San Francisco To Avenue Of The Giants
The first mistake is leaving San Francisco at 7 a.m. sharp—you won’t. Someone will need coffee, someone else will swear they left their sunglasses in another jacket, and the c...
The first mistake is leaving San Francisco at 7 a.m. sharp—you won’t. Someone will need coffee, someone else will swear they left their sunglasses in another jacket, and the car will smell like yesterday’s takeout. That’s fine: this trip isn’t a race; it’s a slow, beautiful argument with your own impatience.
From the city, point the car north over the Golden Gate Bridge. The fog will either be dramatic and cinematic or completely absent, like a party guest who RSVP’d and then ghosted. Either way, US-101 North is your main artery for the next few hours.
The Long, Sneaky Middle
Marin slides by first, all hills and expensive-looking trees. Then Santa Rosa, where you’ll think, We should stop at a winery, then remember you still have hours of driving. Save the wine for the way home, or at least until you’re not the designated driver.
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Around Cloverdale and Ukiah, the landscape starts to loosen its tie. The traffic thins out. The radio stations get weird, then vanish, and you’re left with podcasts or your passenger chewing ice like a wood chipper.
This is a good place to gas up, seriously. Top off in Cloverdale, Ukiah, or Garberville before you disappear into the redwoods. Your gas gauge has no sense of adventure.
Leggett is where things get properly interesting. You’ll see signs for the Drive-Thru Tree: a tree with a hole big enough for a car, assuming your car isn’t a monster truck with emotional baggage. It’s kitschy, fun, and a great spot to stretch your legs and question your parking skills.
Enter the Giants
Soon after, you’ll hit the Avenue of the Giants, a 31-mile scenic alternative to 101. It runs through Humboldt Redwoods State Park, parallel to 101, and it’s the whole point. If 101 is a business meeting, the Avenue is recess.
Avenue of the Giants: The Redwoods Road Trip You Need to Take
The redwoods don’t just look tall. They look rude tall, like they’re showing off for a camera that hasn’t been invented yet. You’ll crane your neck, say “wow” for the twelfth time, and realize your neck muscles are now part of the experience.
Driving here is slow, and that’s not a bug. The speed limit drops, the road curves, and every few minutes a pullout begs you to stop—do it. Founders Grove, Rockefeller Forest, and the Immortal Tree are worth a wander.
You’ll park, step out, and the air will smell like damp earth, bark, and ancient quiet. It’s the opposite of a conference call. You might whisper without meaning to, because the trees seem to be listening.
Here’s a funny thing about redwoods: they make your problems feel adorably small. That email you forgot to send and the weird thing your coworker said in a meeting? The redwood has been standing since before email existed, and the tree has survived fires, floods, and logging, so it’s not impressed.
Take photos, but remember phones are terrible at capturing scale. You’ll show someone later and they’ll say, “Nice tree,” while you sputter, “No, you don’t understand, it was huge.” Some things are just for your eyeballs.
Avenue of the Giants: One of California's Best Drives - YouTube
Practical Magic for Real People
Cell service is spotty, so download maps and music before you leave. Bring layers, because coastal fog and redwood shade can turn a sunny day into a refrigerator with scenery. Snacks are mandatory, preferably ones that don’t melt into a tragic mess.
If you’re doing this as a day trip from San Francisco, prepare for a long day. It’s roughly four to five hours each way without stops, and you will stop—for coffee, photos, gas, the bathroom, and that one tree that looks like a cathedral.
Better yet, spend the night in Garberville, Fortuna, or somewhere along the way. Then you can do the Avenue twice, once in the morning light and once in the afternoon glow. Your shoulders will thank you, and your camera roll will get dramatic.
When you finally head back to San Francisco, you’ll re-enter traffic with a new perspective. The honking, lane changes, and the guy tailgating you in a BMW all feel smaller. You just spent a day among trees that predate your family tree, and they didn’t honk once.
So go, leave early-ish, and pack snacks. Drive slow, and let the giants remind you that big things can be gentle. The best roads make you forget to check your phone.
