When I use google maps to put in my date and time of arrival, it says the drive from SFO car rental to Mineral is 3h 30mins to 4h 20mins. SMF to Mineral is 2h 30 mins to 3h. Is this not an accurate estimate? If so, it seems SFO would be better given that we get in 1 1/2 hours earlier, and it is cheaper. Is picking up a rental car at SMF quicker?

Of course it's your call, but my response would be that this is another case of Google maps giving a much too optimistic estimate. Traffic on I-80 on the way out of the Bay area is far more likely to be awful compared to leaving SMF. In the case of SMF you'll be right on uncrowded I-5 right from the get-go, vs an hour or more (potentially MUCH more) time spent navigating urban traffic over the Bay Bridge and through the East Bay.

It's been some time since I navigated car rental at SMF but I have zero memories of it being a hassle, far from it. SFO is another matter.

As for where to stay near the airports, in the case of SFO I'd probably just stay someplace with an airport shuttle; you might even be able to drop the car the night before and save a little money. In the case of SMF, you could do the same, or possibly spend the night somewhere in the Sacramento "Old Town" area. Janisj is from Sacramento and I'm sure when she sees this thread she'll chime in with better ideas.

However, one thing that you might consider would be to spend the last day exploring some of the old towns - nearly ghost towns - in the Sacramento River Delta. Look at Isleton, Walnut Grove and especially Locke, along the river 45 min - 1 hr south of SMF. These are holdovers from the 19th century when many Chinese people worked in reclaiming the swamps. Locke is a national historical site full of terrific buildings and cafes, well worth some exploring. Look here for example - https://goo.gl/maps/a37nEurFxqK2 . Map - https://goo.gl/maps/K327ayWXuAw

Picking up a rental car is at least 20 minutes quicker at SMF after you pick up your luggage from the baggage claim. Getting onto I-5 north of Sacramento is easy from SMF. When I/we arrive in Sacramento by train, I rent at Enterprise in downtown Sacramento.
Getting your luggage and taking a shuttle to your rental car can be slow at SFO. I have rented at SMF and been on my way about 10 minutes after getting off the Yolo bus from downtown Sacramento.

Just checking in quickly ( headed in to our Christmas Eve dinner in a few mins)

Don't DON'T depend on google maps time calculations. Not only is SMF easier, smaller, possibly cheaper (if you wait for southwest to open the booking period) . . . It could very easily take you two hours from SFO just to say Vallejo or Fairfield - and once a couple of months ago it took me FOUR AND A HALF HOURS from Milpitas to the 505/I-5 cut off, which is still hours from Lassen. In 4.5 hours out of SMF, you will have already checked in to your hotel, unpacked, and taken a short hike.

Traffic in the Bay Area and the I-80 corridor shouldn't be trifled with . . . Most of the time. And if by any chance it is a Friday you are doing the drive, double everything.

Thank you all so much! We are taking your advice and flying in/out of SMF. I will get back with more questions when I have done some more research. Your input has been invaluable!!

I would agree with Tom to take Highway 38 between the coast and I-5 as a preferred route. It's lovely along the river and the elk protective area almost always has elk there to view (and safely!).

If for some reason you decide to take Highway 42 after all, please be sure you are on Highway 42 and do not take a Forest Road instead, even if your GPS suggests one.

Also: At Crater Lake, in addition to the option for lodging at Diamond Lake, there's also a small hotel at Prospect.

5Alive and Tom--Google maps (which I now understand is not to be trusted regarding times) shows that Hwy 42 is about 1 hour shorter than Hwy 38 from Crater Lake Lodge. Are you suggesting Hwy 38 because it is more scenic?

I also like SR 38 over any other route between the Willamette Valley and the coast, but coming from Crater Lake it's far enough out of your way that I wouldn't bother. Yes, it's fairly scenic - it goes through a pretty canyon of the Umpqua River - and there's a good chance of seeing some Roosevelt elk in a nature reserve you pass shortly before joining US 101 at Reedsport, but it would be quite a detour from your route, and you're going to have ample great roadside scenery as it is, so I'd probably go the more direct route.

Thanks Gardyloo for the feedback!

It's OR Rt. 138 that is east of Roseburg. It is 101 miles from Roseburg over to US 97. The north entrance to Crater Lake NP is about MP 88.
The west section of Rt. 138 turns off Rt. 38 at the east end of the town of Elkton.
In any case DO NOT take the shortcut dirt road that goes through Agness to Merlin.

Digby, I have always been fond of the 38 highway route, and yes, it is 1 hour longer from Bandon to Crater Lake Lodge. Still, taking 42 in the summertime is acceptable to do and timewise is your best choice.

The shortcuts Tom mentions are no joke and your GPS, before going AWOL on you, might suggest various Forest Roads that are not a good idea for you to take. In winter, these alternatives can be deadly. It has been over 10 years ago, but we still mourn the tragedy of the Kim Family who got lost on one of those detours after a Thanksgiving trip. They got stranded in snow and Mr. Kim went for help. He got lost and ultimately died.

Unsafe GPS routings are a regular concern for Western states... not just on 42. Please bring printed out maps of this route and others that are not on freeways, as you will occasionally lose GPS signal. Also carry water and snacks, and get gas regularly.

Tom--thanks for the heads about about the forest road.

5alive--good advice about bringing paper maps. We always do when we are overseas, but get a little lazy in this country. I remember the horrible story about the Kim family.

In November 2006, I had the paper BLM maps with me in addition to the GPS when I hiked down to the Rogue River for a geocache called "Just Clowning around". I started my hike down at 8AM from the nearest road.
I got back to my truck at 9PM. That day my Suunto compass and my 6 volt lantern saved my life. The GPS only got signal down along the river but was receiving 2 and sometimes 3 satellites on the way back up.
Mr. Kim died about 2 miles upstream from where I found the cache and less than 30 days later.
When I got back to Merlin where I had a cell phone signal, I called home at 1 AM to let DW know I was alive and well.

Tom, wow, what a story.

Tom, I’m glad you made it back safely. I imagine your wife was frantic.

I am reading that many roads in the Redwoods and on the Lost Coast drive are unpaved. Anyone know if we will we be able to drive these in a rental car?

Most rental car contracts don't allow driving on gravel roads, but I wouldn't be too worried about it as long as the stints on gravel are brief. Around the Lost Coast, the Mattole Road is paved, but in poor condition some of the time. Go slow and watch out for potholes and you should be okay. https://www.dangerousroads.org/north...-road-usa.html

>>I am reading that many roads in the Redwoods and on the Lost Coast drive are unpaved<<

Not 'many' but certainly some. PLEASE don't rely (solely) on a GPS exploring in that area. A proper map - GPS can lead you to logging roads and other places you don't want to end up.

Is Mattole Road worth the slow slog? I have read reviews that love it and ones that say don't bother given the condition of the road. Is there a way to find out the condition of the road ahead of time. Given that we will be there in October, I am wondering if rains will have worsened the condition.

One more question: When we drive from Mendocino to Sacramento, is it worth it to take the extra time to drive Hwy 1 down to Jenner and then cut over towards SMF? Thank you all so much for all your help! It has been invaluable.