Ferndale to San Francisco is 261 miles and takes about 5h 29m via Redwood Highway, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive connects the Pacific Coast regions of California, offering a full day's travel. You'll primarily be on surface roads for much of this route, so plan for a more leisurely pace than a pure freeway trip. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under six hours, it's a manageable one-day excursion, but consider starting early to make the most of your daylight.
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
130.5 miles from Ferndale, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Redwood Highway
243.2 mi
4h 56m
Willits Bypass
5.4 mi
6m
Main Street
4.8 mi
10m
Golden Gate Bridge
1.7 mi
2m
Presidio Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
Webster Street
1 mi
2m
Divisadero Street
0.8 mi
1m
Fernbridge Drive
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 243.2 mi, about 4h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ferndale, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on CA 211
4.8 mi·10 min·Main Street
2
Turn right onto Fernbridge Drive
0.6 mi·59 sec·Fernbridge Drive
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
4
Merge onto US 101
117 mi·2 hr 24 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on US 101
5.4 mi·6 min·Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 101; CA 20
116 mi·2 hr 18 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
10 mi·13 min·Redwood Highway
Toward US 101: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 101
1.7 mi·2 min·Golden Gate Bridge
9
Merge
34 ft·0 sec
10
Keep slight left at fork
130 ft·1 sec
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·8 sec
12
Continue on US 101; CA 1
1.6 mi·3 min·Presidio Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 101
0.2 mi·43 sec·Richardson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 101
0.1 mi·25 sec·Lombard Street
15
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Divisadero Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto California Street
0.5 mi·1 min·California Street
17
Turn right onto Webster Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Webster Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn left onto Oak Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Oak Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Gough Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·Gough Street
20
Turn slight left onto Market Street
183 ft·15 sec·Market Street
Use the slight left lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
22
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 261-mile drive, departing from Ferndale in the morning is your best bet. Since it's designed as a one-day trip with a duration of about 5h 29m, you'll want to get on the road early. The route suggests only one stop, so plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as you'll be on surface roads for a significant portion of the drive, and the estimated fuel cost is around $59. The longest stretch without a break is 243.2 miles on Redwood Highway, so ensure you're comfortable with that distance before you set out.
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 130.5 miles from Ferndale, CA, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 243.2 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 57 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.5 miles or 2h 45m 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 24m
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 Ferndale, 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 Ferndale, CA
This is one driving day of about 261 miles and 5h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Ferndale, 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 243.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.6 and 260.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.6 mi into trip|~11m in|US 101 / Redwood Highway
Merge onto US 101 / Redwood Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
243.9 mi into trip|~4h 59m 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
258 mi into trip|~5h 20m in|Divisadero Street
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
259.2 mi into trip|~5h 24m in|Webster Street
Turn right onto Webster Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
260.3 mi into trip|~5h 26m in|Oak Street
Turn left onto Oak Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.60 one way
$109.21 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$56.71
$113.42
premium
$5.67
$58.21
$116.42
diesel
$4.80
$49.28
$98.56
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
$55
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$89–$114
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.3
0
$27.41
$12.53
Efficient EV
65.3
0
$22.84
$10.44
EV Truck/SUV
104.4
1
$36.54
$16.70
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Ferndale, CA
Late night
in Ferndale on Monday
Local time
12:19 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Widespread Fog
NW 6 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 12:53PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Late night
in San Francisco on Monday
Local time
12:19 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Cloudy
WSW 7 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 12:53PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard 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
5h 29m 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...
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,...
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 234
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 243
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely surface roads, with only a small portion on highways. You'll spend most of your time on roads like Redwood Highway and Main Street, covering a longest stretch of 243.2 miles on Redwood Highway. Expect to encounter more local traffic and slower speeds as you move away from any limited-access sections. You'll notice the transition from more open highway cruising to navigating through towns and varied road conditions.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 243.2 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 5.6 miles in near US 101 / Redwood Highway.
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 13 significant decision points across 261 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 5.6 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 243.9 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 258 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 29m. Total distance: 261 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 243.2 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.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.6 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 243.9 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 258 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 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.
