Hello--I'm putting the finishing touches on our trip to Lake Tahoe, Monterey and Santa Cruz. Our trip ends with a 7pm flight out of SfO on a Wed. evening. My trip planning software has us take 17 to 85 to 101. I'm assuming that timing our airport arrival for 5pm would put us in the middle of the worst of rush hour. Would getting there by 4 or so make any difference traffic-wise? How much time would you suggest allowing for the trip up from Santa Cruz?
Alternatively, if we decide to leave Santa Cruz early and take Hwy 1 along the coast, what are your suggestions for how far to go up the coast before cutting back inland? Any suggestions for which towns to stop at along the way? Thanks so much!

Strongly suggest you take the coastal route and start out early. There are plenty of small beach communities along the way, just stop whenever you take a fancy to a certain spot. There are a number of public beaches along the way, too, where you can picnic lunch, particularly if the weather is good.

When you get to Pacifica on Highway 1, ask at a gas station on how to get to Interstate 280. There is a major road that cuts across, but I can't remember what the road signs say.

Once on I-280, go SOUTH, then get on Interstate 380 and just follow the signs to the airport.

With a rental car, I'd plan on arriving no later than 5pm at the airport.

Going inland, you will catch rush hour traffic for sure. Don't take the software planned route. It's the worst of the rush hour traffic patterns.

If you MUST go inland, take 17 to 85, then take 280 (sign says "San Francisco"). Then take 380 to the airport.

Enjoy California!

If you get to the airport by 4, you should miss the bulk of the rush hour traffic. You shouldn't hit any traffic heading on 17 or 85 (reverse commute direction). Hwy 101 is where you are likely to hit traffic. I would plan 2 hours for this drive. It can be done in 1 1/2 hours, but plan on the extra 1/2 hour to be sure.

If you want to head up Hwy 1, I would cut over the mountain on Hwy 92 at Half Moon Bay. This is a nice drive and links you right up with Hwy 101 south of the airport.

Stops along the way: There are quite a few good beaches for doing a little beach combing. Pescadero is a cute little town with a great restaurant called Duarte's Tavern. It's a family owned place that's been there for over 100 years - famous for artichoke soup and ollalieberry pie. Half Moon Bay is a nice town too, bigger than Pescadero, but still fairly small. It has a nice downtown and a good beach for walking.

HALF MOON BAY has a lot of small shops and fun to look around. It also has a fantastic RITZ CARLTON HOTEL that overlooks the ocean. Great place for a last lunch before you leave California.

I do this drive frequently and rarely run into any traffic - I also usuall do it in just over 1 hour to SFO from my door in Santa Cruz. I go 17 to 85 to 101 - alternatively you can also use 280. The only spots for traffic are around Hwy 92 on 101 Usually and just as I approach SFO on 101.

If you go up the coast Hwy1 and come over Hwy 92 from Half Moon Bay you get a nice drive up the coast, but you will still hit the most traffic laden section of 101 or 280.

Also SFO is very easy and quick now that the air traffic has dropped a bit. If I were travelling out at 7PM I would leave Santa Cruz at about 4:00 PM and never worry about it!

Thanks for the feedback everyone! Whether we take the coast or inland route will depend on how early we feel like leaving Santa Cruz. We can't wait!

Question - about how long is the drive from SFO to Santa Cruz on Hwy 1?

Depends... driving straight up on a Saturday afternoon took about an hour and a half (driving into Union Square). I only stopped once for gas. There was a decent amount of traffic that slowed my trip.

Yale: It should take about 1:15 to go from SFO south on 101 to Hwy 92 West to Hwy 1 South - into Santa Cruz. This assumes just the normal slow drivers on the coast taking in the sights!

IF you go north to Daily City and then south on Hwy 1 thru Pacifica, from SFO first, it will take an xtra 30 minutes at least - this takes in the very exposed Devils Slide area of Hwy 1 which is more dramatic than the Hwy 1 area south of Half Moon Bay...

Good advice above but can't help but offer my advice to avoid potentially slow 101.

I would take 17 to 85 to 280 to 380, which drops you off right at the airport (and new rental car return, I believe).