LisaMS

August 4, a Friday, my sister, a friend and I will arrive at San Francisco Airport and drive to Carmel to stay 2 nights before returning to the city. I imagine by the time we get our rental and get on the road it will be around 1:30 p.m. I've been studying a map and can't make my mind up as to the exact routes we should take, both to Carmel and back to the airport (to turn the car back in.) Can someone make suggestions? Would prefer to take different routes each way to see as much as we can. Have never been to California so everything will be new to me; not familiar with the roads at all.

Also, since we have to turn the car back in to the airport; what is your suggestion for getting to our hotel. There will be 3 of us going to the Argent. Would it be easiest/cheapest to just take a cab?

Thanks.

saps

Get on the road as fast as possible. Friday afternoon traffic is brutal. And if you have never been to CA before you may not appreciate "brutal". If you are on the road by 1:30 you will miss the worst of it.

You basically have three ways to get there.

101 South past Gilroy then take 156 West to CA-1 south (least scenic & probably fastest...2 hours)

101 South to 17 South (to Santa Cruz) to CA-1 south (3 hours).

101 South to 92 West (to Half Moon Bay) to CA-1 south (longest & most scenic...4 hours).

On the return, the easiest would be to take a cab or shuttle. Or you can go back to the terminal and take BART. Exit at Powell St and take a cable car or taxi. Since you'll have luggage just take a cab (~$35) and forget the hassle.

ezlivin

Here's a slightly more scenic, and most likely FASTER route, than taking 101 S from SFO.

From the airpot, take 380 to San Bruno, take 280 S to San Jose, take I-17 to Santa Cruz and then CA-1 to Monterey/Carmel.

saps

Ahhh...The good old 280 bypass...forgot about that!

bill_boy

I agree that the 280 South route much more scenic and also much quicker than taking 101 South to San Jose. This stretch has to be one of the most boring highway in Northern California compunded by traffic congestion..

janisj

280 is fine - but 17 willl be the definition of "brutal" on an August Friday.

And another problem is you will be coming back on Sunday afternoon - which can also be bad.

Is there ANY way you can reverse your plans and do SF first and head to Carmel Sunday afternoon.

LisaMS

Okay, I'm leaning towards 280 to 101 past Gilroy; then 156 to 1??? Is that faster than going 280 to 17 towards Santa Cruz? I'm thinking a faster route would be good for Friday; while taking a more leisurely route on Sunday???

Another question: If we are going to see the landscape around Carmel/Pacific Grove/Pt. Lobos State Preserve, do we still want to take the time to drive the stretch of 1 from Santa Cruz to Half Moon Bay on Sunday? If you tell me that stretch is a "must see", we'll do it; otherwise, I'm thinking maybe we should go back taking 1 to 17 to 280???

Am I straight?

LisaMS

janisj, no, unfortunately, sister has to be in class on Monday.

SAB

If you are going to take 280 then I suggest that you take 85 to connect to 101 that way you will bypass downtown San Jose. Re 1 between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay, skippable in my opinion.

LisaMS

Thank you SAB. What I need to know. Thanks everyone.

traveldawg

I live in this area. I drive from San Jose to my second home in Pacific Grove every weekend. DO NOT use Highway 17 if you are going to get there around 4 to 5pm. Highway 1 blocks up at that time every day.

Best route can be the 280 scenic to 101 to 156 west and down 1 to Monterey Peninsula. From 280 you should take the 85 exit to connect to 101. Look for the sign that says Gilroy/85 and that is what you want. It avoids downtown San Jose and has a diamond lane.

California has a DIAMOND lane in some of these areas. From 3pm to 7pm only cars with 2 or more people can use these lanes. You will qualify. Look for the diamonds in the lane and the signage. Some people from out of town not familiar with this.

You may want to turn your car in at the Carmel location if possible and take the Monterey airport shuttle to SFO. They will drop you off at the airport. Avoids the hassle of driving back and turning in at SFO. Another thought is to fly home out of San Jose. Nicer airport and 1 hour closer to Monterey than SFO.

jtrandolph

Yes, follow traveldawg's advice.

I live in Santa Cruz, and you don't want to be coming towards Santa Cruz on a Friday in the summer. Also, even worse, they are adding merge lanes to Hwy 1 for a few miles south of Santa Cruz and yesterday about the time you would be coming through the traffic was backed up for four miles.

For a different way back, though, you could come by Hwy.1, through Santa Cruz up the coast to Half Moon Bay. Then take Hwy 92 up to 280 and catch 380 to get back to the airport.

LisaMS

Wanted to thank you all for your advice/info! We are back; and we took the advice to go the 280 to 85 to 101 to 156 route. Thanks traveldawg and others. No traffic problems until we got to Carmel and still wasn't just terrible. We did do 1 all the way up to Half Moon Bay on Sunday and again, no major problems. Okay, the traffic got heavy around Santa Cruz but didn't last too awfully long. Other than that, a piece of cake! And the weather was wonderful! We were lucky...no fog to drive in. Thanks so much everyone.

TravelTess

SAB - your advice regarding routes was THE BEST! Yesterday, we drove from Carmel to SFO, then up to SF and back down to Carmel. I decided to take your advice, since my husband wasn't with us, and follow your route. We left Carmel at 6:00 a.m. We hit commuter traffic along the way. On the way to SFO, we took 280 to 380 to the airport. On the way down from SF, we took 380 to 280 to 85 to 101 to 156 to 1. Much, much faster than 101 all the way up and down, prettier and less stressful. SAB - you know your stuff! Thanks. ><

SAB

You are welcome Tess. I know that on a map intuitively 101 looks like it would be faster and with little to no traffic, it probably can be, but 280 and 85 do move alot faster. Plus 280 is so much more scenic.

LisaMS

Yes, thank you SAB! I didn't mention your name specifically in my post (sorry!) but I do see you were the first to mention 85.

I wish I were back in Carmel with that wonderful, wonderful weather. It's miserable here; and I only got outside if absolutely necessary.

LisaMS

That's supposed to be "GO outside" in my previous post...

TravelTess

Lisa - it's gorgeous here, today but you don't want to be here. We're going to be inundated this week with cars due to the Pebble Beach Concourse. I actually have to plan when to leave the house or I'll be stuck in terrible traffic. http://www.pebblebeachconcours.net/index.htm

bear900

I agree with janisj about the 17 west being pretty brutal, especially on a Friday afternoon.

Also, we traveled the 92 East into SF a couple of weeks ago on a Thursday afternoon, and I felt really sorry for those driving West no doubt returning home. It was crawling at a snail's pace. We were fortunate to be going east with little traffic.

I agree with the 280 south to bypass San Jose, then as saps said, the 101 past Gilroy to the 156.

Enjoy your stay!

SAB

Lisa--no apologies necessary, glad you had a good time and a smooth drive.

Bear--Lisa had already taken her trip when you posted--see above.