best route from the 101, i'm looking at a map Options

[rhodyguy]

figuring i'll leave the eureka area around 12, or later or earlier as nessasary. is going down 101, to 580, to 80, to the 880, to the south bay the best/easiest route? i have no idea of the traffic patterns. what do you californians figure my driving time to be and what time should i roll through the east bay and not burn up my clutch in traffic?

kevin

[SirAndy]

don't take 101 through SF unless you want to do A LOT of stop'n'go down 19th street. 101 turns into a 2 lane city road through SF (19th street) and then turns into 280/101 again.
on a touristy day (or worse, commuter traffic) this will be bumper-bumper for MILES ...

it's easier to leave 101 before you hit SF and go over the richmond bridge onto 580 which turns into 80 for a short bit and then take 880 down south.
if you hit commuter time, it'll be slow too but not nearly as bad as trying to fiddle through the city ...

Andy