Day Trippin' › California › From San Francisco › Emerald Bay State Park
The drive from San Francisco to Emerald Bay State Park takes about 3 hr 15 min (northeast of San Francisco), by real roads from ZIP 94103. Along the way we found 91 stops within a short detour: 23 coffee shops, 2 bakeries, 16 ice cream and treats and 29 places to eat.
The list below is the best few of each kind, in driving order, with how far into the drive you reach each one (counted from San Francisco) and the detour it adds. Stops marked Our pick are chosen by us; the rest come from OpenStreetMap listings, so confirm hours before you count on them.
Photo: Eric Philbin, CC0
State park
Tahoe's most photographed view: a deep green bay with tiny Fannette Island, seen from the roadside overlooks on Highway 89.
Heads-up: Federal passes are not accepted and the lots fill early on summer days. In winter Highway 89 here often needs chains or 4WD, and storms can close the road.
First third Middle third Last third Emerald Bay State Park
About 3 hr 15 min by road, heading northeast from the middle of ZIP 94103. Traffic and weather change that.
Good ones to start with: Tower Cafe Sacramento (Sacramento). The page lists 30 in all, in driving order.
Starbread in San Pablo, The Bistro in Carquinez Heights, The Coffee Curb in Vallejo and Le Paris in Cordelia Junction. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.
Brazuca Açaí in East Richmond Heights, Tsing Tao in East Richmond Heights, Sunshine Smoothies & Coffee in Vallejo and Hinata Japanese Steakhouse, Sushi, and Bar in Fairfield.
Murietta Rock in East Richmond Heights, 2003 Alfred Zampa Memorial Suspension Bridge in Crolona Heights, 1958 Carquinez Bridge in Crolona Heights and American Armory Museum in Chadbourne.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Stops come from our own picks and OpenStreetMap listings; hours and detours change, so check before you go. We do not store anyone's location.