Long Beach, CA to Petaluma, CA

[VR AND JR]

Will be travling in 30 ft RV in two months to Petaluma, ca from Long Beach, ca

How is hwy 101 - any problems crossing golden gate bridge? thanks

[Dunnpe]

Sorry I did not see this sooner but we make this trip every 3 months. We live the SF bay area. I have taken 101 down to Long Beach and back up. It is a nice drive now that much of the route has by passes around the major citys. It all depends how big of a hurry you are in and the road condition of the faster route I-5 which has the grapevine to go over and is closed sometimes in the winter for snow but I-5 is faster by several hours but both are OK rides. If you go I-5 start out on the 405 to it intersects I-5 then continuse North on I-5 to you turn off for Petalma. I am sure you are familiar with the roads around Petaluma.

[Wayne M]

Just for future reference, we just completed a trip from Seal Beach (Just South of Long Beach) to Petaluma. We used the 101 with no problems, but we did not use 101 through SFran. We used 280 bypass. It will take you right to the 19th street exit (101N) and onto the Golden Gate and toward Petaluma and points North. We also continued on 101 to Klamath, CA. I few hills and some curves, but nothing unmanageable. The ride into Gaberville, CA was interesting with large Redwoods on each side of the road. Many had bark stripped off. I made it through without scratching the paint. I was in a 40Ft MH with a TOAD.

[Dunnpe]

My son lives in Seal Beach, what a coincidence. We usually want to get there quick to see the grand kids so we go I-5.

We have gone north on 101 through Garberville and stayed at Benbow RV park. I know what you mean by Redwoods with bark missing but the drive is fun.

[VR AND JR]

thanks to all for the info, will be going that way real soon.

[jobriant]

Quote:

Originally Posted by VR AND JR Will be travling in 30 ft RV in two months to Petaluma, ca from Long Beach, ca How is hwy 101 - any problems crossing golden gate bridge? thanks

We live just south of the SFO Bay area, in Gilroy, which is right on US 101. Our preferred route to Petaluma is:

US 101 north to San Jose, then I-880 north to Oakland.

Passing through downtown Oakland, stay on I-880 instead of taking I-980. Our Garmin prevers I-980, but it's only about 0.3 miles shorter and involves some difficult lane changes. From NB I-880, merge onto westbound I-580/eastbound I-80. (It's strange but true, for a few miles, EB I-80 and WB I-580 are the same stretch of road.)

A few miles further, you can either take the I-580 exit, cross the Richmond Bridge (high toll for RVs), and then merge onto northbound US 101 to Petaluma... -- OR -- ... stay on EB I-80, cross the Carquinez Bridge (same high toll for RVs), then exit to WB SR 37, to US 101, then north to Petaluma.

If possible, you'll want to time your passage through the Bay Area, if on a weekday, to be between 10 AM and 3 PM. If on a weekend, time it to be after 9 AM Saturday and before about 5 PM on Sunday.

We completely avoid San Francisco in our RV. If you go through the city on US 101, there are many blocks of heavy traffic. If you use I-280, you still end up going up 19th St, with very narrow lanes, and then through Golden Gate Park, with a tunnel with low clearance on outer lanes.

In additon, construction for a seismic retrofit of Doyle Drive, the northbound approach to the Golden Gate Bridge, is starting. There will be construction here for at least 2-3 years.

Hope this helps...

[VR AND JR]

thanks again will be going north later this year.

[SteveLevin]

Unless you have a need to take 101... I would avoid it and just take the 405->5->580 routing. It's a good 2 hours shorter driving time.. and with gas at 4 bucks a gallon, saving gas is always a nice thing.

Steve