101 thru San Francisco?

We turned off on CA just south of the Golden Gate and then picked up I-280 south. It seemed easier then going through downtown SF. Watch the day of week and time of day

If you are coming from the south

Get off 101 just before San Jose and on to 85 and take that to I-280. Stay on I-280 to the exit for route 1, 19th ave,it is clearly marked and easy to do. Try to stay in the center lane and follow the signs thru SF Park to the bridge. Out standing scenery going over the Bridge

There no tolls or restrictions going north.

If you can Google Earth it you can see the whole thing.
I also stoped at the north end view area. I did a Google earth on it and you can do a virtual drive thru the whole thing.

Do not take 101 through SF. Follow the above advice and recommend mid day transit. We're 42' plus toad.

Going south toll is required and no cash or CC, do not stop. Either stop before the bridge and pre pay or post pay after the bridge or better yet log on to the website the next day and pay. You can get the bill at home but there may be extra charges after 2 weeks. Not the best system for tourists so we have the FasTrak electronic device.

Going south take the 2nd exit - 19th Ave, stay right and don't miss it. The first exit is immediately after the toll booths, don't take it.

Just try not to hit downtown at rush hours. It will still be busy, but less so. We have done both the US 101 and SR 1 through San Francisco.

Like two hands, we've done the 101 many times. Other than regular big city traffic, 101 is a US hwy so it'll handle your rig with no problems. If you're trying to avoid all traffic then use the route indicated above and take 280. I found traffic worse in Seattle and Houston than in SF....Dennis

101 is a 6 lane road through a city. It is an easy drive. Traffic will depend on the time of day. There is one left turn and all 3 left lanes turn, so no worries about being in the correct lane. Stay in the center lane and you will be fine. There are a few places where it pinches down to 2 lanes in one direction but then opens back up. Look at google maps street view if you want to see the exit ramp and or any other intersection.

We r coming from the north. How much toll?

$30 for 5 axles with FasTrak as I recall, axle count dependent, might be higher without FasTrak.

I guess we all have opinions...

I found the drive through SF to be perhaps the most stressful stretch of road I've ever driven in our RVs. We drive all sorts of narrow, steep, winding mountain roads and I've never felt like a sardine before until SF!

The cars parked on the right all pull in their mirrors or they get broken by passing vehicles. If my rear view was lower, I couldn't miss without pulling in my mirror.

Sitting at a traffic light aligned perfectly in my lane, an ambulance clipped my drivers side mirror (just barely kissed it actually) pulling up to the light.

If I was to do it again, I'd take the left or center lane and hope for the best. I'll never go that way again for sure and would never recommend it.

I used to believe that all US highways needed a standard width lane... I'm quite certain that US 101 through downtown SF doesn't meet those standards, but I'd sure like to see the official measurements as it scared the heck out of me!

YMMV!!!

Off Pavement wrote:
I used to believe that all US highways needed a standard width lane... I'm quite certain that US 101 through downtown SF doesn't meet those standards, but I'd sure like to see the official measurements as it scared the heck out of me!YMMV!!!

That would be interesting input. Many years ago CalTrans wanted to upgrade 101 through SF. The citizens said no.

More recently the bay bridge approach (280) and the GG bridge 101 approach have been upgraded. Perhaps those areas meet current standards.