Pine Hills to San Francisco is 270.3 miles and takes about 5h 37m via Redwood Highway, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip hugs the Pacific Coast, taking you from one California locale to another. You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, so don't expect a high-speed dash. Given the 5.5-hour drive time and the $59 fuel cost, it's a manageable one-day excursion that offers a solid introduction to the coastal scenery.
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
135.1 miles from Pine Hills, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m 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
Elk River Road
1.6 mi
2m
Ridgewood Drive
1.3 mi
2m
Webster Street
1 mi
2m
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 Pine Hills, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Walnut Drive
179 ft·3 sec·Walnut Drive
2
Continue on Ridgewood Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·Ridgewood Drive
3
Continue on Elk River Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Elk River Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto Herrick Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·Herrick Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
6
Merge onto US 101
128 mi·2 hr 37 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 101
5.4 mi·6 min·Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 101; CA 20
116 mi·2 hr 18 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
10 mi·13 min·Redwood Highway
Toward US 101: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 101
1.7 mi·2 min·Golden Gate Bridge
11
Merge
34 ft·0 sec
12
Keep slight left at fork
130 ft·1 sec
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·8 sec
14
Continue on US 101; CA 1
1.6 mi·3 min·Presidio Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 101
0.2 mi·43 sec·Richardson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on US 101
0.1 mi·25 sec·Lombard Street
17
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Divisadero Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto California Street
0.5 mi·1 min·California Street
19
Turn right onto Webster Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Webster Street
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto Oak Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Oak Street
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto Gough Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·Gough Street
22
Turn slight left onto Market Street
183 ft·15 sec·Market Street
Use the slight left lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
24
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
For this 270.3-mile drive, starting in the morning is best to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With a total drive time of under 6 hours, you can easily complete this in one day without needing an overnight stop. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point or when you feel the need to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially since the longest stretch is 254.9 miles on the Redwood Highway before you reach the Golden Gate Bridge approaches and potentially more services.
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 135.1 miles from Pine Hills, CA, or about 2h 47m 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 59 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.1 miles or 2h 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 4h 30m
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 Pine Hills, 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 Pine Hills, CA
This is one driving day of about 270.3 miles and 5h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Pine Hills, 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 269.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.2 mi into trip|~5m 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
253.2 mi into trip|~5h 7m 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
267.3 mi into trip|~5h 28m in|Divisadero Street
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
268.5 mi into trip|~5h 32m in|Webster Street
Turn right onto Webster Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
269.6 mi into trip|~5h 34m in|Oak Street
Turn left onto Oak Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$66.15 one way
$132.30 round trip
$6.22/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.40
$68.12
$136.24
premium
$6.57
$69.87
$139.75
diesel
$6.18
$65.76
$131.51
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
$66
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$100–$125
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.1
1
$28.38
$12.97
Efficient EV
67.6
0
$23.65
$10.81
EV Truck/SUV
108.1
1
$37.84
$17.30
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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Pine Hills, CA
Evening
in Pine Hills on Sunday
Local time
6:30 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Patchy Drizzle
SW 3 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:59AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 17 at 7:32PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Evening
in San Francisco on Sunday
Local time
6:30 PM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:59AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 17 at 7:32PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM 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
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 37m 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 270.3
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...
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,...
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 242.3
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 251.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily surface roads, with only about 1% of the drive on highways. You'll encounter the most significant stretch of highway on the Redwood Highway, covering 254.9 miles. After that, expect to transition to more local roads. The profile suggests you'll be navigating through varied terrain, with potentially frequent intersections and lower speed limits as you get closer to your destination.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 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 3.2 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 14 significant decision points across 270.3 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 3.2 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 253.2 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 267.3 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 37m. Total distance: 270.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 37m 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.
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 3.2 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 253.2 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 267.3 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 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 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.
