route from San Francisco to Mendocino
 

My husband and I have a trip planned for this spring to fly into San Francisco and drive to Mendocino, where we will stay for several days. We are trying to decide on our driving route. We will be coming in on a weekend early afternoon.

Since we will be staying several days in a place with a good ocean view, would driving up 101 and cutting over on128 make a nice counter point with some different scenery? Or is the drive up route one along the coast significantly more beautiful or dramatic than what we would see around Mendocino?

Would greatly appreciate any input!

What do you plan to do after Mendocino? If you are driving back, do one way up US101 and CA128 and return via CA1 or vice versa. The inland scenery is definitely different from the coastal one. Do some wine tasting in the Anderson Valley.

I like both routes, 128, and also the route on 116 through Guerneville and past Armstrong Redwoods SP, and on up 1. I tend to go up on one of them, as Michael suggests, back by the other.

You could also turn off 101 at Petaluma and come through Bodega Bay to Jenner, up Hwy. 1 to Mendocino.

The most beautiful drive in the world, IMO.

Best,
Lisa

P.S. Hwy. 116 is also a nice drive as MmePerdu says. You will drive through redwoods and along the Russian River. I do not like the inland route and avoid it at all costs. To me, there is no comfortable way to get from Ukiah/Boonville to the coast.

The 1 just north of Jenner is spectacular. I'd go up that way and return via the 128 with a stop in Healdsburg if possible.