Park Presidio Blvd, Golden Gate Park

For much of San Francisco, Highway 1 is synonymous with 19th Avenue. It runs past SF State University, through the Sunset, Golden Gate Park, and the Inner Richmond before going into the Presidio up to the Golden Gate Bridge.

I have found that there always seems to be a better way to get from point A to point B than the 1, no matter where your destination lies or what your objectives are. From Golden Gate Park south, the highway is extremely congested, due to a combination of heavy traffic and even heavier traffic lights during rush hour. North of there, you can get through the Presidio, but even that is fairly crowded for being in such a remote part of San Francisco.

And the biggest drawback? In a city on the beach, and as a highway known for its views, 1 doesn't offer any ocean vistas past the Golden Gate Bridge. If this is your primary objective, stick to the Great Highway. Otherwise, you are better off on almost any side street if traveling this way.