A road trip from San Francisco to Redwoods National Park takes you through some of Northern California’s most memorable landscapes. As you leave the city behind, the route winds along rugged coastlines, through charming small towns, and into forests filled with some of the tallest trees on Earth.
Whether you have a long weekend or a full week to explore, this journey offers countless opportunities to stop for scenic viewpoints, hiking trails, wildlife spotting, and local attractions. This guide covers the best route, can’t-miss stops, and tips to help you plan an unforgettable drive from San Francisco to the redwoods.
San Francisco to Redwoods National Park Route
Distance: ~330 miles (depending on which road you take, see below)
Hours: ~6-8 hours (also depending)
Suggested Duration: 3 days
Suggested Stops
- San Francisco
- Mount Tamalpais State Park
- Point Reyes National Seashore
- Sonoma County Wine Region
- Mendocino and Fort Bragg (if you take Rt 1 or want to divert)
- Humboldt Redwoods State Park
- Redwoods National Park
Highlights
- San Francisco is a great city to explore on its own. Take a day to see the sights before starting your journey.
- Gorgeous views from Mount Tamalpais State Park – get your camera ready!
- Enjoy the coastline and beaches at Point Reyes National Seashore
- Stop in Sonoma wine country for some wine tasting
- See the glass beach in Fort Bragg
- Drive through the famous Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwoods State Park
- See Redwoods National and State parks where you can drive through a tree and stare up in awe at these giant trees.
How Far Is Redwood National Park from San Francisco
The drive from San Francisco to Redwood National Park is approximately 330 miles, however this can vary depending on which route you take. There are two main routes that road trippers usually decide between. That’s Highway 1 and U.S. Route 101.
Highway 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, is the more scenic highway that hugs the coastline. If you have extra time to spend, I would recommend driving that route as it’s very scenic – more so than 101, and there are lots of great beach stop offs along the way.
However, this route will be much slower, because it’s one lane in each direction for most of the way and it’s more dangerous, thus slower speeds are required. It will take about 8 hours to drive this route. There are some stops we’ve included that you would have to pop back out to 101 for, so you’ll have to decide what stops to make.
Route 101 is the larger highway with 2 lanes. It’s faster and more efficient, but isn’t along the coast. You win some, you lose some. This route will take about 6 hours to drive, but you’ll want to stop off on the way anyways.
Tips to Perfect Your Itinerary
- Best Time to Visit: Redwood National Park has decent weather all year long thanks to the mild coastal temperatures. The winter months tend to be rainy, so the best months to hike amongst the redwoods are from May to September.
- Where to Stay: If you’re looking to stay in the park, you’ll have to stay at one of the 4 campgrounds in Redwood National and State Parks. Outside the park, book a spot nearby at the Historic Requa Inn in Klamath, California.
- How to Get There: There are small regional airports nearby, but the closest major airports are in Medford (3 hours away) or Sacramento, Oakland, or San Francisco (all 6 hours away). Use Skyscanner to browse flights and find the best price.
- How to Get Around: The easiest way to get around Redwood is in your own car. Use Rentalcars.com to browse deals on rental cars or rent an RV or campervan with Outdoorsy.
- Don’t Forget: Be sure to get an America the Beautiful National Park Pass ahead of time. This $80 pass is valid for 12 months and get you into all 400+ national park sites (including the Redwood State Parks!)
Starting Point: San Francisco
San Francisco is one of the most vibrant and picturesque cities in the United States, with a significant number of cultural attractions and world famous landmarks, surrounded by impressive natural beauty.
The sights in San Francisco are as diverse as its history. Map out the seascape of San Francisco from atop Telegraph Hill, where Coit Tower stands as a former beacon to sailing ships.
From there, drop down to North Beach where Fisherman’s Wharf buzzes with street performers, sea lion shows, and delicious seafood (clam chowder bowls!).
Golden Gate Park, larger than Central Park, has numerous gardens, exhibits and memorials. You can catch views of the sunset over the Golden Gate bridge nearby. And don’t forget the iconic Alcatraz island – the former prison on an island in the middle of San Francisco Bay.
»» ACCOMMODATION: See hotels in San Francisco. We stayed at Hyatt Regency San Francisco on the waterfront.
Mount Tamalpais State Park
Just north of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is Mount Tamalpais State Park. The primary feature of the park is the 2,571 feet Mount Tamalpais. It’s a very picturesque place that is definitely worth of a stop to take some photos.
The mountain is easy to access. You can drive nearly all the way to the top. Once you get there, a few short trails take you up and around the mountain.
Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore is a vast expanse of protected coastline north of San Francisco. There are thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands, expansive sand beaches, open grasslands, brushy hillsides, and forested ridges.
For beaches, there’s 80 miles of shoreline, including dozens of miles of sandy beach, like Wildcat Beach, that you can explore and enjoy. There are seemingly endless hiking possibilities, including forest and coastal hikes of all different length and ability level. Out on the rocky point is the 1870 Point Reyes Lighthouse.
»» ACCOMMODATIONS: Coast Campground and Sky Campground
Sonoma County Wine Region
I never pass up an opportunity to sip delicious wine in one of the best wine regions in the world. Sonoma County has some seriously good wine tasting options, as well as great restaurants to try. I think it deserves at least a day and an overnight.
You can do wine tasting in any of the many AVAs from Geyserville down to Santa Rosa. You don’t need a reservation at many of them, and since you’re only there for a day (or two, if you stretch it), you can just stop where ever you see signs for wine tasting.
My favorites are Kendall Jackson, Rodney Strong, J Vintners, and the many small tasting rooms in Healdsburg. Also love the Oakville Grocery for picnic supplies.
»» ACCOMMODATIONS: The Sandman Santa Rosa or splurge for Harvest Inn St. Helena
Humboldt Redwoods State Park (Avenue of the Giants)
As you drive toward Redwoods National Park, you can’t miss the Avenue of the Giants – a 31.5-mile drive through Humboldt Redwoods State Park. There are tons of things to see along the way, so prepare for a lot of stops as the mood strikes you.
This natural wonder of California is one of the most scenic and iconic in the state.
Redwoods National & State Parks
Redwood National Park is home to the world’s tallest trees and old-growth redwood forests. Many of the trees in the forest of over 300 feet tall and 2,000 years old. You will be astounded by the size of these trees!
Redwoods is actually a complex of one national park and three state parks: Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek. It’s $30 to get into Redwoods National park. Online advanced permits are needed for most of the state parks and there’s a cost of $12 for a day-use pass. If you’re staying at the campground or have a pass, it’s free.
At Jedediah Smith, Stout Grove is one of the most majestic and photographed groves of redwoods. In Redwoods National Park is the famous Lady Bird Johnson Grove. Redwoods Creek Overlook is also nearby.
Fern Canyon is a 1-mile loop with an elevation gain of 150 feet, taking about 30 minutes. The trail takes you through a canyon with two-story walls of ferns. You will get your feet wet! Gold Bluffs Beach nearby is a remote beach where you can spend the day at the beach, have a picnic, and enjoy the natural beauty. There’s also a campground.
»» ACCOMMODATIONS: Gold Bluffs Beach Campground, Elk Prairie Campground, or Holiday Inn Express Arcata/Eureka
Laura is a travel fanatic who loves seeing and doing new things. She lives in Ventura, CA, and spends a lot of time exploring California’s cities, beaches, and national parks.