As our trip rapidly approaches, I find that I really don't have a feel for travel times for our day trip and our change from one locale to another. We have lived where there is little traffic for over 2 years now and I think I may have "forgotten" what driving in a big city with commuters involves.

We will go from Moscone Center area on Saturday morning to Muir Woods [after picking up a rental car in on Farrell St]. If we leave at 8 am, how long will it take to get to Muir Woods?

From Muir Woods, we would like to drive to COPIA in Napa. IF we leave Muir by 11 am, how long will the drive take to COPIA?

We will then leave COPIA to get back to Moscone area. We want to be back in SF around 5 pm. What time will we have to leave COPIA?

On Tuesday morning we will again pick up a rental car on Farrell St and leave SF. We will be heading to Healdsburg. I am assuming that leaving SF at 9 am and going to Healdsburg at that time not involve commuter traffic [or will it??]. How long will this drive take?

We will then leave Healdsburg on Wed. morning and head down to Monterey area. Again, leaving about 9 am [and again assuming that we will miss commuter traffic], how long should that drive take? We are wanting to get to Monterey area as quickly as possible so as to maximize our time there.

Thursday morning we will be travelling from Pacific Grove up to Half Moon Bay. Here we will want to take scenic route and not be too concerned about travel time.

Friday morning we will leave Half Moon Bay and head to SFO. We need to drop the car off at SFO and have an 11:50 am flight. If we leave HMB at 8:30 am - will that be okay?

I realize that many will find this a rushed couple of days, but we are really wanting to see these towns.

Thanks for you input on drive times.

Deb

Saturday morning to Muir woods will take 1/2 hour. Muir woods to COPIA - allow an hour. Also allow an hour back to the city.

Tuesday morning, another hour to Healdsburg.

From Healdsburg to Monterey could take three hours or so - and you will hit some traffic through the Bay Area, but it shouldn't be too bad. I am not sure that it might take even longer than three hours, but I will think about it.

The rest sounds good.

I wish you a wonderful vacation, and I hope the weather is great!

Thanks cabo! I appreciate your replying.

I wouldn't mind if someone wanted to second Cabo's times - or add any other insights.

Deb

Hi Deb, the only concern I have is the Healdsburg to Monterey in a hurry bit. On a Wed. morning. You will get traffic all the way into the City, You have to drive through the City to get to the freeway on the other side of town. Down 101 along the Peninsula with traffic heading into SJ. then another 1 1/2 hours past SJ. Three hours is very optimistic. Don't think that can be done.

Any way to tie Healdsburg in the day before, in conjunction with Muir woods/Napa/Healdsburg, and then be in SF the night before the drive South?

I don't know if that made any sense but...

thereyet

ty - the day we are going to Muir and COPIA is the day of the SF GTG dinner! So obviously, we need to be back in SF for dinner.

So, will leaving earlier [8am] or later [10am] improve the drive time?
Or do we just head out as planned around 9 and simply head south and we get there when we get there?

"Do you know the way to San Jose" keeps playing in my head!
Deb

Debi, I'm not sure when you are leaving, but I just wanted to say have a great trip.

I'll be very anxious to hear all about it. We are going to SF in Sept.

Have fun.

Don't take 101 from SF to Monterey - take 19th ave to Hwy 280. 19th Ave is well marked as you leave the GG Bridge. You'll avoid driving through the center of the City if you take 19th. I would budget 4 1/2 hrs for that trip. There always seems to be construction around Santa Rosa, and they have commute traffic there, just like SF.

I think you mean O'Farrell not Farrell. Don't try to find the location of Farrell under "F" in the street index of your AAA map.

I would budget 1 1/2 hrs from the O'Farrell rental office to Healdsburg.

8:30 is fine for leaving Half Moon Bay.

Looking forward to meeting you at the GTG.

Stu Dudley

Yes, Stu, O'Farrell Street. Don't want to forget that O!

Looking forward to meeting you too.

Deb

All true. With all the variables mentioned it could take longer on any of these legs - esp the one to Monterey. But without any trouble, I think all the times I mentioned are correct. But - if you have to be somewhere at a certain time, then certainly allow extra time.

I was thinking of a different route that Stu Dudley's - I was thinking of traveling down the East Bay from Healdsburg to Monterey -

Why don't you Mapquest "healdsburg to monterey"? and see what they suggest?

Have a great time, Deb!

From Muir Woods to Copia, about an hour.

Another hour or so from Copia back to Moscone...but add time because you will be driving through the city.

San Francisco to Healdsburg, an hour and a half.

Healdsburg to Monterey DO NOT go though the East Bay. Take Hwy 101 to the Golden Gate Bridge..stay in the right hand lane, take the first exit, which is labeled Park Presidio or 19th Avenue, I do it often and don't read the sign.

Stay on this....it takes you through the city on four lane divided streets, whose traffic lights are timed. This automatically becomes Hwy 280, a lovely 8 lane divided freeway which goes in the hills behind the Peninsula cities and Stanford University...labeled "the most beautiful freeway in the world".

We never run into traffic on this route and we take it often.

At about Sunnyvale, watch for Hwy 85 to Gilroy, another freeway. This runs into Hwy 101 at, yes, Gilroy. Then take Hwy 156 WEST from this to Hwy 1 and on into Monterey.

I would allow more than 3 hours for this. It can be done in about 3-1/2 if you don't run into traffic, but if it matters I would be safe and allow more time.

To come back from Pacific Grove on the Coast, just stay on Highway 1, through Moss Landing, Santa Cruz and its environs, etc. If you want to go all the way, stay on this to Pacifica and simply follow the directions to San Francisco. If you are short of time, take Hwy 92 from Half Moon Bay back up to Hwy 280 and proceed to the city.

Have a wonderful trip.

>>stay in the right hand lane, take the first exit, which is labeled Park Presidio or 19th Avenue, I do it often and don't read the sign.<<

Slight correction. I think the first exit is marked 25th ave - but you really have to be in the extreme right toll booth to even see it. Don't take that exit - take 19th, which is well marked.

Stu Dudley

Although the lights on 19th Avenue are timed, you have to be going exactly 30 (or is it 35) mph and have no traffic to get all green lights. Miss one, and you may miss them all.

You are absolutely right, the "first" exit is 25th Avenue. It is so unobtrusive I had not seen it before last week when we were returning from the north. It has a sign that says "no tour buses on 25th Avenue".

bookmarking.

(see you in SF for the GTG )