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Trip from San Francisco, CA to Rio Dell, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 34m

Distance

64.8 mi

104 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 27m ★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 48m
8 PM
1h 30m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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consolidated city and county in California, United States

San Francisco, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Humboldt County, California, United States of America

Rio Dell, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from San Francisco, CA to Rio Dell, CA covers 64.8 miles and takes about 1h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Redwood Highway, Gravenstein Highway, Gravenstein Highway North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39.8 miles on Redwood Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.89 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.

Midpoint

32.4 miles from San Francisco, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Redwood Highway 39.8 mi 48m
Gravenstein Highway 7.7 mi 11m
Gravenstein Highway North 5.7 mi 8m
Presidio Parkway 1.8 mi 3m
Golden Gate Bridge 1.7 mi 2m
Mirabel Road 1.4 mi 2m
Webster Street 1 mi 2m
Divisadero Street 0.8 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 Rio Dell, 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

5.7 mi · 8 min · Gravenstein Highway North
24

Continue on CA 116

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Front Street
25

Turn right onto Mirabel Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · Mirabel Road
Use the right lane.
26

Turn left onto River Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · River Road
27

Turn left onto Rio Vista Road

325 ft · 17 sec · Rio Vista Road
Use the left lane.
28

At end of road, turn right onto Rio Vista Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Rio Vista Road
29

Turn right onto Westside Road

136 ft · 6 sec · Westside Road
30

Arrive at destination

Westside 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 32.4 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.8 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 14 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 32.4 miles or 47m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rio Dell, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from San Francisco, CA

This is one driving day of about 64.8 miles and 1h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from San Francisco, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Redwood Highway for about 39.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown San Rafael, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

San Rafael, CA

32 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

Corte Madera, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Rafael, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 32.4 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Quinua A Taste of Peru 🇵🇪 | Seafood Restaurant | Petaluma

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Petaluma, California

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30 mile 37

Hours: 11:30 am–8:30 pm

+17074785880

Visit website

Crepevine Restaurants

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

San Francisco, California

2.6 mi

Scandia Family Fun Center

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Rohnert Park, California

2.9 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Saint Frank Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

San Francisco, California

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+14158818062

Visit website

Quinua A Taste of Peru 🇵🇪 | Seafood Restaurant | Petaluma

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30 mile 37

Petaluma, California

Hours: 11:30 am–8:30 pm

+17074785880

Visit website

Crepevine Restaurants

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30

San Francisco, California

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+14156815858

Visit website

Scandia Family Fun Center

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 50.9

Rohnert Park, California

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+17075841398

Visit website

Saint Frank Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

San Francisco, California

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+14158818062

Visit website

The Barlow

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 55.6

Sebastopol, California

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+17078245600

Visit website

Shollenberger Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 37

Petaluma, California

Hours: 8 am–7 pm

+17077784380

Visit website

PanIQ Escape Room San Francisco

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

San Francisco, California

Hours: 2:30–9:30 pm

+14158293758

Visit website

Mission Dolores Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Francisco, CA

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14158312700

Visit website

Corona Heights Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Francisco, CA

Hours: 5 am–12 pm

+14158312700

Visit website

Helen Diller Playground

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Francisco, California

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14158312700

Visit website

Randall Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Francisco, California

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+14155549600

Visit website

Golden Gate Bridge

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 4.6

San Francisco, California

+14159215858

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 47 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.89 one way

$29.79 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $15.35 $30.70
premium $6.18 $15.76 $31.52
diesel $5.61 $14.31 $28.61

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

$15

Tolls

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.4 0 $6.80 $3.11
Efficient EV 16.2 0 $5.67 $2.59
EV Truck/SUV 25.9 0 $9.07 $4.15

Gas CO2

23 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (65% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

San Francisco, CA

Afternoon in San Francisco on Saturday

Local time

12:06 PM

PDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rio Dell, CA

Afternoon in Rio Dell on Saturday

Local time

12:06 PM

PDT

Current temp

--

Unavailable

59°F

San Rafael, CA

32 mi in

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.

Road read

1h 34m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...

2 mi from route ~4 min detour Free near mile 2.2
Park Closure: Hyde Street Pier Closure
Caution: Sick Birds and Wildlife, H5N1
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods National Monument

National Monument

Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...

4 mi from route ~9 min detour $15 near mile 11.2
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...

5 mi from route ~12 min detour Free near mile 11.2
View on nps.gov
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...

8 mi from route ~21 min detour Free near mile 8.9
View on nps.gov
Point Reyes National Seashore

Point Reyes National Seashore

National Seashore

From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches to its open grasslands, brushy hillsides, and forested ridges, Point Reyes offers visitors over 1500 spec...

18 mi from route ~44 min detour Free near mile 29.1
View on nps.gov
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

National Memorial

On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour Free near mile 24.6
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

64.8 mi in 1h 34m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.8 mi on Redwood Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

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 64.8 miles you will encounter 20 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.

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 Rio Dell, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Cotati along the way.

Cotati

47 mi in | ~1h 5m | via CA 116

About the Cities

Starting in San Francisco, CA

Full guide →

The centerpiece of the Bay Area, San Francisco is one of the most visited cities in the world, and with good reason. The cultural center of northern California, San Francisco is renowned for its mixture of scenic beauty and unique culture that makes it one of the most vibrant and desirable cities in the nation, if not the world. Sandwiched between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean on a small square of land seven miles (11 km) on each side, San Francisco offers a wealth of treasures for the visitor, from the windswept and often foggy bay to the steep hills lined with Victorian homes that overlook the spectacular scenery of the city.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 64.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 39.8 miles on Redwood Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $9.00 in tolls one way, starting with Golden Gate Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Rio Dell, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

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.

Yes — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Muir Woods National Monument and Golden Gate National Recreation Area (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rio Dell, CA before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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