getting out of the bay area on Friday night?

OK, I've done it enough times, but figured I'd ask. Anyone have a suggestion how to get down to Gilroy the fastest, leaving Sunnyvale (Let's say 101 and Lawrence Expy) around 5-5:30 on a Friday afternoon? Just looking to see if there's some great way that I've overlooked and don't have to sit in the crap ton of traffic. BTW I'd be carpool eligible.

Take 1st street south and jump on the 101 at the 4 street onramp, cut all the way over to the commutter lane as soon as you get on the freeway so you can avoid the 880 interchange mess. It'll be slow going till you get past the Tully Rd exit but it opens up after that, if not then get off the freeway and drive monterrey rd till you hit gilroy.   

Ugh... the dreaded South Bay traffic I had to deal with for years!  Worst was when I worked in SV and went to Evergreen for class at night.  Art's got the right idea, but that's more if you were leaving from downtown SJ.  If your already stuck all the way up at 101, it generally has always been faster to just take the 101 for me.  Hopefully once past Capitola it still gets easier from there to Gilroy! 

Nope, my kid goes to school off montaque and sometimes I pick her up at her moms in damn near alviso.  Lawrence to Tasman to 1st street.  Been taking the route for the last 3 years, even with the traffic lights and street traffic it beats the hell outta the 101.  If it still isn't moving at the 4th street entry you can just turn onto 4th street and cut over on hedging then get back on 101 at the 13th street entry after the 880 interchange. 

You can get onto Monterey Rd @ Bernal and take it all the way to Gilroy.

But, it's like 100 traffic lights!    OK, if you try Art's way, you can also keep going down 1st, to Almaden, hang a left at Curtner in Willow Glen, then catch Monterey from there.  Only like another 50 lights! 

You can hit Monterey Road from any exit on 101 (south of Story Rd).  When you run into crazy traffic, exit and go West until you see Monterey Rd. 

You can get onto Monterey Rd @ Bernal and take it all the way to Gilroy.

You can get onto Monterey Rd @ Bernal and take it all the way to Gilroy.

i haven't gone through that way since they opened up 4 lanes going down to gilroy

if you have carpool just take a straight shot down on the 101.