Tesla FSD Urban Driving in San Francisco: Hands-On Review
Introduction
Join us for a long-haul drive that lets you soak in California’s gorgeous scenery while Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) does the work.
We traveled roughly 315 kilometers (196 miles) from downtown San Francisco to the world-famous Yosemite National Park, all under autonomous control.
Along the way you’ll see FSD’s latest tech in action, admire California’s diverse landscapes, and discover roadside attractions worth a stop.
*This article condenses the key points from the video below into text form.*
If something sparks your curiosity, be sure to watch the full video!
🗺️ Route Info
- Distance: about 315 kilometers (196 miles)
- Drive time: roughly 3 hours 30 minutes
- Starting point: Downtown San Francisco
- Destination: Yosemite National Park
- Main waypoints: Bay Bridge, Oakland
How Tesla FSD v12.5 Has Evolved
We ran Tesla FSD version 12.5 for this trip.
Earlier builds (12.4.2 and below) required you to keep your hands on the wheel or periodically apply torque, but 12.5 swaps that out for simple gaze monitoring via the cabin camera.
No constant wheel-grip means no sore arms and a far more comfortable ride.
📱 Key Upgrades in FSD v12.5
- Gaze-based driver check: hands-on-wheel no longer mandatory
- Unified city & highway stack: one system for seamless driving
- Sharper object recognition: better detection of pedestrians, bikes, and construction cones
- Less phantom braking: drastic reduction in needless sudden stops
San Francisco Highlights
Departure Area: Nob Hill & Pacific Heights
We started on the border between Nob Hill—known for its safe streets, grand hotels, and historic landmarks—and the upscale residential neighborhood of Pacific Heights.
It’s a convenient, secure launch point for visitors and offers easy access to crowd-pleasers like Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf.
⚠️ Stay Safe: San Francisco does have rougher neighborhoods—especially the Tenderloin, just about 0.8 kilometers (≈ 0.5 mile) from many tourist spots. Check the area in advance and stick to well-traveled zones.
Painted Ladies
The iconic Painted Ladies are a row of vibrant Victorian houses built between 1892 and 1896.
Sitting opposite Alamo Square Park, they appeared in the opening credits of the TV show Full House.
Their colorful facades, repainted in the 1970s, continue to captivate visitors today.
Architectural History of San Francisco
San Francisco’s abundance of beautiful buildings traces back to the post-1849 Gold Rush boom, when ornate Victorian architecture was in vogue amid rapid growth.
After many structures were lost in the 1906 earthquake, simpler Edwardian styles also took root, adding another layer to the city’s eclectic skyline.
Tech Meccas: SoMa & Silicon Valley
The drive carried us through SoMa (South of Market), a former warehouse district that redevelopment has transformed into a hub of sleek office towers and cutting-edge tech companies. San Francisco now hosts the headquarters of many world-famous firms:
- Uber Technologies
- Airbnb
- Dropbox
- Salesforce
- Square (Block, Inc.)
- Wells Fargo
🏢 How it differs from Silicon Valley: San Francisco features a dense, high-rise urban skyline, whereas Silicon Valley feels more suburban, with low-slung buildings sprawled across open campuses—think Google or Apple’s airy headquarters layouts.
Bay Bridge (San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge)
An essential span on the way to Yosemite is the Bay Bridge, a 7.2-kilometer (≈ 4.5-mile) link between San Francisco and Oakland.
While it isn’t as famous as the Golden Gate Bridge, it plays a vital role in California’s transportation network.
| Category | Bay Bridge | Golden Gate Bridge |
|---|---|---|
| Total length | approx 7,180 meters | approx 2,737 meters |
| Year opened | 1936 | 1937 |
| Daily traffic | around 270,000 vehicles | around 100,000 vehicles |
| Highlights | Commuter & freight focus; vehicles only | Tourist landmark; pedestrians & bikes allowed |
Structure & History of the Bridge
The Bay Bridge has a double-deck layout: the upper level carries traffic into San Francisco, while the lower level heads toward Oakland.
Partway across, the roadway passes through a tunnel on Yerba Buena Island, and the bridge’s design shifts—San Francisco’s side is a suspension span, whereas the Oakland approach is a cable-stayed section rebuilt in 2013.
The rebuild was triggered by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which caused a partial collapse and a fatal vehicle fall.
From 2002, an eleven-year project transformed the span into the seismically resilient bridge we see today.
Long-Distance Performance of FSD
Lane Changes & Navigation
With FSD engaged, lane changes happen in two ways:
- Autonomous lane changes: FSD decides on its own when to switch lanes.
- Driver-prompted lane changes: You flip the turn signal, and FSD executes the maneuver at the safest moment.
Even in the second scenario, FSD measures the gap to surrounding vehicles and changes lanes only when it’s clearly safe, dramatically reducing the risk of a missed check-over-the-shoulder.
Energy Management & Superchargers
On long trips, battery level is always top of mind. Tesla’s navigation automatically suggests Supercharger stops along the way, so simply follow the recommended route and you’ll reach your destination without a hitch.
🔋 Tesla Model 3 Range
- Early models (2017-2018): about 354–386 km (220–240 miles)
- New Long Range (2019-present): up to 576 km (358 miles)
- Note: Frequent high-speed driving or hard acceleration will shorten that range.
Sightseeing Highlight: Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island is one of San Francisco’s signature attractions.
The ferry ride takes about 15–20 minutes, and from 1934 to 1963 the island housed a federal penitentiary.
Touring the old cellblocks and learning about legendary escape attempts makes for a fascinating visit.
🏛️ Tips for visiting Alcatraz: Book one of the earliest ferries so you can explore at a relaxed pace.
The island isn’t large, but if you follow the audio guide (Japanese available) and take your time, you can easily spend the whole day.
Silicon Valley Giants
Google Headquarters
Google’s main campus in Silicon Valley welcomes visitors with a public café and a Google Store.
Sprawling lawns give the place a park-like feel, showcasing the sheer scale of this global powerhouse.
You’ll also notice company bikes scattered around the campus—a nod to Google’s eco-friendly culture.
Apple Park Visitor Center
While the main Apple Park campus is off-limits to tourists, the sleek Visitor Center—featuring a flagship store and café—is open to the public.
True to Apple’s design ethos, the building itself is a work of art, and it’s only about a 17-minute drive from Google’s headquarters.
Safety Tips for the Drive
Crime in Oakland
Once you cross the Bay Bridge, you enter Oakland—known for having one of the higher crime rates in California.
Some parts of East Oakland and West Oakland can be risky, so unless you have a specific reason to stop there, it’s wiser to use Superchargers in other nearby cities.
⚠️ Stay safe while charging: Tesla Superchargers handle payment automatically, so there’s no cash or card exchange.
That lowers the chance of being approached by shady characters and generally makes charging safer than a typical gas station stop.
Recommended Scenic Detour
If you’re heading from San Francisco to Yosemite, consider a side trip into Marin County.
Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge lies Sausalito, a charming harbor town. Crossing the bridge costs about $9–11, but the panoramic views more than make up for the toll.
Recap: Long-Distance Driving with Tesla FSD
Covering roughly 315 kilometers (about 196 miles) from San Francisco to Yosemite, we felt the full impact of Tesla FSD v12.5’s latest upgrades.
Most notably, the shift away from mandatory hands-on-wheel dramatically eased driver fatigue, making long stretches far more comfortable.
From precision maneuvering in city traffic to rock-steady cruising on the highway, FSD’s unified stack delivered consistently smooth performance.
Enjoying California’s stunning views while cutting-edge autonomy did the heavy lifting felt like a preview of how we’ll drive in the future.
At an October 2024 robotaxi event, Tesla announced plans to roll out Level-5 “Unsupervised FSD” in 2025—so fully driverless travel could arrive sooner than you think.
EcoDrive offers rental cars equipped with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD), so when you’re in California, be sure to give it a try!
Our Services
We offer comprehensive automotive solutions—buy, sell, rent, and repair in one place.
Car Sales
Browse our lineup of quality used cars with transparent pricing and up to a two-year warranty on select models.
View Inventory
Auto Repair
Get expert service from our certified Toyota Master Mechanic. We primarily service Toyota vehicles.
Schedule Service
Trade-in / Sell
We pay top dollar for your vehicle—especially hybrids. Count on fair, transparent appraisals.
Get Estimate
Car Rentals
Choose between fuel-saving hybrid rentals and a Tesla with Full Self-Driving Capability—both at competitive rates.
Reserve NowYou May Also Like
