Best way to bypass San Francisco

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.