you can wait at least a couple of hours or leave by, say, 2:00, 280/80/Bay Bridge/80 toward Sacramento, then (505) I-5 north is the shortest. But also the main getaway route from the Bay Area so earlier is better than later, when it can be bumper-to-bumber into the evening.

I'll be interested to see what others say. This may be one of those unanswerables if timing flexibility isn't a component.

I agree with MmePerdu

As do I.

On a Friday afternoon there is no best, only which horrible option you want to try. And Friday afternoon snarls are starting earlier and earlier. Sometimes at noon I-80 through Fairfield/Vacaville is already bumper to bumper.

Go up early Saturday morning and save your sanity.

Yeah, this route on a Friday is going to be tough no matter how you slice it. We live in San Jose and go up to Lassen regularly - we try to leave SJ by 3 at the latest - and our route isn't as challenging as yours coming from Woodside.

We find that the biggest bottleneck for us on this route is always I-80. So, if you have to make the drive this time of day, I'd take the San Mateo Bridge and go over to 580. You could either take it all the way to I-5 or you could cut up Hwy 680 to 80 to 505. I honestly don't know which way would be less painful. From SJ, we take 680-80-505-5 and it is mostly ok - slow, but not terrible.

I was afraid this might be the answer…

Unfortunately how early I leave just depends on how early I get off work, so I won't know for sure until that week/day. I could, however, push back leaving for a couple hours so that I can at least miss some of the traffic. The other reason I was asking is because I have friends flying in for a long weekend, and I'm trying to determine if it would be better to pick them up at the airport on my way north, or have them ride the Caltrain out to a station that is on my way south towards San Jose. Thanks for the responses!

I can't see that there's anything to be gained going south. Your closest Caltrain station is likely Redwood City. But it would depend on their arrival time, assuming SFO, and which route you choose. From 280, 380 drops right down to SFO, then 101 to the Bay Bridge, if you take 80 north.

If your friends take the train to Redwood City, or maybe Menlo Park, you might consider having dinner after you pick them up and before setting out. Again, depending on their arrival time.

They are arriving pretty early in SFO, around 11am maybe? I think they are planning to go to Pier 39 and get lunch and see the sea lions, and then head back to the airport to retrieve their luggage. From there, they are trying to decide to stay there or take the train to wherever I will pick them up. I think dinner somewhere first before trying to get out of the city sounds like the best option.

There are a number of dinner places in the vicinity of Santa Cruz Ave. in Menlo Park, a short walk from the train station. If you like Asian food, Millbrae, very close to the airport, is home to a large Asian community and so a number of restaurants. I'm sorry I can't give current recommendations but it shouldn't be hard to find well-reviewed places.

On a Friday afternoon, taking the Golden Gate Bridge and 101N is somewhat better than taking the Bay Bridge and 80. 80 is a parking lot from about 3pm on. As noted above it is the major weekend getaway route for many.

On a Friday afternoon, taking the Golden Gate Bridge and 101N is somewhat better than taking the Bay Bridge and 80

Until you get anywhere near Petaluma, then all bets are off.

If you decide to pick your friends up at Cal-Train, I would go for dinner in downtown Burlingame (Burlingame Avenue, Burligame Station (not Broadway, which is also in Millbrae) on Cal-Train). Many choices and a really nice main street.

"..taking the Golden Gate Bridge and 101N is somewhat better..."

But then time gained will be expended getting back on track toward Lassen on secondary roads, although it may be a prettier drive. And one must still go through the City at a busy time. Really, there is no good solution, with the possible exception of a relaxed meal while waiting it out. At least then they won't be both hungry AND stuck in traffic.

MmePerdu, You wouldn't have to backtrack much, just cut over to 80 on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Believe it or not but sometimes it is faster for me to get to Berkeley from the City by taking the GGBridge and the Richmond-San Rafael. Of course most of the time spent getting from the City to the East Bay is actually getting to the Bay Bridge on City streets. One Friday afternoon it took 1 1/2 hours just to go 2 miles to get on the Bridge!!!

"...cut over to 80 on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge."

I've found, a number of times, the worst traffic of all on a Friday is through Fairfield and Vacaville, as someone else also mentioned above. So driving a longer way and not to have avoided the traffic doesn't seem to be an improvement, as far as I can see.

OK.

I really don't like the idea of being hungry AND stuck in traffic I guess dinner before and waiting a little while seems to be the best option.