San Francisco to Santa Cruz Question
 

Hello,

My husband and I are driving from Sonoma to Santa Cruz. Here is my question. Do I pick up Highway 1 just south of Pacifica and take this to Santa Cruz or do I cut out the time and just hop onto either 280 or 101? The former will take about 3 hours, while the former will take 2 hours 20 minutes. In other words, is there a "not to miss" attraction between Pacifica and Santa Cruz? Otherwise, I'd rather save the 40 minutes and see more beautiful vistas closer to Big Sur.

Here's the other factor: I will be leaving Sonoma around 9am - will there be a ton of traffic on a Wednesday morning taking the 280 or 101 through San Francisco at 10am or so such that taking the 280 or 101 doesn't really have an advantage?

Thanks in advance!

I would think that most of the traffic through the City would have died down by 10:00 so you should be fine. I can't really think of a not to miss attraction between Pacifica and Santa Cruz myself, so I think you're fine saving the time by going 280 to 17. Oh, and you want 280 through the pennisula not 101, 101 is always bogged down with traffic plus the road is in bad shape plus 280 is way prettier.

Great, thanks so much! So as a follow up question, from Sonoma, does it make sense to go through San Fran or does it make sense to go around the City on the 580, cutting back West on the 880 to 17 to Santa Cruz? Both seem to be comparable in terms of distance/time according to mapquest, but maybe one is better traffic wise?

Also, is Santa Cruz worth seeing or should I just cut it out and drive straight to Monterrey? I don't plan on spending any significant time in Santa Cruz, only driving through to see the sights. Thanks again!

I suggest stopping in Capitola - very cute beach town

Capitola is much cuter than Santa Cruz. Downtown Santa Cruz (what was restored after the '89 quake) is nice but I'm not sure it's worth a stop if you weren't looking to have lunch or something. But still, Capitola is probably a better bet. I personally do not like driving on 880 as much as 280 but someone else will have to comment on whether the lesser traffic makes it worth it. Actually, if it were me in your position, I would probably cross the Golden Gate (stop at the view point right before the bridge for a good photo if it's clear) and then stay to the right as you go through the toll booths and make an immediate sharp right into what looks like a parking lot to go along the scenic route through SF. Follow the seagull "scenic route" signs and stop for pictures when you want through the city. Then hook back up with 280 by taking 35 (Skyline) to 1 to 280 South (lots of signs, it's not hard).

You never know what the traffic is going to be like on 880. Could flow smoothly or could be all jammed up. We live in San Jose. From Sonoma we would go through Vallejo, pick up 680 to 280 to 17 to Santa Cruz. Sometimes we go over the Golden Gate but going through the city always takes more time. 101 is very industrial. 280 is the nicest drive.

Pacifica to Santa Cruz takes a long time and IMHO the coastline isn't very pretty between Pacific and Santa Cruz.

Anybody have a recommendation for a place to eat lunch in Capitola? We like local, not too expensive, prefer funky to fancy. Just a great sandwich or salad would be excellent.

Zeldas right on the beach is a classic. Any of those restaurants along the beach are fine. They are a bit pricey but you're paying for the location and the view.

Thanks Monica (and I hope that helps kristina, too)...I'm willing to pay a little more for the location and the view, as long as the food is good, too :-)

Zeldas would be my choice too. And if you like coffee, stop in at Mr. Toots :)

For a cheap date, get a piece of Pizza at the Pizza window (is it Pizza My Heart?) and sit on a bench over by the beach. We used to love Margaritta Ville but since they changed owners, it hasn't been the same. If you like Mexican you can get a nice table on the deck and watch the ducks.

I love the drive from San Francisco on Highway 1 passing through Half Moon Bay. Sometimes we take scenic 35 and stop at Big Basin Redwoods State Park--California's oldest State Park (1902). HTTY