Origin
San Francisco, CA
Afternoon in San Francisco on Thursday
Local time
2:24 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Francisco, CA to Redwood Valley, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 37m
Distance
123.6 mi
199 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 27m
★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 42m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Redwood Valley, CA
John Hanson
Trip Overview
The drive from San Francisco, CA to Redwood Valley, CA covers 123.6 miles and takes about 2h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Redwood Highway, Presidio Parkway, Golden Gate Bridge for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 113.8 miles on Redwood Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.41 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
61.8 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 37m. Total distance: 123.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 37m drive with frequent turns across 123.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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 113.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 123.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 15 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.
6
120.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 32m in
Take the exit toward CA 20 East: Upper Lake, Williams
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 555B
Toward CA 20 East: Upper Lake, Williams
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Highway | 113.8 mi | 2h 16m |
| Presidio Parkway | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Golden Gate Bridge | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| East Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Webster Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Divisadero Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| CA 20 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| California Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 113.8 mi, about 2h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Redwood Valley, 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
114 mi
·
2 hr 16 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 555B
Toward CA 20 East: Upper Lake, Williams
18
Merge onto CA 20
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
CA 20
19
Turn left onto 144
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Off-Road State Highway 20 Circle
20
At end of road, turn right onto East Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East Road
21
Arrive at destination
East Road
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 61.8 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.8 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 27 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.8 miles or 1h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Redwood Valley, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, CA
This is one driving day of about 123.6 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from San Francisco, 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 113.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 61.8 mi from San Francisco, CA · 1h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
62 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61.8 miles from San Francisco, 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 113.8 miles.
Arriving in Redwood Valley, CA
The final approach into Redwood Valley, 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 Redwood Valley, 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
$28.41 one way
$56.82 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $29.27 | $58.55 |
| premium | $6.18 | $30.06 | $60.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.29 | $54.58 |
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
$28
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.1 | 0 | $12.98 | $5.93 |
| Efficient EV | 30.9 | 0 | $10.82 | $4.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.4 | 0 | $17.30 | $7.91 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Redwood Valley, CA
Afternoon in Redwood Valley on Thursday
Local time
2:24 PM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 37m 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 Redwood Valley, CA covers 123.6 miles and takes about 2h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Redwood Highway, Presidio Parkway, Golden Gate Bridge. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61.8 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 $28.41 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 123.6 miles you will encounter 15 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.
The route from San Francisco, CA to Redwood Valley, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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