Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
59.6 mi
96 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Francisco, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Graton, CA
Wikimedia Commons
This 59.6-mile drive from San Francisco to Graton, California, is a manageable 1-hour and 25-minute journey, making it an excellent option for a single-day trip. You'll navigate primarily via the Redwood Highway and Gravenstein Highway. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, this route offers an affordable escape within the Pacific Coast region. The drive's character suggests it's more of a local exploration than a high-speed transit, so plan for a relaxed pace. Given its short distance and the profile of the roads, no overnight split is necessary.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Highway | 39.8 mi | 48m |
| Gravenstein Highway | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| Gravenstein Highway North | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Presidio Parkway | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Golden Gate Bridge | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Webster Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Divisadero Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Graton Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Graton, CA.
Start on Market Street
Turn sharp right onto US 101
Turn right onto Otis Street
Turn right onto Gough Street
Turn right onto Market Street
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on Franklin Street
Turn left onto Fell Street
Turn right onto Webster Street
Turn left onto California Street
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
Turn left onto US 101
Continue on US 101
Continue on US 101
Continue on US 101
Continue on US 101; CA 1
Take the exit onto CA 116
Continue on CA 116
Continue on CA 116
Turn left onto CA 116
Turn right onto CA 116
Turn slight left onto CA 116
Continue on CA 116
Turn left onto Graton Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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.
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 29.8 miles from San Francisco, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 47 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn sharp right onto US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Turn right onto Gough Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Fell Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto CA 116 toward CA 116 West: Sebastopol, Downtown Cotati
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$13.70 one way
$27.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $14.12 | $28.23 |
| premium | $6.18 | $14.49 | $28.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.16 | $26.32 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$14
Tolls
$9
Total
$23
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.26 | $2.86 |
| Efficient EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.34 | $3.81 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in San Francisco on Tuesday
Local time
2:09 AM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Partly Cloudy
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 7:10PM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
Late night in Graton on Tuesday
Local time
2:09 AM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
59°F
San Rafael, CA
30 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 59.6-mile trip, with only about a third of the journey on highways. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be 39.8 miles along the Redwood Highway. As you transition to Gravenstein Highway and then Gravenstein Highway North, the road's personality shifts, likely becoming more winding and intimate. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; it's a route that requires your attention and rewards you with a more engaging driving experience as you travel through the landscape.
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 early in the drive near US 101 / South Van Ness Avenue.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.6 miles you will encounter 16 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from San Francisco, CA to Graton, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Cotati along the way.
Cotati
“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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 59.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m 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.
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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