Best way to bypass San Francisco

Marv beat me to it. His route is the best. We have traveled that route many times with our set up and it is pretty good.

We live and work in the Bay Area. You do NOT want to drive your RV thru SF. Trust me.

aerbus32 wrote:
Sounds like you'd like to get off 101 to get around SF. I've done it a number of ways. There isn't a prefect way. Most recently I took 37 to 80 to 780 to 680 to 101. Anytime you are near a city of any size in California, avoid travel during commuter times.

While the above route is about 15 miles longer than the San Rafael bridge Oakland to San Jose way, that is the way I would go. The maze around the Bay Bridge is always a nightmare. Here is my choice.

In Petaluma from SB 101 take the Hwy 116 (Lakeville Rd) exit
Take 116 to Hwy 37 (Sears Point RD)
Take 37 to I-80, I-80 to I-780
I-780 to I-680 over the bridge (free direction)
Stay on I-680 to the junction of Hwy 101 south bound in San Jose

The above route is about 100 miles, beginning to end, I would want to hit the Hwy 116 exit around 10am no later than 11:30.

As I stated, my main objective is to avoid the constant congestion near the SF bay bridge, it is ugly almost all the time.

I lived in the bay area for 50 years, I speak from experience.

Sounds like you'd like to get off 101 to get around SF. I've done it a number of ways. There isn't a prefect way. Most recently I took 37 to 80 to 780 to 680 to 101. Anytime you are near a city of any size in California, avoid travel during commuter times.

IAMICHABOD wrote:
I just did the 101 to the 580 to the 880 rejoined 101 at San Jose.

My map showed Toll on Richmond San Rafael Bridge but I encountered none going southbound, It is a long bridge !

I did it about 10:00 AM mid week Traffic was heavy but moving in the Oakland area but after that it was smooth sailing all the way to San Jose and the 101.
Good Luck.

Do this, anytime after 10am and before 3pm, or after 7pm at night. There is no toll in the east/southbound direction of I-580 on the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge. Just be careful around the maze area (I-80/I-880/I-580 interchange), and you'll be fine.

I just did the 101 to the 580 to the 880 rejoined 101 at San Jose.

My map showed Toll on Richmond San Rafael Bridge but I encountered none going southbound, It is a long bridge !

I did it about 10:00 AM mid week Traffic was heavy but moving in the Oakland area but after that it was smooth sailing all the way to San Jose and the 101.
Good Luck.

If you've never crossed the Golden Gate before I would just suck it up and do that - mid day being better than the morning or evening rush hour.

Then take 1 to I-280 to 85 and rejoin 101 south of San Jose

Otherwise I-580 to I-880 to 101