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Trip from San Francisco, CA to Humboldt Hill, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 38m

Distance

267.9 mi

431 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$62

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 25m ★
6 AM
5h 38m
8 AM
6h 5m
10 AM
5h 48m
12 PM
5h 45m
3 PM
5h 49m
5 PM
6h 3m
8 PM
5h 30m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

consolidated city and county in California, United States

San Francisco, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Humboldt Hill, CA, CA

Humboldt Hill, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

This 267.9-mile journey from San Francisco to Humboldt Hill, California, will take approximately 5 hours and 38 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing the Redwood Highway, Willits Bypass, and Presidio Parkway, this route is best suited as a single-day trip, especially with a fuel cost estimated at $62. You'll be navigating a turn-heavy local drive for much of the way, offering a more intimate experience of the Pacific Coast region you'll be traversing. While it's a manageable day trip, you might consider breaking it up if you prefer a more leisurely pace. This drive offers a good balance of travel time and exploration potential within California.

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

134 miles from San Francisco, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 48m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Redwood Highway 252.9 mi 5h 7m
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
Humboldt Hill Road 0.7 mi 1m
Linda Road 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Redwood Highway — 252.9 mi, about 5h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Francisco, CA and Humboldt Hill, 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

126 mi · 2 hr 35 min · Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward King Salmon
22

Continue on South Broadway Street

0.1 mi · 25 sec · South Broadway Street
23

Turn right onto Purdue Drive

0.3 mi · 1 min · Purdue Drive
24

Turn left onto Stanford Drive

0.2 mi · 42 sec · Stanford Drive
25

Turn right onto Humboldt Hill Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Humboldt Hill Road
26

Turn left onto Skyline Drive

0.1 mi · 36 sec · Skyline Drive
27

Turn left onto Vista Road

0.2 mi · 53 sec · Vista Road
28

Continue on Linda Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Linda Road
29

Continue on Linda Road

350 ft · 17 sec · Linda Road
30

Continue on Linda Road

116 ft · 5 sec · Linda Road
31

Arrive at destination

Linda Road

Trip Plan

For this 5-hour and 38-minute drive, aim for an early start from San Francisco to maximize daylight and minimize traffic, especially if you plan to complete it in one day. With an estimated fuel cost of $62, ensure your vehicle is fueled before you depart. While there's only one recommended stop on this route, take advantage of the 252.9-mile stretch on the Redwood Highway to plan your breaks strategically. Pay close attention to the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile; anticipate frequent adjustments and be mindful of speed limits as you transition through different areas. This route is flexible enough for a single day, but a midday stop will make it more comfortable.

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 134 miles from San Francisco, CA, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 252.9 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 18m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 134 miles or 2h 48m 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 33m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Humboldt Hill, 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 267.9 miles and 5h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 252.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city and County Seat of Mendocino County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ukiah, CA

134 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

Petaluma, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ukiah, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 134 miles from San Francisco, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Redwood Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 252.9 miles.

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 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 0.6 — 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.
5
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

6
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | Fell Street

Turn left onto Fell Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$61.57 one way

$123.15 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 94 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $63.45 $126.90
premium $6.18 $65.15 $130.30
diesel $5.61 $59.15 $118.30

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

$62

Tolls

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$96–$121

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 93.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 80.4 0 $28.13 $12.86
Efficient EV 67 0 $23.44 $10.72
EV Truck/SUV 107.2 1 $37.51 $17.15

Gas CO2

94 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (67% 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

San Francisco, CA

Night in San Francisco on Saturday

Local time

9:42 PM

PDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Humboldt Hill, CA

Night in Humboldt Hill on Saturday

Local time

9:42 PM

PDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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 38m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for this 267.9-mile trip. While 100% of the route is on highways, the character leans towards local roads rather than wide-open interstate. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 252.9 miles on the Redwood Highway, offering a substantial period of consistent driving. This suggests a route that likely winds through various towns and communities, requiring your attention to turns and changing speed limits. It's not a monotonous freeway cruise, but rather a more engaging drive through diverse Pacific Coast scenery.

Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 252.9 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 20 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 Effort 5/10

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 267.9 miles you will encounter 20 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.

About the Cities

Starting in San Francisco, CA

Full guide →

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.

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 5h 38m. Total distance: 267.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (1%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 252.9 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.

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.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Humboldt Hill, CA before the return drive.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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