Origin
El Verano, CA
Morning in El Verano on Tuesday
Local time
8:20 AM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from El Verano, CA to San Francisco, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
44.9 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
El Verano, CA
Domenico Adornato
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 44.9-mile drive from El Verano to San Francisco, California, is a manageable 1-hour trip that's perfect for a single day. You'll primarily navigate the Redwood Highway, Arnold Drive, and Sears Point Road, with only a 4% share of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost is around $10, making it an economical option. Given its short duration and local road focus, this route offers a relaxed pace. It's an ideal choice if you're looking for a straightforward connection between two points in the Pacific Coast region without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Highway | 18.6 mi | 24m |
| Arnold Drive | 11.4 mi | 17m |
| Sears Point Road | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| 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
— 18.6 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between El Verano, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Grove Street
93 ft
·
8 sec
·
Grove Street
2
Turn right onto Arnold Drive
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Arnold Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto CA 116
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Stage Gulch Road
4
Continue on CA 116
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Arnold Drive
5
Enter roundabout onto CA 121
130 ft
·
2 sec
·
Arnold Drive
6
Continue on CA 121
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Arnold Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
8
Continue on this road
490 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
9
Merge onto CA 37
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Sears Point Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
11
Merge onto US 101
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Redwood Highway
Toward US 101: San Francisco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 101
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden Gate Bridge
14
Merge
34 ft
·
0 sec
15
Keep slight left at fork
130 ft
·
1 sec
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
17
Continue on US 101; CA 1
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Presidio Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on US 101
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Richardson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on US 101
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Lombard Street
20
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Divisadero Street
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto California Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
California Street
22
Turn right onto Webster Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Webster Street
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn left onto Oak Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Oak Street
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto Gough Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Gough Street
25
Turn slight left onto Market Street
183 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
Use the slight left lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Market Street
27
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.4 miles from El Verano, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 11.8 and 44.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
11.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
CA 37 / Sears Point Road
Merge onto CA 37 / Sears Point Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
27.8 mi into trip
|
~37m 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
41.9 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
Divisadero Street
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
43.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
Webster Street
Turn right onto Webster Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
44.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
Oak Street
Turn left onto Oak Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.32 one way
$20.64 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $10.63 | $21.27 |
| premium | $6.18 | $10.92 | $21.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.91 | $19.83 |
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
$10
Tolls
$9
Total
$19
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.71 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.93 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.29 | $2.87 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
San Francisco, CA
Morning in San Francisco on Tuesday
Local time
8:20 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
San Rafael, CA
22 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 6m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you make your way from El Verano to San Francisco. While only a small portion, 4%, is on highways, the majority of this 44.9-mile route will keep you engaged with local roads like the Redwood Highway, Arnold Drive, and Sears Point Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 18.6 miles on the Redwood Highway. This means you'll be navigating a variety of road types, offering a dynamic driving experience rather than a monotonous highway cruise. Be prepared for frequent adjustments as the road winds through the landscape.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.6 mi on Redwood Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 11.8 miles in near CA 37 / Sears Point Road.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.9 miles you will encounter 17 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: at 11.8 miles (CA 37 / Sears Point Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.8 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.9 miles (Divisadero Street): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in El Verano, CA
Full guide →El Verano is a village of 3,900 people (2020) in the Sonoma Valley, part of Sonoma County, within the San Francisco Bay Area in California. This page also has information on Boyes Hot Springs and Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente, two adjacent, unincorporated areas.
Arriving in San Francisco, CA
Full guide →“Frisco” · Founded 1776
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
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 6m. Total distance: 44.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.6 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 San Francisco, 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: at 11.8 miles (CA 37 / Sears Point Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.8 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.9 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at San Francisco, CA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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