San Fran Traffic - From Napa
 

Hi,

I am going to be in Napa in a few weeks and am catching an 11am flight from San Francisco Airport to Palm Springs on a Tuesday.

we are staying just north of Napa and a little south of Yountville.

Any suggestions on what time we should leave for the airport given tuesday morning rush hour? route suggestions as well?

thanks so much,

j

To avoid any potential problems with the traffic, you might want to consider driving down the evening before the flight, drop off your car and stay at one of the airport hotels. That's what by DH and I did. Worked out really well for us. We stopped at Muir Woods on the way down and did some walking amongst the redwoods.

It's about 70 miles from Yountville to SFO. On a Tuesday morning, at least 2/3 of the trip will be in potentially horrible commute traffic. Plus you have to return your car. I'd leave Napa by 7:30;you might arrive at the car rental by 9, or not until 10, depending on how bad traffic is. The worst that happens is you're a little early.

I ususally factor in an additional half hour for returning the car (find return car lot, park car, get all paperwork done, get on bus, get to terminal).

If traffic is bad and you arrive at SFO at 10am, then you need to factor in an additional 1/2 hour to return the car.

LizQ's suggestion of staying at an airport hotel is the least stressful way to go.

airport hotel doesn't work, though i appreciate the suggestion.

7am it is, i figured that would be ok...

thanks

I would suggest starting even earlier than that - like 6am.

7am will place you right into I-80 traffic and the Bay Bridge crossing at peak traffic time. VERY congested.

If you start out earlier, you'll zip down I-80, the bridge crossing will take a bit of time even at that early hour. Then you keep on the freeways - stay on 101 going southbound and that should get you to the airport.

Yes, I know it's really early, otherwise, you risk having to stay stuck in traffic.

a 7am start will place you in a long traffic line whether you are trying to cross the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge or the San Mateo Bridge.

It's better to start early, arrive at the airport early, and just read a book rather than sit fuming in heavy traffic.

Just my opinion.

Easytraveler's advice is good - the earlier you leave, the less likely you'll hit traffic. So I'd suggest you leave early, and have a nice breakfast in one of the towns near the airport (Millbrae or Burlingame), then return the car and go to the terminal.

Hello JMWF, if you want to make sure that you are able to catch your flight and since you do not or can not stay at a hotel near SFO the morning of your fight I sure hope you listen to easytraveler's or dmlove's suggestions. You will be glad you did. Our traffic gets terrible and throw in even one accident and you will be quite upset I am sure.

You have to leave very early in the a.m. - 0600 would not be too early. You say staying at an airport hotel "doesn't work" - is that a definite??

Even if you have something to do the night before in Napa - you could still drive down to SFO afterwards and stay in a priceline hotel at the airport. If possible, I'd rather arrive at SFO at midnight for a decent night's sleep than fight bay area traffic on a weekday morning.

Enjoy your stay in Napa & enjoy the great wines.

Unfortunately it is a definite…

we are eating at the French laundry the night before we fly and really don’t want to spoil the experience by driving to the airport after the meal. Also, we’ve already paid for that night at the cottages of napa valley – don’t want to forgo the $$$

6:00am it is… that’s fine with me I can’t sleep much past that anyway - my girlfriend will be pissed... ;-)

Thanks very much for the advice, looking forward to it!!!

Enjoy your dinner at the French Laundry JMWF. How nice that you were able to get reservations. And with leaving at 6:00am you will have time to get your girlfriend some coffee at SFO. Maybe you should get her some coffee to drink while you drive to SFO actually! Have a wonderful time in Napa Valley.

<i>Maybe you should get her some coffee to drink while you drive to SFO actually!</i>

There are several Starucks and a Caffino BEFORE you hit the freeway!

And don't let her be upset because you end up at SFO too early. &quot;Sure - you make me leave a 6 a.m. and here we are w/ time to kill at the airport :( &quot;

If you had left an hour later, the drive would have taken an hour+ longer . . . . . .

...provided there are no accidents, as LI has pointed out.

From the Cottages to the entrance for the Bay Bridge is about 45 miles. If you leave at 6am, the best timing to arrive at the toll booth is 6:45am. I'd say 6:50am would be closer. Don't speed. The California Highway Patrol does patrol those roads and at that early morning hour a speeder is going to stick out like a sore thumb!

Try and arrive at the tollbooth before 7am if at all possible. If you need coffee, buy it before 6am so you'll be on the road by 6!

The Cottages is a great place to stay and I can understand why you would want to stay there that night. The exchange is that you will have to start for the airport really early.

Have a great trip! Your girlfriend is VERY lucky! :)

BTW, visit Artesa Winery. Wine is so-so, but the view is great!

Hi dmlove, I think you misunderstood. I meant for JMWF to get his girlfriend some coffee before they hit the road..so she could drink the coffee in the car while they drive toward SFO. I know I am absolutely a zombie before I have my morning coffee, lol.

Hi LoveItaly, I understood, I just wanted them to know that there are plenty of places to get coffee before they leave the Napa area!

Just an fyi that most decent coffee places, Starbucks included, will not be open before 7 am. For a decent cup, the OP and girlfriend will most likely end up having their coffee at, or near, the airport.

thanks everyone for the replies... really looking forward to it.

easytraveler - thanks for the winery suggestion, we will check it out if we can fit it in... from the website it looks beautiful.

thanks again.

I'm pretty sure most Starbucks locations open at 6 a.m.