SF Bay Area - Best driving roads for a Sunday morning blast?

[1mang]

Here's an all day drive I did recently. It's a bit far depending on where you are coming from but well worth the views and quality of road. This goes through Kings Canyon and Sequoia National park so expect entrance fees of $25-30. You might get bogged by some visitors but most people are aware of turnouts (unlike some people of Hwy9!). My favorite part is hwy 245 section as its tight/technical/elevation changes with good visibility to look ahead. It reminds me of Mount Hamilton San Jose side but a lot smoother and wider. There was no one else on the road so you can really enjoy the drive.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/''/K...ab96ea!1m0!3e0

[wjk_glynn]

Thanks, I’ll add it to the top post this weekend.

[wjk_glynn]

Added...

Points further away from the SF Bay Area

• East
  • Through Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park - https://goo.gl/maps/WEYFSHVGnuuLVdLt8 (~174 miles)
    • Recommended by 1mang
    • West side of this route is ~165 miles east-south-east of San Jose (as the crow flies)

Karl.

[wjk_glynn]

Added...

North Bay

• From Stinson Beach up to Ridgecrest Blvd. via Panoramic Hwy. - https://goo.gl/maps/aTYt9p8nVT7KgrE57 (~9 miles)
  • Recommended by visitador
• From Suisun Valley Rd. up and into Napa Valley:
  • sgt1372 has three recommended variations (with followup comments here):
    • Shorter - https://goo.gl/maps/V8GY9hvsKUuYYMXH6 (~34 miles)
    • Medium - https://goo.gl/maps/tpok7fNyF1Je1ArRA (~48 miles)
    • Longer - https://goo.gl/maps/F5JLmKtwmP99NuwK6 (~74 miles)

Karl.

[wjk_glynn]

Originally Posted by 1mang

Here's an all day drive I did recently. It's a bit far depending on where you are coming from but well worth the views and quality of road. This goes through Kings Canyon and Sequoia National park so expect entrance fees of $25-30. You might get bogged by some visitors but most people are aware of turnouts (unlike some people of Hwy9!). My favorite part is hwy 245 section as its tight/technical/elevation changes with good visibility to look ahead. It reminds me of Mount Hamilton San Jose side but a lot smoother and wider. There was no one else on the road so you can really enjoy the drive.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/''/K...ab96ea!1m0!3e0

Hi 1mang,

For some reason, that link doesn't work any more.

Can you either recreate the link, or just give the start/end points & route?

Thanks.

Karl.

[wjk_glynn]

Originally Posted by wjk_glynn

Hi 1mang,

For some reason, that link doesn't work any more.

Can you either recreate the link, or just give the start/end points & route?

Thanks.

Karl.

For some bizarre reason, Google Maps can't/won't route from Hwy-180 over to Hwy-245 in a Web browser... but it will on Google Maps on iOS

So broke up what I think is the route into two legs as follows:

1. Kanawyers to Big Stump Entrance via Hwy-180: https://goo.gl/maps/HP9CRDEcgBVSrNC97 (~38 miles)
2. Big Stump Entrance down to Citro via Hwy-245: https://goo.gl/maps/uA9WDN8k7ZcsQQhw8 (~43 miles)

Let me know if that's correct.

Thanks.

Karl.

[wjk_glynn]

EDIT: jsullivan worked out the more accurate route in this post. Have updated the Google Maps link accordingly...

Points further away from the SF Bay Area

• North
  • Head east from Willows, and then take Hwy-70 up and over to Bucks Lake, back up and over to La Porte, and then up Hwy-49 to Truckee and Donner Pass - https://goo.gl/maps/G7eNGPfgiaS7mPB49 (~328 miles)
    • Road & Track drove this road in the following article, and spoke highly of the Hwy-70 section:
      • 2020 Performance Car of the Year: https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...r-of-the-year/
    • West end of this route is ~80 miles north of Santa Rosa (as the crow flies)

Karl.

[dtla1]

Originally Posted by wjk_glynn

Added...

Points further away from the SF Bay Area

• North
  • Head east from Willows, and then take Hwy-70 over to Bucks Lake, and then down to Truckee and Donner Pass - https://goo.gl/maps/rVi2Kefi7JHutsC1A (~220 miles)
    • Road & Track drove this road in the following article, and spoke highly of the Hwy-70 section:
      • 2020 Performance Car of the Year: https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...r-of-the-year/
    • West end of this route is ~80 miles north of Santa Rosa (as the crow flies)

Karl.

I'm guessing this route is most likely not advisable in the winter?

[wjk_glynn]

Updated/corrected the Google Maps link for the Road & Track route above.

Karl.

[wjk_glynn]

Originally Posted by dtla1

I'm guessing this route is most likely not advisable in the winter?

Depends on the recent levels of precipitation.

Karl.

[wjk_glynn]

Added...

Peninsula / San Mateo County

• Roads orientated around Alice's Restaurant (well known weekend hangout for bikers across the area):
  • Loop from Woodside up to Skyline, and back down via Kings Mountain Rd. - https://goo.gl/maps/W1c8QnnneW5qRTT78 (~16 miles)
    • Recommended by Kelly

Karl.