Brooktrails to San Francisco is 141.8 miles and takes about 3 hours 1 minute via Redwood Highway, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Pacific Coast region of California into another Pacific Coast area, primarily on surface roads. It's a straightforward trip that's easy to complete in a single day. You'll find this route offers a practical way to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
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
70.9 miles from Brooktrails, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Redwood Highway
127 mi
2h 32m
Willits Bypass
4.5 mi
5m
Sherwood Road
2.5 mi
6m
Golden Gate Bridge
1.7 mi
2m
Presidio Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
Webster Street
1 mi
2m
Divisadero Street
0.8 mi
1m
California Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 127 mi, about 2h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brooktrails, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Brooktrails Drive
61 ft·3 sec·Brooktrails Drive
2
Turn right onto Primrose Drive
0.2 mi·57 sec·Primrose Drive
3
Turn right onto 311
2.5 mi·6 min·Sherwood Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto North Main Street
0.4 mi·45 sec·North Main Street
5
Continue on Redwood Highway
0.5 mi·45 sec·Redwood Highway
6
Turn right
298 ft·5 sec
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·18 sec
8
Merge onto US 101
4.5 mi·5 min·Willits Bypass
9
Continue on US 101; CA 20
116 mi·2 hr 18 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
10 mi·13 min·Redwood Highway
Toward US 101: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 101
1.7 mi·2 min·Golden Gate Bridge
12
Merge
34 ft·0 sec
13
Keep slight left at fork
130 ft·1 sec
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·8 sec
15
Continue on US 101; CA 1
1.6 mi·3 min·Presidio Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 101
0.2 mi·43 sec·Richardson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on US 101
0.1 mi·25 sec·Lombard Street
18
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Divisadero Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto California Street
0.5 mi·1 min·California Street
20
Turn right onto Webster Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Webster Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn left onto Oak Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Oak Street
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto Gough Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·Gough Street
23
Turn slight left onto Market Street
183 ft·15 sec·Market Street
Use the slight left lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
25
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour drive time, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Consider departing in the morning to allow for an afternoon arrival in San Francisco. The longest stretch without a significant road change is 127 miles on Redwood Highway, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, keeping the $32 budget in mind. You'll want to watch for local traffic as you move between the main highway and surface roads. This is a flexible route, so you can adjust your pace as needed.
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 70.9 miles from Brooktrails, CA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127 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 31 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.9 miles or 1h 28m 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 22m
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 Brooktrails, 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 Brooktrails, CA
This is one driving day of about 141.8 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Brooktrails, 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 127 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 124.7 and 141.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
124.7 mi into trip|~2h 32m 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
5
136.7 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
138.8 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|Divisadero Street
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
140 mi into trip|~2h 56m in|Webster Street
Turn right onto Webster Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
141.1 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|Oak Street
Turn left onto Oak Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.14 one way
$64.28 round trip
$5.76/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.96
$33.25
$66.50
premium
$6.09
$34.01
$68.02
diesel
$5.40
$30.16
$60.33
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
$32
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
EV Charging Along Route
12 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Raley's - Tesla Supercharger
Ukiah, CA
Tesla
12 DCFC
City of Ukiah Municipal Parking Lot E - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.5
0
$14.89
$6.81
Efficient EV
35.5
0
$12.41
$5.67
EV Truck/SUV
56.7
0
$19.85
$9.08
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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 25, 2026
Origin
Brooktrails, CA
Afternoon
in Brooktrails on Saturday
Local time
2:52 PM
PDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Afternoon
in San Francisco on Saturday
Local time
2:52 PM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Cloudy
WSW 5 to 10 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 25 at 5:36AM PDT until April 26 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 25 at 2:32AM PDT until April 27 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford 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
3 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
3h 1m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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
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
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 141.8
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
~11 min detour
$15
near mile 127.1
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...
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...
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 107.6
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 117.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is mostly surface roads, with only about 100% of the route on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 127 miles on Redwood Highway before transitioning to other roads. Expect a good deal of rural cruising as you navigate Willits Bypass and Sherwood Road. The road network here is built for efficient travel between communities.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 127 mi on Redwood Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 around 124.7 miles in near US 101 / Redwood Highway.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 141.8 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: at 124.7 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 136.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 138.8 miles (Divisadero Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Top landmarks
•Golden Gate Bridge — suspension bridge on the San Francisco Bay
•Alcatraz Island — island in San Francisco, California, United States of America
•San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge — suspension bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland, California, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 1m. Total distance: 141.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 127 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 San Francisco, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 124.7 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 136.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 138.8 miles (Divisadero 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at San Francisco, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
