Fulton Rd, Santa Rosa

Fulton Road kicks in at the current end of the freeway section of Highway 12. Heading toward Sebastopol, you make a right at the first light. Miles long, Fulton Road wends its way past a number of subdivisions, as well as a number of area parks, and across the Santa Rosa Flood Control Channel.

For most of the route, it parallels Highway 101, which lies several miles to the east. Since the speed limit on Fulton Road is around 45 for much of the way, it provides an excellent alternate route to the congestion of US 101. And it is a pretty drive, to boot! That it passes through such a well-populated area, yet somehow never seems like a safety problem, must be a testament to the area's good layout and design.

There are mostly newish homes along the way, too -- typical subdivision styles but nice enough. Apparently this area used to be mostly orchards. Even now, the further north you go along Fulton Road, the less congested it gets, until at last you reach the farming town of Fulton, where it passes under US 101, and finally ends at the Old Redwood Highway. This means that it is also a swift and pleasant gateway to the River Road wine region.

All in all, this is a great way to get across town.