Carmel to Napa
 

We will be leaving Carmel around noon on a Monday and headed to Napa.... I guess we should go thru San Fran on hwy 101 ??? any suggestions ? How long do you think it will take ?? Many thanks !!

There are several ways to get to Napa from Carmel.

1) You could drive Highway 1 all the way up and through San Francisco. This way is Highway 1 until you reach San Francisco, then it becomes 19th or Presidio Parkway. It doesn't matter, just follow the signs for Highway 1 until it says "Golden Gate Bridge, Highway 101", then go across the Golden Gate Bridge, still keeping to Highway 101. After the Bridge, continue on Highway 101. You will then see signs for Napa, Highway 37. Once on Highway 37, the road numbers will change, but just follow the signs for Napa.

This is almost a straight shot northbound until you get north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

2) You could go inland. Take Highway 1 from Carmel, go north until Highway 156, cross over on 156 to Highway 101. Keep going on Highway 101 until San Jose, then take Interstate 280/680 going towards Sacramento (sorry, I can't remember what the sign says, whether 280 or 680, but just follow the road to Sacramento; 280 becomes 680 somewhere around this junction, it's the same freeway). Stay on I-680 until you cross the Carquinez Bridge. After this bridge switch over to Interstate 780. 780 is very short and you'll junction with Interstate 80, head again towards Sacramento on I-80. A few miles down I80 you'll see the signs for Napa. Follow those signs (goes by Columbus Parkway). This route is almost all freeway and although you have to change freeways several times, it's really not that difficult.

Allot about 2/12 to 3 hours.

Oh, avoid the road that is using I880, as that will take you closer to Oakland where we recently had the collapsed freeway. It might get too congested there, so best to avoid it if you can.

Also try to travel during non-rush hours.

Have a safe trip! :)

Just to be clear--it's 680 north out of San Jose to the Benicia Bridge (Carquinez is on 80/880).

Hit send too soon! If you take 680 across Benicia Bridge, you'll have to go west on 780 watch the signs on the bridge) to 80 north to 37 west to 29 north for Napa. If you stay on 80/880 out of San Jose, you will cross the Carquinez bridge and already be on 80 (follow it to 37, 29 as above).

thanks for all your help !!! we will be leaving Carmel around noon.....that should be ok for any traffic concerns ?

TrvlMaven is correct.

If you take the second route, you stay on I680 and will be crossing the BENICIA-MARTINEZ Bridge - named for the two towns at either end of the bridge.

The third route is via I-880 on which you will cross the CARQUINEZ Bridge.

Here's the third route:

Go up Highway 1 from Carmel until you reach Santa Cruz. Then take Highway 17 over the mountains. On the other side Highway 17 becomes Interstate 880. Take I-880 all the way up, cross the Carquinez Bridge to Vallejo, then take Highway 37 to Napa.

I didn't recommend this route because a) it take you through the Santa Cruz Mountains which is not that easy to drive if you are not familiar with mountain driving and b) there's the uncertainty of how much traffic you will meet when you get to Oakland.

Leaving at noon is a good time, you will not run into any traffic anywhere.

Have a good trip! :)

many many thanks

"easy traveler"==numer one route is by far the best..I travel all the routes frequently and still prefer "1"
Highway 17 is a beautiful route but then it drops you into unpredictable trafic..

I assume tht you have never been in the area. I would follow the first suggestion because it is the most scenic, and you will want to stop at the overlook once over the Golden Gate Bridge.

To check on time and distances, go to MapQuest (http://www.mapquest.com/), remembering that heavy traffic might change the time estimates.

traveler24 and Michael: I agree completely.

Highway 1 is the most scenic and the most relaxing - so long as it's not Pumpkin Festival time! LOL!

dannyyoung: the stop that Michael mentioned is just past the GG Bridge.

Actually there are two stops.

Once you have crossed the Bridge, the first exit on the right will be to "Vista Point". You'll want to stop there.

Leaving the Vista Point parking lot and heading northbound on 101, you'll want to take the very next exit "Alexander Ave". Once exited, follow the signs for going back to San Francisco, you'll have to go UNDER the freeway and end up on the west side.

At the stop sign on the west side, turn left as if you were headed back to San Francisco; however, just before the GG Bridge, the road will split. Take the right hand branch to "Marin Headlands". Follow this road to the top of the hill and park at the top. You'll likely see a number of cars parked in the dirt there. Get out of the car and follow the foot traffic to the gun mountings. This is possibly the most spectacular and best view of GG Bridge and San Francisco in the background.

On return, when you come down the hill, at the Y split, there will be a stop sign. Turn LEFT which will get you UNDER the freeway again and get you back on the NORTHBOUND traffic on Highway 101.

If you leave Carmel around noon & take Hwy 1, you should get to the GG Bridge around 3. Then it's 1 to 1 1/2 hrs till you get to the Napa area. If you leave Carmel 1 hr later, you might hit some traffic in San Rafel (north of the GG Bridge)

Stu Dudley

if you have time,id hit san juan baptista on the way back-little less touristy than Carmel,gives you a good feel for how it was way back

You guy's are awesome !!!!

The most direct route to Napa from Carmel would be easytraveler's 2nd route taking you up 680 and across the Benecia Bridge. This route is a freeway route the entire way. 680 is also a rather scenic route through the rolling hills.

If you take 101 through San Francisco the freeway ends there and you end up on surface streets. By the time you leave Carmel you will most likely get caught up in the afternoon commute traffic which in SF can be a nightmare.

hey dannyyoung-
My vote is for is for et's 1st route and I do it often from SF as I live in Sonoma County.

I lived a few years in Lafayette (east bay) and I just don't think 680 is for the faint of heart or unfamiliar !

Yet, for either route,
if you can leave Carmel at least 2 hours
earlier you will be doing yourself quite the favor-101 North is just
a slog anytime from 3PM-6PM-
(680 to the Benecia Bridge and 80 to the Columbus Parkway is maybe even worse
that time of day, IMHO)

Happy driving !
R5

If one is going to Napa starting from Sonoma County 101 is the most logical route. However, originating from Monterey taking easyt's second route would be the most reasonable and least roundabout way to go. Having experience taking the 680 it's really not that bad of a road. Given the time that you would be leaving Carmel, you would miss any commute traffic on 680. If you plug into Google or Mapquest it's pretty much a straight shot up the 680 route to Napa from Carmel.

Happy trails.

If you take 680 you do however miss driving across the Golden Gate Bridge.

I'd definitely choose a route across the GG Bridge. I go over that bridge any chance I get :)

Leaving at noon, you probably will come to traffic. However, if you stay on hwy 1 until it merges with 280, you probably will avoid most of it. You should get thorugh Santa Cruz before the heavy traffic really starts, and between Santa Cruz and 280 you should have little traffic or be going against the commuting traffic. Once you are on 280, stay in the left lane. You will avoid all turn-offs and will have to turn correctly onto 19th Ave. There is no left turn the whole length of 19th Ave. so you don't have to worry about turns until Golden Gate Park. Get out of the left lane through the park because there is one left turn in the park itslelf. You then can go in the left lane again until GG Bridge.