driving itinerary Friday, July 25

Question

We’re starting in St. Helena in the morning and would like to spend an hour to two each visiting college campuses in Berkeley and Palo Alto before either returning the car at SFO or parking it at the hotel garage near Union Square. I have flexibility on when to return the car to the rental company. My question is what driving itinerary makes the most sense given pre-weekend traffic. When/where should I avoid being on the road?

(We’re having a great trip so far visiting the Sonoma coast, Arcata/Trinidad, Prairie Creek, and Napa; trip report coming soon!)

Answer

For your Friday, July 25 itinerary from St. Helena to Berkeley and Palo Alto, careful planning is key given Bay Area traffic, especially on a Friday heading into the weekend. Here’s a detailed approach to make your day smoother and reduce time spent in congestion.

Morning departure from St. Helena:

Leave St. Helena around 8:00–8:30am. This timing avoids early morning commute traffic from Napa/Sonoma but still gets you to Berkeley reasonably early.
Take CA-29 south to I-80 east toward Berkeley. This is the most direct route and generally less congested than crossing through Oakland during morning commute hours.

Visiting UC Berkeley:

Plan for 1–2 hours on campus. Morning visits are best to avoid heavy pedestrian and local traffic.
Parking options include the University Avenue Garage or the Oxford Street Garage. Arrive early to secure a spot before mid-morning crowds.

Driving to Palo Alto / Stanford University:

Leave Berkeley by 11:30–12:00pm to avoid the late morning rush, heading south via I-580 to I-680 then connecting to US-101 south. Traffic is usually manageable before the Friday lunch rush.
Palo Alto campus visit can also be 1–2 hours. Parking is available at the Stanford Visitor Center lots or nearby metered street parking.

Returning the car or driving to Union Square / SFO:

Option 1: Return the rental at SFO – leave Palo Alto no later than 2:30–3:00pm. US-101 south to SFO is usually lighter before the late afternoon peak commute (around 4:30–6:00pm).
Option 2: Drive into San Francisco and park near Union Square – plan for 3–4pm arrival. Afternoon traffic into SF from the Peninsula is heavier, but with proper navigation via Waze or Google Maps, it is manageable.
Union Square parking options include the Sutter-Stockton Garage or nearby hotel garages; plan for $50–$70 for the day depending on duration.

Traffic considerations:

Avoid I-80 eastbound in the late morning (10:00–11:30am) near Oakland as it can back up heading into the Bay Bridge area.
Avoid US-101 northbound through Palo Alto and Menlo Park around 4:00–6:00pm as Friday afternoon commute can be heavy.
Using navigation apps with real-time traffic updates is essential. They may suggest alternate routes like I-280 instead of US-101 for smoother flow.

Summary suggested itinerary:

8:00–8:30am – Depart St. Helena
9:30–11:00am – Visit UC Berkeley
11:00–12:30pm – Drive to Palo Alto
12:30–2:00pm – Visit Stanford University
2:00–2:30pm – Depart for SFO or SF hotel
3:00–4:00pm – Arrive at SFO rental return or Union Square garage

Following this schedule balances your campus visits with traffic considerations and allows a relaxed afternoon in San Francisco before evening activities. Avoiding peak commute hours ensures you maximize sightseeing rather than sitting in traffic.

driving itinerary Friday, July 25

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