SF to Mendocino- drive tips?
 

I apologize in advance for not putting in the elbow grease to answer this question on my own, but we're leaving in a couple of days and work is insane.

Can anybody recommend best route, stops, sights, and lunch on the drive from SF to Mendocino? We plan on leaving downtown SF about 930 am on a weekday. Ocean views and cool redwood forests are tops on the agenda (along with good food at lunch). FWIW we will have two full days in Mendo and another two in Sonoma/Napa on the way back.

For spectacular ocean views and a cool redwood forest, try this.

Go to Santa Rosa on Highway 101. Watch for River Road and take it. You will be following the Russian River. This is Highway 116. When you get to Guerneville watch for the signs to Armstrong Grove Redwoods State Park.

When you finish with that continue on 116 to the Coast at Jenner. You will now be on Highway 1. The next 10 miles are spectacular and will remind you of the automobile ads which show a car winding high on the cliffs above an ocean.

Watch for Fort Ross Historic State Park. This is where the Russians had an outpost and seal fur trading post in the early 1800's, protecting their interests against Spain. There is a lovely small wooden Russian Orthodox

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Russian Orthodox Church here, a museum, etc.

Then continue north, through Gualala and on to Mendocino. Gualala is an arts colony of sorts. If that interests you look for the sign to the Arts Center where locals exhibit and give classes, etc.

Lunch is a problem. After you turn north at Jenner there is only one place to eat before Gualala. That is at the Timber Cove Inn, three miles north of Fort Ross. This is very architectually interesting, with a soaring beamed lobby, floor to ceiling stone fireplace and views from the dining room. I can't vouch for the present state of food there, however.

Depending upon how long you visit the redwoods, you might want to have picked up some picnic supplies in Guerneville and eat north of Timber Cove at Stillwater Cove campground or any of the Salt Point State Park picnic areas just further north.

If it is lunch time at Jenner, Rivers End is very popular. It sits just above where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean.

Have a good trip.

jt gave you the very best itinerary if you have the time - and it sounds like you will.

Great (and prompt) response. Thanks much

There is a road directly across from Fort Ross, perpendicular to HWY 1,which leads up to higher elevations, providing spectacular views of the ocean.

You picked a great time of day to leave the city, and should have a beautiful drive. :-)

Another last minute question - what are the pros and cons of cutting over to the coast at around Bodega Bay and heading north on 1 from there? Do I miss out on the redwoods if I cut over at BB? Are the views of the ocean any better from BB to Jenner then they are from Jenner north? Would I be adding a ton of time to the trip if I cut over at BB?

Thanks

I personally think Armstrong Redwoods and Jenner then up the coast is a better itinerary. You will enjoy whichever route you choose - but the scenery above Jenner is magnificent and Armstrong Grove is just about the best place to see redwoods w/o going all the way north above Garberville.

The road between Bodega Bay and Jenner on Highway One is one twisty turn after another. The stretch of coast involved is beautiful with many little beaches, but is not worth skipping the Russian River guideline set forth above - and you'll have to have your eyes on the road every nanosecond anyway.

On your return drive, take Highway 128 through Anderson Valley rather than repeating the coast drive. You'll have the opportunity to see the lush redwoods along the Navarro River and perhaps visit the Hendy Woods groves a little further on.

During your stay in Mendocino, invest a little time in driving north of Fort Bragg toward Rockport. Few tourists drive this far up the coast once they hit Mendocino town. The view is spectacular, there are some nice beaches and it all feels very remote.

to follow on from dovima's suggestion - between Ft Bragg and Westport is the Pacific Star winery. Good wine tasting (free), and one the best views from any winery anywhere.

Yes, you do miss Armstrong Grove if you cut over to Bodega Bay. And it is only a 10-mile stretch of coast that you miss doing it this way. And it is pretty tame with State beach after State beach. This is not an even trade at all for missing Armstrong Grove.

The spectacular drive is after Jenner.

I agree with taking Hwy 120 through the Anderson Valley on your way back. It is very pretty. There are a stand or two of redwoods, but they are not "first growth" redwoods as this area was logged in the past. Hwy. 128 comes into Hwy 101 around Cloverdale.

There are several wineries along this road and a small town, Boonville, which was a logging town and where the residents made up their own language they called Boontling. I think there are few people who can still speak it.

On your way down Hwy 101 make a stop at Healdsburg. You will need to get off the freeway, watch for the signs. This is a pretty town, built around a plaza, worth a visit. There are wineries in this region and tasting rooms.

Oops - typo. That's Hwy _128_

The stretch of Highway 1 above Jenner that is being discussed here is really incredible. It's probably better to drive it going north, as you are, the first time. This portion of road was widened some time in the last few years, so it's not the literal cliff-hanger of old days. The very steep hills plunge straight down into the sea here, and the road is a ledge on the way down. There are cows grazing on the hillsides - I used to wonder (seriously) how they kept their balance.

We'll be making the same trip in August, so I am eager to hear a report from golfin about this route.

Jtrandolph, dovima, janisj and others - about how long in hours is the trip from Santa Rosa to Mendocino, allowing for about an hour in the Armstrong Redwoods, then up through Jenner?

Thanks, TexTraveler

This is excellent driving advice and a route which I wish we had followed, as we missed seeing the old growth redwoods, although we did drive through some gorgeous ones on 128 but didn't get out of the car unfortunately.

I'll post my trip report when I get a chance.

janisj is right....Pacific Star Winery is unlike anything you've ever seen! Take a picnic lunch and a pair of binoculars to watch the whales. Sally, the owner and winemaker, is terrific. She'll help you spot the whales. You can sit at the cliff's edge with your lunch and a bottle of their excellent wine. Their house red named "Dad's Daily" in honor of her father is an excellent value and a good wine. We belong to their wine club and really enjoy all they bottle.

I'd suggest driving from SF up to Healdsburg for lunch, then out Westside Rd. to River Road and the Armstrong woods..and then to Jenner and up the coast. Healdsburg is only 12 miles N. of Santa Rosa..so you wouldn't be going out of your way, but Hbg is a lovely town. You could pick up a picnic lunch and eat it at the Armstrong Woods if you wanted to...

tex-
About 4 hours:
From Hwy 101/River Road exit west over to Guerneville, with an hour stop at Armstrong Woods and on to Hwy 1/Jenner
is about 2 hours. Do know that the drive on 116 West out to the coast
is lined with redwoods-particularly the section between Guerneville/Monte Rio/
and the outskirts of Duncans Mills.

Up Hwy 1 to Mendocino is about 2 hours.

Of course you may want to "pad" that a bit for lunch and view catching.

golfin- jt's route is of my own heart as usual :)
For lunch, do check and see if River's End is open on your days here in August-
http://www.ilovesunsets.com
better than the gamble at Timber Cove.
Spectacular views as well !

If you want a bite later, do not miss
Quennies Roadside Cafe in Elk !
Elk is about 30 mins from Mendocino.

Have a grand time everyone !
R5

Thanks, razzledazzle, for the time frame!
TexTraveler