Gilroy to Petaluma through San Francisco

Your route is the safest and involves the least traffic and by far the fewest lane changes. The route through Oakland is fine with a nimble car but I would rather go up 19th street.

You can take Hwy 85 to Hwy 280 to Hwy 1 in SF, or take Hwy 101 to San Bruno and cut over on Hwy 380 near the SF airport to Hwy 280 as well. Flatter and shorter drive without the Hwy 280 hills and better fuel economy.

Another option is Sunset Blvd.

I have pulled 48' trailers through SF, but only on the clock.
I would have run either 80 or 680, pay the toll, and move on.

Oh My! Hope you had a nice cold one waiting for you! What a nightmare. We would have never attempted a drive like that. That's why we stay out of cities with the motorhome. It's just not worth it. We'll go out of our way to skirt them and park the motorhome before attempting to explore them. BTW - our daughter lives in San Fran and we just left the area a month ago.

Update Report:
Well I did the 280 to 35 to the Great Highway route on the way up. WHAT A MISTAKE! The fog was heavy on 35 and when we got on the Great Highway they had closed off part of it and detoured us at Sloat Blvd into San Francisco. I managed to make my way to the road that parallels the Great Highway until the end at Lincoln Way. From there it was only a right turn (I needed to go left to get back on the Great Highway) so I had to make a big U-turn in the middle of the intersection. Now this is not an easy task in a 36 foot motorhome with a car attached but after holding up a little traffic I made it. Then up the hill to Point Lobos. Good thing it is only a 20 mph zone because that is about all I could get out of the motorhome going up the hill. Then once on Geary I managed to make it to each intersection just when the lights turned red, not to mention the few times I had to merge into the left lane in heavy traffic because of construction and delivery trucks double parked in the right lane. Then I made the left on 15th and the right on Clement to make the left on Hwy 1 because there is no left turn from Geary to Hwy 1. Finally merged onto 101 and over the Golden Gate Bridge. Of course Traffic was a mess even long after we left the bridge. After setting up at the Elks Lodge in Petaluma I sat down and mapped out a different return trip.

The way back was Lakeville Highway to 37 to 80 to 780 to 680 to 101. MUCH BETTER! Traffic was good except one short spot I was down to 25 mph but still moving.

rchonly wrote:
If you go that way stay on 280 until you come to Highway 35, exit 41 (aka Skyline Blvd).

Exit there and go north on 35 following it until you see Lake Merced on your right get into the left lane and follow the sign for the SF Zoo which is a left turn that puts you out at the beach on "the Great Highway".

Stay on the Great Highway for about 4 miles, you'll come to the "Cliff House" (on your left) as you curve right and climb up from the beach you're now on Geary Blvd.

At the top of the hill you might stop at a signal. Stay on Geary Blvd. as it veers to the left you're still on Geary and run a couple of miles to the general area of 23rd to 20th Avenues (cross streets) make a left turn where you find a left turn lane and go two blocks over to California St. and turn right.

Stay on California, when you cross 16th AVE you have two blocks before you hit "PARK PRESIDIO BLVD", best to get in the left lane again. At PARK PRESIDIO BLVD turn left and head out to the Golden Gate Bridge. You'll go up a grade and through a tunnel. I ran my old Winnebago Chieftain & toad and pulled my 34' Alpenlite through there many times. There's plenty of clearance in the tunnel, but if you don't feel comfortable move into the left lane. The lanes are kinda narrow but safe.

A little footnote; 280 is a 4 to 6 lane freeway from SJ to SF. I was raised on the SF Peninsula a long time ago and the street routes seem to have held together, they just go bigger.. If you have a paper version of the MAPQUEST ATLAS look in the California section around page 18 for a blow up of the SF Peninsula and you'll be able to see what I laid out for you above. Or go on line to MapQuest and enter "The Great Highway, San Francisco, Ca" and that will also give you the map I'm talking about.

Oh yeah, the tolls are only charged coming into San Francisco not going out.

Personally, I wouldn't run that East Bay freeway system on a bet as it's a zoo 24/7.

The best part is you'll get to see a beautiful part of SF that most people don't even know is there.

Enjoy Roger

I have gone the exact route you mentioned in the car so I am also familiar with it as well as the 19th avenue route I mentioned.
I know the tolls are leaving SF and not entering. We took a bus tour and the driver mentioned that fact. He said the reason is because they figure if you are leaving SF, they already got your money. I also did some research and found the tolls on the I-80 and I-680 bridges are northbound hence the Golden Gate route to avoid the tolls.
Like I said, I have been over the Golden Gate both directions in the motorhome with toad and did 19th ave both times with no problem. I was just wondering if I-80 or I-680 were worth the toll. After reading your statement “I wouldn't run that East Bay freeway system on a bet as it's a zoo 24/7”, I will do the I-260 route and probably do the 35 route since it’s a bit more scenic and I am not in a hurry.

HAve taken our 40 foot on this route a few times.

I've taken the 38ft MH and toad over the Golden Gate half a dozen times or more. It's tight but I drive slow and it is a beautiful drive. I see no reason to avoid the route.
JMHO

If you go that way stay on 280 until you come to Highway 35, exit 41 (aka Skyline Blvd).

Exit there and go north on 35 following it until you see Lake Merced on your right get into the left lane and follow the sign for the SF Zoo which is a left turn that puts you out at the beach on "the Great Highway".

Stay on the Great Highway for about 4 miles, you'll come to the "Cliff House" (on your left) as you curve right and climb up from the beach you're now on Geary Blvd.

At the top of the hill you might stop at a signal. Stay on Geary Blvd. as it veers to the left you're still on Geary and run a couple of miles to the general area of 23rd to 20th Avenues (cross streets) make a left turn where you find a left turn lane and go two blocks over to California St. and turn right.

Stay on California, when you cross 16th AVE you have two blocks before you hit "PARK PRESIDIO BLVD", best to get in the left lane again. At PARK PRESIDIO BLVD turn left and head out to the Golden Gate Bridge. You'll go up a grade and through a tunnel. I ran my old Winnebago Chieftain & toad and pulled my 34' Alpenlite through there many times. There's plenty of clearance in the tunnel, but if you don't feel comfortable move into the left lane. The lanes are kinda narrow but safe.

A little footnote; 280 is a 4 to 6 lane freeway from SJ to SF. I was raised on the SF Peninsula a long time ago and the street routes seem to have held together, they just go bigger.. If you have a paper version of the MAPQUEST ATLAS look in the California section around page 18 for a blow up of the SF Peninsula and you'll be able to see what I laid out for you above. Or go on line to MapQuest and enter "The Great Highway, San Francisco, Ca" and that will also give you the map I'm talking about.

Oh yeah, the tolls are only charged coming into San Francisco not going out.

Personally, I wouldn't run that East Bay freeway system on a bet as it's a zoo 24/7.

The best part is you'll get to see a beautiful part of SF that most people don't even know is there.

Enjoy Roger