Traveling from Ukiah to San Francisco covers 115 miles of Pacific Coast terrain, typically requiring about 2 hours and 26 minutes behind the wheel. Because the duration is relatively short, this trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day journey, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $27 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. The route transitions you from the inland charm of Ukiah directly into the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area. Whether you are heading south for a quick getaway or returning from the North Coast, this straightforward drive offers a reliable connection between these two California locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.5 miles from Ukiah, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Redwood Highway
107.5 mi
2h 9m
Golden Gate Bridge
1.7 mi
2m
Presidio Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
Webster Street
1 mi
2m
Divisadero Street
0.8 mi
1m
East Perkins Street
0.5 mi
1m
California Street
0.5 mi
1m
Oak Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 107.5 mi, about 2h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ukiah, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on US 101 Business
57 ft·8 sec·North State Street
2
Turn left onto East Perkins Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Perkins Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
4
Merge onto US 101
97 mi·1 hr 55 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
10 mi·13 min·Redwood Highway
Toward US 101: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 101
1.7 mi·2 min·Golden Gate Bridge
7
Merge
34 ft·0 sec
8
Keep slight left at fork
130 ft·1 sec
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·8 sec
10
Continue on US 101; CA 1
1.6 mi·3 min·Presidio Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 101
0.2 mi·43 sec·Richardson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 101
0.1 mi·25 sec·Lombard Street
13
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Divisadero Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto California Street
0.5 mi·1 min·California Street
15
Turn right onto Webster Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Webster Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto Oak Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Oak Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto Gough Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·Gough Street
18
Turn slight left onto Market Street
183 ft·15 sec·Market Street
Use the slight left lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
20
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 26-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. While there are no formal stops mandated by the 115-mile distance, keep in mind that the Redwood Highway’s technical nature means you should account for varying traffic speeds. It is a good idea to check local traffic reports before hitting the road, especially as you approach the Golden Gate Bridge, where congestion can fluctuate. Since your fuel budget is estimated at $27, topping off your tank in Ukiah before you head out is a smart way to avoid premium city prices upon your arrival. Use the lack of mandatory stops to your advantage by planning your own breaks whenever you feel the need for a stretch.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.5 miles from Ukiah, CA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.5 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 25 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.5 miles or 1h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 52m
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 Ukiah, 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 Ukiah, CA
This is one driving day of about 115 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Ukiah, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Redwood Highway for about 107.5 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 0.7 and 114.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m 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
97.9 mi into trip|~1h 56m 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
112 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|Divisadero Street
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
113.2 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|Webster Street
Turn right onto Webster Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
114.3 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|Oak Street
Turn left onto Oak Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.43 one way
$52.86 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$27.24
$54.48
premium
$6.18
$27.97
$55.93
diesel
$5.61
$25.39
$50.78
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
$26
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.5
0
$12.08
$5.52
Efficient EV
28.8
0
$10.06
$4.60
EV Truck/SUV
46
0
$16.10
$7.36
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Ukiah, CA
Late night
in Ukiah on Tuesday
Local time
2:09 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 8 mph47% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 2:16PM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Winter Storm Warning
Winter Storm Warning issued April 12 at 1:43PM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Late night
in San Francisco on Tuesday
Local time
2:09 AM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
WSW 13 mph68% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 2:16PM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Winter Storm Warning
Winter Storm Warning issued April 12 at 1:43PM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford 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
5 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
2h 26m on the road
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.
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 103.1
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 107.1
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 87.2
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 91.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate the winding segments of the Redwood Highway. This primary artery accounts for your longest stretch of road at 107.5 miles, keeping you on the move for the vast majority of the journey. Since the route is entirely highway-based, you will experience consistent travel conditions from start to finish. The road’s personality is defined by these technical curves, which contrast sharply with the final approach into the city. As you transition onto the Presidio Parkway and cross the Golden Gate Bridge, the driving environment shifts from rural highway stretches to a more iconic urban transit experience.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.5 mi on Redwood Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.7 miles in near US 101 / Redwood Highway.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 115 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 0.7 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.9 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 112 miles (Divisadero Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Ukiah is a city in the North Coast of California. Just as picturesque as its coastal brethren, Ukiah is in a valley surrounded by beautiful rolling hills or small mountains. It's a good base for exploring Mendocino County, and hosts a variety of small unusual shops and restaurants.
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 2h 26m. Total distance: 115 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.5 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.9 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 112 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at San Francisco, CA before heading back.
