Hello -

It will be a gorgeous drive. I have also driven routes in New Zealand and these are no more "hairy". It is a gorgeous drive and one that deserves your time and attention. From the Golden Gate Bridge it will take you approximately 4 hours to reach the northern Mendocino Coast. Depending on where you would like to stay and how far you would like to drive, you could stay in Gualala (southern Mendocino County) or Mendocino/Fort Bragg (another hour or so north on the Coast). Once you get past Fort Bragg, there is not much for another couple hours.

Being that it is actually Labor Day when you want to stay, I doubt you will run into many minimum requirements as many guests will be checking out that day. If you do run into many minimums, wait until a week or two prior to book and they will lift those minimums. I doubt that night will be sold out as nights immediately before and after holiday weekends are generally slower.

For places to stay, check out www.gomendo.com.

Sounds like a great trip! Have fun!

The only "hairy" part of the coast is between Jenner and Fort Ross, where the road is high on the cliffs above the sea. It is a good road. Just drive slowly, pull over at a pull out if cars are behind you to let them pass, and don't let the driver take in the scenery while driving <grin>.

Enjoy the trip.

Thanks for that. yes I didnt think it would be any more hairy than a lot of the gorges etc that we drive back at home. Taht being said I dont even like driving them in the evening.

Any ideas of what time it starts to get darker?

Thanks

I am not sure when it starts to get dark in September, but you will be past the "hairy" part of the road well before that.

The 8 mile stretch I was speaking of is less than two hours from San Francisco.

The rest of the coast road is fine.