San Francisco to Ferndale is 261.3 miles and takes about 5h 30m via Redwood Highway and CA 211, with a fuel budget near $57 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Pacific Coast region of Northern California to another part of the Pacific Coast, offering a mostly surface road experience. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, it's a manageable trip for a single day. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward drive up the coast without extensive highway time.
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
130.7 miles from San Francisco, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Redwood Highway
243.2 mi
4h 56m
CA 211
4.8 mi
10m
Willits Bypass
4.7 mi
5m
Presidio Parkway
1.8 mi
3m
Golden Gate Bridge
1.7 mi
2m
Webster Street
1 mi
2m
Divisadero Street
0.8 mi
1m
Fernbridge Drive
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 243.2 mi, about 4h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Ferndale, CA.
1
Start on Market Street
41 ft·6 sec·Market Street
2
Turn sharp right onto US 101
0.1 mi·27 sec·South Van Ness Avenue
3
Turn right onto Otis Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·Otis Street
4
Turn right onto Gough Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·Gough Street
Use the right lane.
5
Turn right onto Market Street
29 ft·1 sec·Market Street
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
497 ft·10 sec
7
Continue on Franklin Street
0.1 mi·37 sec·Franklin Street
8
Turn left onto Fell Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Fell Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Turn right onto Webster Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Webster Street
10
Turn left onto California Street
0.5 mi·1 min·California Street
11
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Divisadero Street
12
Turn left onto US 101
0.1 mi·29 sec·Lombard Street
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on US 101
0.2 mi·40 sec·Richardson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 101
1.8 mi·3 min·Presidio Parkway
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 101
1.7 mi·2 min·Golden Gate Bridge
16
Continue on US 101; CA 1
126 mi·2 hr 32 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 101
4.5 mi·5 min·Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.7 mi·48 sec
19
Merge onto US 101
0.2 mi·16 sec·Willits Bypass
20
Continue on US 101
117 mi·2 hr 24 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Fernbridge, Ferndale
22
Continue on Fernbridge Drive
527 ft·9 sec·Fernbridge Drive
23
Continue on Fernbridge Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Fernbridge Drive
Use the left lane.
24
Turn left onto CA 211
4.8 mi·10 min·CA 211
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
CA 211
Trip Plan
Given this is a one-day drive, leaving San Francisco in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Ferndale. The longest stretch without significant breaks is 243.2 miles on the Redwood Highway, so plan for a fuel stop before you embark or early in your journey. With only one recommended stop and a total duration of 5h 30m, you have flexibility to take your time. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Ferndale, especially if you're traveling during off-peak hours, as services might be more spread out on the latter part of the route.
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 130.7 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 2h 44m 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 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.7 miles or 2h 44m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ferndale, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, CA
This is one driving day of about 261.3 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from San Francisco, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 256.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue
Turn sharp right onto US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|Gough Street
Turn right onto Gough Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Market Street
Turn right onto Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|Fell Street
Turn left onto Fell Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
256.6 mi into trip|~5h 20m in|CA 211
Turn left onto CA 211
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.95 one way
$127.89 round trip
$6.22/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.40
$65.85
$131.70
premium
$6.57
$67.55
$135.09
diesel
$6.18
$63.57
$127.13
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
$64
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$98–$123
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.4
0
$27.44
$12.54
Efficient EV
65.3
0
$22.86
$10.45
EV Truck/SUV
104.5
1
$36.58
$16.72
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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
San Francisco, CA
Late night
in San Francisco on Saturday
Local time
4:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Clear
ENE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 2:31AM PDT until October 16 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 2:15AM PDT until October 16 at 10:00AM PDT by NWS Sacramento CA
Destination
Ferndale, CA
Late night
in Ferndale on Saturday
Local time
4:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 2:31AM PDT until October 16 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 2:15AM PDT until October 16 at 10:00AM PDT by NWS Sacramento 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
8 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 30m 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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly on surface roads, with just 30% of the drive on highways. You'll experience 243.2 miles on the Redwood Highway before transitioning to other roads like CA 211. Expect a more rural cruising feel as you move away from the main highway sections. The profile is mostly surface roads, so prepare for more varied speed limits and potential local traffic.
Only 3% 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: 243.2 mi on Redwood Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 261.3 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start (US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (Gough Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (Market 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 30m. Total distance: 261.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (3%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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.
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: near the start (US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (Gough Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (Market 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 5.5 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 Ferndale, CA before the return drive.
