Entering Marin County, U.S. 101/Redwood Highway enters some of the highest-priced real estate in a very expensive state for property. Land use restrictions prevent much growth outside established urban areas, and the largest ranches are owned by the rich and famous. Included in this is Skywalker Ranch, home to Star Wars director and creator George Lucas. U.S. 101 passes by much of this as a four to eight-lane freeway, but it does not hint at the value of the land it passes. The freeway passes through Sausalito, San Rafael (Junction Interstate 580), and Novato (Junction California 37) before it reaches Sonoma County.

U.S. 101/Redwood Highway south
	We pick up southbound U.S. 101/Redwood Highway in Novato after the Business U.S. 101/Rowland Avenue interchange as it meets California 37 (Exit 460), a major east-west corridor across the north end of the San Francisco Bay. California 37 is perhaps best known for its bloody skirmishes between passing motorists. Almost daily, accidents between speeding cars on this flat stretch of narrow, two to four-lane highway help bolster its nickname as "Blood Alley." Eventually, plans call for California 37 to be an expressway or possibly freeway, especially since it is the most direct and best route between U.S. 101 and Interstate 80 in Vallejo. Photo taken 11/26/04.
	Now on the offramp for Exit 460, this ramp carries southbound traffic to the exit for eastbound California 37 and northbound South Novato Boulevard. Photo taken 11/26/04.
	Use California 37 east to Vallejo (Junction Interstate 80) and Napa (via California 29 north). The ramp widens to two lanes. Photo taken 11/26/04.
	The offramp again splits here, with the left lane connecting to California 37 east and the right lane connecting to U.S. 101 north to Santa Rosa and Eureka. Photo taken 11/26/04.
	The next exit along southbound is Exit 459, Ignacio Boulevard and Entrada Drive, one-half mile. Ignacio Boulevard travels west toward Marin Country Club. U.S. 101/Redwood Highway leaves Novato and approaches San Rafael after passing through unincorporated Marinwood. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101/Redwood Highway reaches Exit 459B, Ignacio Boulevard/Entrada Drive and approaches Exit 459A, Bel Martin Keys Boulevard/Hamilton Field. Exit 459A is a loop ramp onto northbound Bel Martin Keys Boulevard. The single ramp serves both connections. Photo taken 05/25/06.

	The next exit along southbound U.S. 101/Redwood Highway is Exit 458, Alameda del Prado (the right lane is exit only). The next exit is Exit 457, St. Vincent Drive/Marinwood. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Alameda del Prado is a frontage road that parallels U.S. 101 to the west of the freeway. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	This mileage sign provides the distance to Exit 458, Alameda del Prado; Exit 457, St. Vincent Drive/Miller Creek Road (Marinwood); and Exit 456, Lucas Valley Road. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101/Redwood Highway reaches Exit 458, Alameda del Prado. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	This porcelain-enamel mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 457, St. Vincent Drive and Miller Creek Road; Exit 456, Lucas Valley Road; and Exit 455, Freitas Parkway. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	The next exit along southbound is Exit 457, St. Vincent Drive/Miller Creek Road and Marinwood. Like most of Marin County, Marinwood is home to variety of homes that are among the most expensive in the country. As for the next exit, well, "Rebel Base, in range." Photo taken 11/28/03.
	Southbound U.S. 101/Redwood Highway reaches Exit 457, Miller Creek Road/St. Vincent Drive (exit only right lane). Photo taken 05/25/06.
	The next three exits along southbound U.S. 101 are: Exit 456, Lucas Valley Road; Exit 455, Freitas Parkway; and Exit 454B, North San Pedro Road. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Only the right lane can be used for the connection to Lucas Valley Road and Smith Valley Road (Exit 456). Photo taken 05/25/06.
	"Sir, Rebel ships are coming into our sector." Lucas Valley Road lives up to its name, as it leads to the home of the creator of Star Wars, George Lucas. His abode, commonly known as Skywalker Ranch, is located on the north side of Lucas Valley Road several miles west of this interchange (southbound U.S. 101 at Exit 456). Don't expect a rebel welcome; the vast estates are locked down with security tighter than a Death Star, and signs along the fences mark the area as "no trespassing." Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101 reaches Exit 455, Freitas Parkway, in the north San Rafael community of Terra Linda. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	The next exit along southbound U.S. 101 is Exit 454B, North San Pedro Road. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 454B, North San Pedro Road; Exit 454A, Lincoln Avenue; and Exit 452, Mission Avenue/Central San Rafael. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101 reaches Exit 454B, North San Pedro Road. The left lane is a high occupancy vehicle (diamond) lane, and there is little or no left shoulder along this stretch of U.S. 101. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	The next exit along southbound is Exit 454A, Lincoln Avenue. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101 reaches Exit 454A, Lincoln Avenue. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	The next exit is Exit 452, Mission Avenue/Central San Rafael. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Mileage sign approaching Exit 452, Mission Avenue/Central San Rafael; Exit 451B, Junction Interstate 580 East; and Exit 451A, Anderson Drive. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	This section of U.S. 101/Redwood Highway is known as the William T. Bagley Freeway. Use Exit 452 to Dominion University. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101 reaches Exit 452, Mission Avenue/Central San Rafael. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101 approaches Exit 451B, Junction Interstate 580 east. In the many miles since its northern terminus, this is the first meeting of U.S. 101 with an Interstate route since its inception at the Washington state capital of Olympia near the top of Interstate 5. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	On some older sections of freeway in California, standalone shields announcing impending junctions (such as this one on southbound) are common in addition to overhead and roadside guide signs. What's curious about this assembly is that it can't be older than the mid-1980s, since Interstate 580 has not been in Marin County all that long! It is possible that highway crews merely replaced the California 17 shields with Interstate 580 shields. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	The only Interstate highway in Marin County, Interstate 580 comes to its northwesterly terminus at the coming interchange, Exit 451B. Interstate 580 was part of California 17 until the early 1980s, was briefly known as Interstate 180 in the mid-1980s, and today is part of a lengthy freeway that ties north coastal California, the East Bay, and Central Valley together. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101/Redwood Highway reaches Exit 451B, Junction Interstate 580 east to Richmond, Oakland, Hayward, and Pleasanton-Dublin, with connections to Tracy, Stockton, Sonora, Fresno, and Los Angeles. Yes, it is faster to take Interstate 580 and Interstate 5 rather than U.S. 101 to Los Angeles. The next exit is Exit 451A, Anderson Drive. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	The next exit along southbound U.S. 101 is Exit 451A, Anderson Drive, followed by Exit 450B, Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to Kentfield and Exit 450A, Lucky Drive/Doherty Drive. Here, southbound U.S. 101 reaches Exit 450A, Lucky Drive/Doherty Drive. A mileage sign is also posted here, providing the distance to Exit 449B, Madera Boulevard and Exit 449A, Paradise Drive and Tamalpais Drive. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	The next exit along southbound U.S. 101 is Exit 449B, Madera Boulevard. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101 reaches Exit 449B, Madera Boulevard. The next exit is Exit 449A, Paradise Drive and Tamalpais Drive. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101 reaches Exit 449A, Paradise Drive and Tamalpais Drive. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	The next exit along southbound U.S. 101 is Exit 447, Junction California 131/Tiburon Boulevard east to Tiburon and Belvedere and Blithedale Avenue west to Mill Valley. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	This mileage sign provides the distance to the next two exits: Exit 447, Junction California 131/Tiburon Boulevard east and Blithedale Avenue west and Exit 446, Seminary Drive. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	The right lane of southbound U.S. 101 becomes exit only for Exit 447, Junction California 131/Tiburon Boulevard east and Blithedale Avenue west. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101/Redwood Highway reaches Exit 447, Junction California 131/Tiburon Boulevard east to Tiburon and Belvedere and E. Blithedale Avenue west to Mill Valley. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	The next exit along southbound U.S. 101 is Exit 446, Seminary Drive. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 446, Seminary Drive; Exit 445B, Junction California 1 North to Stinson Beach; and Exit 445A, Marin City/Sausalito. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101 reaches Exit 446, Seminary Drive. The next exit is Exit 445B, Junction California 1 north to Stinson Beach. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Use California 1 north to Stinson Beach, Muir Woods National Monument, and Mount Tamalpais. On a clear day, all of the San Francisco Bay Area can be seen from the top of Mount Tamalpais. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101 reaches Exit 445B, Junction California 1 north to Stinson Beach and Mount Tamalpais. From here, U.S. 101 and California 1 follow a shared alignment as they prepare to cross the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Continuing south on U.S. 101 and California 1, the next exit is Exit 445A, Bridge Boulevard to Sausalito and Marin City. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	A new control city of "Golden Gate Bridge" is posted on the pull through sign for U.S. 101 and California 1 south. Southbound U.S. 101 and California 1 reach Exit 445A, Bridge Boulevard to Sausalito and Marin City. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	The next three exits on southbound U.S. 101 and California 1 (Redwood Highway) are: Exit 444, Rodeo Avenue; Exit 443, Spencer Avenue/Mar Monte Drive; and Exit 442, Sausalito Lateral Road. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101 and California 1 (Redwood Highway) reaches Exit 444, Rodeo Avenue. It appears that this exit is to "nowhere," as it does not connect to Rodeo Avenue on the east side of the freeway. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	The next exit on southbound U.S. 101 and California 1 (Redwood Highway) is Exit 443, Spencer Avenue/Mar Monte Drive. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Only two exits remain in Marin County (prior to the toll Golden Gate Bridge) for southbound U.S. 101 and California 1 (Redwood Highway): Exit 443, Spencer Avenue/Mar Monte Drive and Exit 442, Sausalito Lateral Road. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101 and California 1 (Redwood Highway) reaches Exit 443, Spencer Avenue/Mar Monte Drive. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	The next exit on southbound U.S. 101 and California 1 (Redwood Highway) is Exit 442, Sausalito Lateral Road. All through traffic crosses the Golden Gate Bridge (toll) to the city/county of San Francisco. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Prior to the final Marin exit, U.S. 101 and California 1 enter the Waldo Tunnel, which carries the freeway through a hill prior to the first views of the San Francisco skyline and the mighty Golden Gate Bridge. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	The Golden Gate Bridge was devoid of fog on this cool late spring morning. The freeway descends from the Waldo Tunnel toward the world-renowned bridge. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101 and California 1 (Redwood Highway) approach Exit 442, Sausalito Lateral Road. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Scenic views of the San Francisco skyline, Golden Gate, Marin Headlands, and Pacific Ocean can be seen from Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Use Exit 442 to park and experience these beautiful views. A rest area on the east side of the freeway provides a parking lot for walkers to cross the Golden Gate Bridge free of tolls. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	On this day, lane restrictions for the bridge were in effect, as indicated by the variable message sign. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Southbound U.S. 101 and California 1 (Redwood Highway) reaches Exit 442, Sausalito Lateral Road. The towers of the Golden Gate Bridge can be seen in the background. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	At the time this photo was taken, the automobile toll rate was $5 per southbound trip; there is no toll northbound. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Maintenance responsibilities shift from Caltrans to the Golden Gate Bridge Authority, which manages and maintains the signature span. Photo taken 05/25/06.
	Traveling south on U.S. 101/California 1 over the Golden Gate Bridge, an older no stopping or turning sign that probably dates to when the bridge opened is posted. Photo taken 05/25/06.

This series of photos shows the northern approach on southbound U.S. 101. The first (north) tower is the county line between Marin and San Francisco counties. Photos taken 05/25/06.

Page Updated February 8, 2007.