Origin
San Francisco, CA
Afternoon in San Francisco on Thursday
Local time
3:41 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Francisco, CA to Graton, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
59.6 mi
96 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Graton, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 59.6-mile drive from San Francisco to Graton, California, is a manageable 1-hour and 25-minute journey, making it an excellent option for a single-day trip. You'll navigate primarily via the Redwood Highway and Gravenstein Highway. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, this route offers an affordable escape within the Pacific Coast region. The drive's character suggests it's more of a local exploration than a high-speed transit, so plan for a relaxed pace. Given its short distance and the profile of the roads, no overnight split is necessary.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 59.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 59.6-mile trip, with only about a third of the journey on highways. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be 39.8 miles along the Redwood Highway. As you transition to Gravenstein Highway and then Gravenstein Highway North, the road's personality shifts, likely becoming more winding and intimate. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; it's a route that requires your attention and rewards you with a more engaging driving experience as you travel through the landscape.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 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 39.8 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 US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.6 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (Gough Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (Market 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.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue
Turn sharp right onto US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Gough Street
Turn right onto Gough Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Market Street
Turn right onto Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Fell Street
Turn left onto Fell Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
47 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
CA 116
Take the exit onto CA 116 toward CA 116 West: Sebastopol, Downtown Cotati
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 481B
Toward CA 116 West: Sebastopol, Downtown Cotati
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from San Francisco, CA to Graton, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Cotati along the way.
Cotati
47 mi in
|
~1h 5m
|
via CA 116
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Highway | 39.8 mi | 48m |
| Gravenstein Highway | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| Gravenstein Highway North | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Presidio Parkway | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Golden Gate Bridge | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Webster Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Divisadero Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Graton Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 39.8 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Graton, CA.
1
Start on Market Street
41 ft
·
6 sec
·
Market Street
2
Turn sharp right onto US 101
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Van Ness Avenue
3
Turn right onto Otis Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Otis Street
4
Turn right onto Gough Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Gough Street
Use the right lane.
5
Turn right onto Market Street
29 ft
·
1 sec
·
Market Street
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
497 ft
·
10 sec
7
Continue on Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
Franklin Street
8
Turn left onto Fell Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Fell Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Turn right onto Webster Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Webster Street
10
Turn left onto California Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
California Street
11
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Divisadero Street
12
Turn left onto US 101
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Lombard Street
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on US 101
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Richardson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 101
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Presidio Parkway
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 101
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden Gate Bridge
16
Continue on US 101; CA 1
40 mi
·
48 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto CA 116
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
CA 116
Exit 481B
Toward CA 116 West: Sebastopol, Downtown Cotati
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on CA 116
7.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Gravenstein Highway
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on CA 116
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Petaluma Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Turn left onto CA 116
435 ft
·
11 sec
·
McKinley Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto CA 116
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
North Main Street
22
Turn slight left onto CA 116
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Healdsburg Avenue
23
Continue on CA 116
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Gravenstein Highway North
24
Turn left onto Graton Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Graton Road
25
Arrive at destination
Graton Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.8 mi from San Francisco, CA · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.8 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Graton, CA
The final approach into Graton, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.70 one way
$27.40 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $14.12 | $28.23 |
| premium | $6.18 | $14.49 | $28.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.16 | $26.32 |
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.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$14
Tolls
$9
Total
$23
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.26 | $2.86 |
| Efficient EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.34 | $3.81 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Graton, CA
Afternoon in Graton on Thursday
Local time
3:41 PM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
59°F
San Rafael, CA
30 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
1h 25m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from San Francisco, CA to Graton, CA covers 59.6 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Redwood Highway, Gravenstein Highway, Gravenstein Highway North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.8 miles from San Francisco, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.70 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.6 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (Gough Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (Market Street): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from San Francisco, CA to Graton, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Cotati along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Muir Woods National Monument and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
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