Ideas welcomed on the best and quickest way to get to San Francisco from Montery.

Quickest way is Hwy 156 to Hwy 101. This goes all the way to San Francisco, but I'd suggest cutting over to Hwy 280 in San Jose -- a much prettier drive than 101.

If you have time, take Highway 1 up the coast to Half Moon Bay (via Santa Cruz), then Hwy 92 to Hwy 280. This is definitely the most scenic route, and the one I'd suggest.

If you leave Monterey around 3:00 on a work day, the quickest way may be the last one jeothomas described.

Stu Dudley

Yep. 101 is a freight route. 280 allows 18-wheelers also, but is not as direct and further from the railroad tracks which more/less parallel 101.

Don't take 1 to 17 to 85 to 280. This works, but is a mess.

What's a mess about 1/17/85/280? Unless the OP is travelling on a weekend afternoon or during the weekday commute, it is not a bad route. This is the route I take when I drive from Watsonville to SF.

In a way, it all depends on where you want to end up in San Francisco.

Highway 1 will put you into the zoo, beach, Golden Gate Park, and a lot of the residential areas; whereas the freeways will put you into the center of the City, the Financial District, the Embarcadero, Union Square, Market Street, the museums, etc.

Thanks to all..I think if we have the time (shorter lunch?) we will try the 1-92-280 route and get off at the
Embarcadero to try and make our Alcatraz ferry by about 3:15......nm

Hmmm... I thought you wanted the "quickest" way to SF. 1/92/280 is definitely not quickest.