Oakland to Monterey Info
 

I'll be driving from Oakland to Monterey on Nov 10 starting around noon and returning mid-day on Nov 12. I know the route through Gilroy is shorter but I'd like to do the route through Pacifica and Santa Cruz in at least one direction. Can any of you Bay area folks tell me if the Bay Bridge is now free-flowing or are there still a lot of construction delays.

You don't go on the Bay Bridge for your trip.

Perhaps you might want to get a map and take a look to better orient yourself.

Curious

For the coast drive, I'd suggest Oakland to SF via the Bay Bridge, then down the coast. This will put you on the ocean side of Highway One -- nice views, and opportunities to pull over, park, stretch your legs and/or just enjoy the scenery.

I'm one of those who -- when given the choice -- will _always_ take the scenic route! 8-)

Ok...you don't have to go on the BB but, you can if you want to do that loop which will get you to Pacifica as you posted.

"Trouble" is that you will be travelling on what could be a heavy travel day. Vetern's Day falls on the 11th this year...and every year...and is followed by a Friday and you know what comes after Friday.

If you want Pacifica then the BB is your correct route...I like Pacifica.

The answer to your question about the BB is yes and no. The BB is/is not being replaced depending on this "little" money debacle. So, no one knows when or if the work will pick back up, end, etc. or not. AAA don't know either. Only "Arnold" and them know. That aside...on the "no" end...traffic is a bear on the BB. Used to be a time, not too long ago, when one could say if I leave at 10 then I'll be fine. No longer works that way for the week days or the weekend. Be patient, enjoy your sights and know that accidents can hold things up...jumpers can hold things up...rain and wind can hold things up during that time of year.

Oh, with your noon start and your route you will hit the South Bay parking lot like traffic at a minimum.

When I drive a route, I like to have my alternate route pre-planned. I check 511 on the cell phone to check on the slowdowns and such. Not a perfect system, that 511, but it beats flipping a coin.

Another route you could take would be 880 south to hwy 92 west to hwy 1 south. This will take you across the San Mateo bridge (I believe), over the hill and into Half Moon Bay, and then down the coast. This will be south of Pacifica a bit, but still along the coast - allowing you to avoid the Bay Bridge and SF altogether.

Another route, which I prefer to the 101 through Gilroy route, is 880 south through San Jose where it turns into hwy 17. Hwy 17 takes you over the hill to Santa Cruz where you can take hwy 1 south to Monterey.

I believe dwooddon intends to drive 35 to 1 from Pacifica through Santa Cruz. I'm not recommending 880/17 to anyone simply because of the mess at the 101 interchange - even at midday, as is dwooddon's intended time of travel.

TripleSecDelay; You are correct-that is my intended route of travel. Thank you all for the information. Since I have lived, until recently, in So. California, I'm completely familiar with how any sort of incident can tie up an otherwise freeflowing route but that happens with freeways as well.