Origin
Bayside, CA
Afternoon in Bayside on Tuesday
Local time
12:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bayside, CA to San Francisco, CA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
5h 51m
Distance
277.6 mi
447 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$64
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 38m
★
6 AM
5h 51m
8 AM
6h 18m
10 AM
6h 1m
12 PM
5h 58m
3 PM
6h 2m
5 PM
6h 16m
8 PM
5h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bayside, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 277.6 miles and takes about 5h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Redwood Highway, Willits Bypass, Broadway Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 259.7 miles on Redwood Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $63.80 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
138.8 miles from Bayside, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 57m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 51m drive with frequent turns across 277.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Redwood Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 259.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Old Arcata Road.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 277.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Old Arcata Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 260.5 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 274.7 miles (Divisadero Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Old Arcata Road
Enter roundabout onto Old Arcata Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
260.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 22m in
|
US 101 / Redwood Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101 / Redwood Highway toward US 101: San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 101: San Francisco
6
274.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 43m in
|
Divisadero Street
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
275.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 46m in
|
Webster Street
Turn right onto Webster Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
276.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 48m in
|
Oak Street
Turn left onto Oak Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Highway | 259.7 mi | 5h 16m |
| Willits Bypass | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Broadway Street | 3 mi | 6m |
| Golden Gate Bridge | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Presidio Parkway | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| 4th Street | 1.5 mi | 4m |
| Webster Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Divisadero Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 259.7 mi, about 5h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bayside, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Jacoby Creek Road
103 ft
·
11 sec
·
Jacoby Creek Road
2
Continue on Jacoby Creek Road
145 ft
·
3 sec
·
Jacoby Creek Road
3
Enter roundabout onto Old Arcata Road
122 ft
·
4 sec
·
Old Arcata Road
4
Continue on Old Arcata Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Arcata Road
5
Turn right onto Bayside Cutoff
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Bayside Cutoff
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 101
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 101
1.5 mi
·
4 min
·
4th Street
Use the left / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 101
3.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Broadway Street
Use the left / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 101
129 mi
·
2 hr 38 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 101
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 101; CA 20
116 mi
·
2 hr 18 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Redwood Highway
Toward US 101: San Francisco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 101
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden Gate Bridge
14
Merge
34 ft
·
0 sec
15
Keep slight left at fork
130 ft
·
1 sec
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
17
Continue on US 101; CA 1
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Presidio Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on US 101
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Richardson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on US 101
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Lombard Street
20
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Divisadero Street
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto California Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
California Street
22
Turn right onto Webster Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Webster Street
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn left onto Oak Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Oak Street
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto Gough Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Gough Street
25
Turn slight left onto Market Street
183 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
Use the slight left lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Market Street
27
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 138.8 miles from Bayside, CA, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 259.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.8 miles or 2h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Francisco, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bayside, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bayside, CA
This is one driving day of about 277.6 miles and 5h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bayside, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Redwood Highway for about 259.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 138.8 mi from Bayside, CA · 2h 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
139 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 138.8 miles from Bayside, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Redwood Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 259.7 miles.
Arriving in San Francisco, CA
The final approach into San Francisco, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around San Francisco, CA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.80 one way
$127.61 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
97 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $65.75 | $131.50 |
| premium | $6.18 | $67.51 | $135.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $61.29 | $122.58 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.00
Golden Gate Bridge
$9.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$64
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$98–$123
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.3 | 1 | $29.15 | $13.32 |
| Efficient EV | 69.4 | 0 | $24.29 | $11.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 111 | 1 | $38.86 | $17.77 |
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Afternoon in San Francisco on Tuesday
Local time
12:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
W 7 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 13 at 10:05AM PDT until April 14 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
21 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 51m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bayside, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 277.6 miles and takes about 5h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Redwood Highway, Willits Bypass, Broadway Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 138.8 miles from Bayside, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $63.80 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 277.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Old Arcata Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 260.5 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 274.7 miles (Divisadero Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bayside, CA to San Francisco, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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