San Francisco Trip- Need help with drive times and itinerary!
 

Hello all! My husband and I are traveling to San Francisco in June. Can anyone tell me the drive time from Napa Valley to Carmel? I have done it before, but can't remember how long it took. Any help with the best route would be great too. Thanks in advance.

The timing will vary tremendously with time of day. The best bet would be to leave Napa by about 130 pm. You will be taking 29 to 80 to 680 to 101 and if you can get out of the Bay Area before rush hour, you could probably make it to Carmel in ~ 3 hours. If you were to leave Napa at around 4 pm, I can't imagine how insane you would be by the time you got to Carmel!

The other possibility is to leave late morning, say around 10 am.

Shelley

Hi bubbasrb, leaving Napa about 10:00am would be the best. From I-80 to I-680 take the turn off while you are on I-80 at Vallejo to I-780. That will take you to I-680 south. Over the Benicia/Martinez Bridge.

Are you are pressed for time and need to be at Carmel after noon?

If not, then I agree with scorrel that you should leave Napa after lunch. A leisurely drive at 1:30 will take you to Carmel by 6:30 pm with plenty of day light left.

You basically don't want to be caught on the stretch of Interstate 680 from Vallejo through San Jose anywhere near rush hour. There is no such thing a leisurly and interstate. If you are going slowly, then it's because you are stuck in traffic.

Once you are south of San Jose - actually clear of Morgan Hill, just south of SJ, you are bacially home free, (risk free of 10mi backup, that is). Be sure you take 680, not 880.

Actually to Vallejo is I-80. You take the turn off at 780 to go east. Then you take the Benicia/Martinez Bridge which is when you are on I-680. And I agree, do not travel during commute hours, it will take forever. Have a wonderful time in Napa Valley and Carmel, they are two beautiful areas.