This 271.4-mile journey from Cutten, California, to San Francisco, California, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 40 minutes. You'll primarily travel on the Redwood Highway and Willits Bypass, eventually crossing the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. With a fuel cost estimated at $62, this route offers a full day's adventure without requiring an overnight stop. The drive winds through the Pacific Coast region, providing a scenic transition as you approach the Bay Area. Consider this a manageable day trip with plenty of opportunities to experience the varied California landscape.
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
135.7 miles from Cutten, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Redwood Highway
254.9 mi
5h 9m
Willits Bypass
5.4 mi
6m
Golden Gate Bridge
1.7 mi
2m
Presidio Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
Webster Street
1 mi
2m
Herrick Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Fairway Drive
0.9 mi
1m
Divisadero Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 254.9 mi, about 5h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cutten, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Fern Street
36 ft·8 sec·Fern Street
2
Turn left onto Walnut Drive
0.5 mi·48 sec·Walnut Drive
3
Turn right onto Holly Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·Holly Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto Excelsior Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Excelsior Road
5
Turn left onto Fern Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Fern Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto Campton Road
0.3 mi·33 sec·Campton Road
7
Turn left onto Oak Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·Oak Street
8
Turn left onto F Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·F Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Continue on Fairway Drive
0.9 mi·1 min·Fairway Drive
10
Continue on Herrick Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·Herrick Avenue
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
12
Merge onto US 101
128 mi·2 hr 37 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 101
5.4 mi·6 min·Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 101; CA 20
116 mi·2 hr 18 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
10 mi·13 min·Redwood Highway
Toward US 101: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 101
1.7 mi·2 min·Golden Gate Bridge
17
Merge
34 ft·0 sec
18
Keep slight left at fork
130 ft·1 sec
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·8 sec
20
Continue on US 101; CA 1
1.6 mi·3 min·Presidio Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on US 101
0.2 mi·43 sec·Richardson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on US 101
0.1 mi·25 sec·Lombard Street
23
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Divisadero Street
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left onto California Street
0.5 mi·1 min·California Street
25
Turn right onto Webster Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Webster Street
Use the straight lane.
26
Turn left onto Oak Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Oak Street
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right onto Gough Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·Gough Street
28
Turn slight left onto Market Street
183 ft·15 sec·Market Street
Use the slight left lane.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
30
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour, 40-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Cutten to maximize your daylight hours. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch is 254.9 miles on the Redwood Highway, and plan your refueling accordingly. While the route is manageable in one day, you might want to break it up if you prefer a more leisurely pace. A practical tip: be prepared for the road to feel more local and winding for the majority of the trip before reaching more open stretches.
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 135.7 miles from Cutten, CA, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 254.9 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 60 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.7 miles or 2h 49m 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 33m
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 Cutten, 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 Cutten, CA
This is one driving day of about 271.4 miles and 5h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Cutten, 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 254.9 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 270.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|F Street
Turn left onto F Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
254.3 mi into trip|~5h 10m 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
268.4 mi into trip|~5h 31m in|Divisadero Street
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
269.6 mi into trip|~5h 35m in|Webster Street
Turn right onto Webster Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
270.7 mi into trip|~5h 37m in|Oak Street
Turn left onto Oak Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$62.38 one way
$124.76 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$64.28
$128.56
premium
$6.18
$66.00
$132.00
diesel
$5.61
$59.92
$119.84
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
$62
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$96–$121
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.4
1
$28.50
$13.03
Efficient EV
67.9
0
$23.75
$10.86
EV Truck/SUV
108.6
1
$38.00
$17.37
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Cutten, CA
Late night
in Cutten on Tuesday
Local time
2:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Late night
in San Francisco on Tuesday
Local time
2:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
NW 2 to 8 mph0% chanceLive 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
10 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 40m 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.
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 273.6
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
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 264.1
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,...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
$15
near mile 264.1
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...
9 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 264.1
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 245.3
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 254.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for much of this 271.4-mile trip, with a highway share of 100% indicating it's all on established roadways. While there are no monotonous interstate stretches, the longest uninterrupted drive is a significant 254.9 miles on the Redwood Highway. This suggests a continuous road experience rather than frequent highway exits and on-ramps. The character of the drive will likely involve navigating winding sections and maintaining a steady pace, especially on the Redwood Highway, before potentially opening up as you approach the Golden Gate Bridge.
Only 1% 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: 254.9 mi on Redwood Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 1.9 miles in near F Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 271.4 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 1.9 miles (F Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 254.3 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 268.4 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 5h 40m. Total distance: 271.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 254.9 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 1.9 miles (F Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 254.3 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 268.4 miles (Divisadero Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Muir Woods National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at San Francisco, CA before the return drive.
