Willits to San Francisco is 136.8 miles and takes about 2h 54m via CA 20 and the Redwood Highway, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Pacific Coast region to the same region, staying within California. It's primarily a highway drive, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, so if you're looking for a quick and efficient way to get from point A to point B, this route fits the bill.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
68.4 miles from Willits, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 20
116.7 mi
2h 19m
Redwood Highway
11.7 mi
15m
Golden Gate Bridge
1.7 mi
2m
Presidio Parkway
1.6 mi
3m
South Main Street
1.5 mi
3m
Webster Street
1 mi
2m
Divisadero Street
0.8 mi
1m
California Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
CA 20
— 116.7 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Willits, CA and San Francisco, CA.
1
Start on Pine Street
148 ft·8 sec·Pine Street
2
Turn right onto Coast Street
165 ft·12 sec·Coast Street
3
Turn left onto West Valley Street
430 ft·19 sec·West Valley Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto South Main Street
1.5 mi·3 min·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on CA 20
1.4 mi·1 min·Redwood Highway
6
Take the ramp onto CA 20
117 mi·2 hr 19 min·CA 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
10 mi·13 min·Redwood Highway
Toward US 101: San FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 101
1.7 mi·2 min·Golden Gate Bridge
9
Merge
34 ft·0 sec
10
Keep slight left at fork
130 ft·1 sec
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·8 sec
12
Continue on US 101; CA 1
1.6 mi·3 min·Presidio Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 101
0.2 mi·43 sec·Richardson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 101
0.1 mi·25 sec·Lombard Street
15
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Divisadero Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto California Street
0.5 mi·1 min·California Street
17
Turn right onto Webster Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Webster Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn left onto Oak Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Oak Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Gough Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·Gough Street
20
Turn slight left onto Market Street
183 ft·15 sec·Market Street
Use the slight left lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto Market Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Market Street
22
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
For this 136.8-mile drive, leaving Willits in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight, especially since it's a single-day trip. With a duration of under 3 hours, you likely won't need extensive stops, but it's wise to factor in one break. The fuel cost is estimated at $31, so ensure your tank is full before you depart. The longest stretch without a major road change is 116.7 miles on CA 20, so plan your fuel and restroom needs accordingly before hitting that portion.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.4 miles from Willits, CA, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.7 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 30 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.4 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 16m
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 Willits, 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 Willits, CA
This is one driving day of about 136.8 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Willits, 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 CA 20 for about 116.7 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 0.1 and 136.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
119.7 mi into trip|~2h 25m 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
133.9 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|Divisadero Street
Turn right onto Divisadero Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
135.1 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|Webster Street
Turn right onto Webster Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
136.1 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|Oak Street
Turn left onto Oak Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.44 one way
$62.88 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$32.40
$64.80
premium
$6.18
$33.27
$66.54
diesel
$5.61
$30.20
$60.41
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
$31
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41
0
$14.36
$6.57
Efficient EV
34.2
0
$11.97
$5.47
EV Truck/SUV
54.7
0
$19.15
$8.76
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Willits, CA
Late night
in Willits on Tuesday
Local time
3:17 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph96% chanceLive forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 3:40AM PDT until April 21 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 2:41AM PDT until April 21 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Late night
in San Francisco on Tuesday
Local time
3:17 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Chance Light Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 9 to 16 mph87% chanceLive forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 3:40AM PDT until April 21 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 2:41AM PDT until April 21 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Medford OR
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
12 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 54m 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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 136.8
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,...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
$15
near mile 122.7
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 127.4
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
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 122.7
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 108.5
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 113.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 86% of the 136.8 miles on faster roads like CA 20 and the Redwood Highway. You'll encounter a long stretch of 116.7 miles on CA 20 before transitioning to more local roads as you approach the San Francisco area. Expect a significant amount of cruising on the highway, with fewer turns and more consistent speeds for the majority of the trip. Keep an eye out for the dense exits as you get closer to the urban environment.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116.7 mi on CA 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 20 and Redwood Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Main Street.
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 15 significant decision points across 136.8 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 0.1 miles (South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 119.7 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 133.9 miles (Divisadero Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Willits is a city in Mendocino County on the North Coast of California. It is best known as the Heart of Mendocino County. It offers an amazing array of shopping and amusements for a city with a population of 5,000 in 2020.
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 54m. Total distance: 136.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116.7 miles on CA 20. 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. 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: at 0.1 miles (South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 119.7 miles (US 101 / Redwood Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 133.9 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.
