Home > Travel Guide > Marin County Scenic Drive > Part II c
Marin County & Napa Valley, Part II c
Oakland Airport to Marin County
Update
The detour to Marin County because of a freeway collapse has ended. Great!
This page gives you
The best route from Oakland Airport to Marin County
The best times to drive from Oakland International
The best scenic tips for your drive
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part I (Introduction)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part II a (Reaching Marin from S.F.)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part II b (Reaching Marin from SFO)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part II c (Reaching Marin from Oakland)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part III (Marin County scenic drive)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part IV (Napa Valley scenic drive)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part V (Accommodation suggestions)
Save up to 75% on 4-star Marin County hotels!
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Checking a map, the most direct route from Oakland International Airport to Marin County seems to be through San Francisco, but this would be a mistake. You’d end up in lots of stop and go congestion.
Instead, use the route below, but travel during the right times of day.
The best route from Oakland Airport to Marin County
Due to extensive airport construction, the “on-airport” companies Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National, and Thrifty are using a temporary rental car facility at Oakland Airport apparently until 2007. You have to take a shuttle from in front of your terminal to this location.
Once there, have your rental car company point you toward Hegenberger Road from its parking area.
Head east (away from the airport terminals) on Hegenberger.
Take northbound Interstate 880 toward Oakland and San Francisco. I-880 runs near the airport and all airport hotels.
As you approach the entrance to the Oakland-Bay Bridge, you face many perhaps confusing choices.
You DON’T want to get on this bridge.
You DO want to join I-80 and I-580 heading toward Richmond and Sacramento.
Take I-80 eastbound and I-580 northbound, which travel together.
After passing Berkeley, I-80 and I-580 split.
Exit onto westbound I-580 toward San Rafael.
In a few minutes, you cross the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, the newest (1956) bridge over San Francisco Bay. Have the $3 toll ready. (It's free on your way back.)
This 5.5 mile long bridge has been road tested. Even when hit by two navy ships on the same day, it remained standing.
This is a great way to enter Marin County.
Just after you exit the bridge, California’s legendary San Quinton prison comes up on your left.
Interstate 580 ends at U.S. Highway 101.
For our Marin County scenic drive, take 101 southbound.
Then take California Hwy 1 northbound toward Mill Valley and Stinson Beach.
Go to Part III for Marin scenic drive directions.
Best times to travel from Oakland Airport to Marin County
Two portions of your drive are subject to heavy weekday rush hour traffic.
First, avoid taking I-880 from the Oakland Airport to where it meets I-80 and I-580 during weekday morning rush hours. This means avoid I-880 between the airport and the approach to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
Otherwise, you join all of the traffic that funnels over just one bridge, the Oakland Bay Bridge, to get into San Francisco from the east. You definitely do not want to get caught in this.
Second, avoid taking I-80 and I-580 between their junction with I-880 and Richmond during weekday afternoon rush hours. Otherwise, you'll join all the traffic leaving San Francisco after work.
If you fly into Oakland during the evening, consider driving to Marin County that night, instead of booking an airport hotel.
San Rafael in Marin County is just 30 miles away. All major hotels in Marin County are no more than 50 minutes away outside of rush hours.
The main hotel areas in Marin County are San Rafael, Larkspur, and Novato.
North on U.S. 101 leads you toward most San Rafael hotels and Novato.
South leads you to Larkspur and to several small hotels in Mill Valley.
Go to Part III for Marin scenic drive directions.
Scenic tips for your drive from Oakland Airport
There aren’t any scenic alternatives worth their time while actually driving from Oakland International to Marin County, but there are interesting things to do once in Marin County, prior to taking the awesome scenic drive described in Part III.
These include
- Frank Lloyd Wright Marin County Civic Center
“I’ll bridge these hills with graceful arches.”
—Frank Lloyd Wright as told to Aaron GreenFrom I-580, take northbound U.S. 101 toward Eureka.
In a few minutes, take the first exit for North San Pedro Road.
Take North San Pedro to the first intersection at Civic Center Drive.
Turn left onto Civic Center Drive.
Almost immediately, you spot the Frank Lloyd Wright Marin County Civic Center on your left.
This complex was Wright’s last major project, and perhaps his most famous work that was not a home or a hotel.
The two wings (administration and hall of justice) include nearly all Marin County functions, including an underground prison, courtrooms, and main library.
If open when you visit, you can glimpse the extremely influential atrium design (think Hyatt Regency) inside. Even if closed, it’s still very worthwhile to experience this place. You can walk between the wings to access the other side, or drive around the back.
This is great architecture. Sadly, Wright died before this, his 770th commission, was completed.
Return to U.S. 101 the way you came.
Take the southbound 101 onramp toward San Francisco.
- Sausalito
Take U.S. 101 southbound from I-580 to the Sausalito exit at Bridgeway.
Drive southbound on Bridgeway passing many yacht clubs and upscale houseboat colonies.
As you near downtown Sausalito, Bridgeway turns more directly south.
When you reach the ferry docks, find parking.
Explore this charming waterfront area on foot. You almost feel as if you’re on the Riviera. On clear days, you can see across San Francisco Bay to the San Francisco skyline and the hills beyond.
If you have time, take a Golden Gate passenger ferry to the Ferry Building in San Francisco. Check its Internet site for times.
These public transit boats cost just $6 roundtrip.
From the recently restored Ferry Building, walk or take a short taxi ride to Chinatown.
From across Plaza in front of the Ferry Building, walk west on Clay Street.
When you reach Kearny Street—if you're like us—turn right on Kearny, and walk north up Kearny to the House of Nanking Restaurant (919 Kearny , 415 421-1429) for an outstanding, but moderately priced meal.
From the House of Nanking, you can walk west on any street to Grant, the main street of Chinatown, turn right on Grant to Columbus, and then left on Columbus to picturesque Washington Square in the heart of Little Italy.
Take a taxi back to the Ferry Building—You deserve it. - Golden Gate Bridge
From Sausalito, wind south on Bridgeway to the junction with U.S. Highway 101. Bridgeway changes names several times, but just stay with the main flow of traffic.
Take 101 southbound toward San Francisco. Have $5 ready for the bridge toll.
As you exit the bridge, stay in the lanes for Highway 1. You don’t want to take 101 into congested downtown San Francisco.
Continue on Hwy 1 until you pass through Golden Gate Park.
In this area are Golden Gate Park’s famed Japanese, botanic gardens, and conservatory of flowers, if you have time to visit. See the Internet sites for details and directions.
At the south end of Golden Gate Park, turn right onto Lincoln Way.
Drive westbound on Lincoln Way, which borders the south end of the park.
When you reach the “Great Highway” at the beach, turn right.
Drive northbound on the Great Highway.
Join the scenic drive directions at the Cliff House in Part II b.
The best views are yet to come!
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part I (Introduction)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part II a (Reaching Marin from S.F.)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part II b (Reaching Marin from SFO)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part II c (Reaching Marin from Oakland)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part III (Marin County scenic drive)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part IV (Napa Valley scenic drive)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part V (Accommodation suggestions)
