Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [251]
The cheapest way to reach downtown San Francisco is to take the shuttle bus from the Oakland Airport to BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit; 510/464-6000; www.bart.gov). The AirBART shuttle bus runs about every 15 minutes Monday through Saturday from 5am to 12:05am and Sunday from 8am to 12:05am. It makes pickups in front of terminals 1 and 2 near the ground transportation signs. Tickets must be purchased at the Oakland Airport’s vending machines prior to boarding. The cost is $2 for the 10-minute ride to BART’s Coliseum station in Oakland. BART fares vary, depending on your destination; the trip to downtown San Francisco costs $3.15 and takes 15 minutes once you’re on board. The entire excursion should take around 45 minutes.
By Car
San Francisco is easily accessible by major highways: I-5, from the north, and U.S. 101, which cuts south-north through the peninsula from San Jose and across the Golden Gate Bridge to points north. If you drive from Los Angeles, you can take the longer coastal route (437 miles and 11 hr.) or the inland route (389 miles and 8 hr.). From Mendocino, it’s 156 miles and 4 hours; from Sacramento, 88 miles and 11⁄2 hours; from Yosemite, 210 miles and 4 hours.
If you are driving and aren’t already a member, it’s worth joining the American Automobile Association (AAA; 800/922-8228; www.csaa.com). It charges $49 to $79 per year (with an additional one-time joining fee), depending on where you join, and provides roadside and other services to motorists. Amoco Motor Club ( 800/334-3300; www.bpmotorclub.com) is another recommended choice.
International visitors should note that insurance and taxes are almost never included in quoted rental car rates in the U.S. Be sure to ask your rental agency about additional fees for these. They can add a significant cost to your rental car.
By Train
Traveling by train takes a long time and usually costs as much as, or more than, flying. Still, if you want to take a leisurely ride across America, rail may be a good option.
San Francisco–bound Amtrak ( 800/872-7245 or 800/USA-RAIL [872-7245]; www.amtrak.com) trains leave from New York and cross the country via Chicago. The journey takes about 31⁄2 days, and seats sell quickly. At this writing, the lowest round-trip fare costs about $300 from New York and $270 from Chicago. Round-trip tickets from Los Angeles range from $120 to as much as $200. Trains arrive in Emeryville, just north of Oakland, and connect with regularly scheduled buses to San Francisco’s Ferry Building and the Caltrain station in downtown San Francisco.
Caltrain ( 800/660-4287 or 415/546-4461; www.caltrain.com) operates train service between San Francisco and the towns of the peninsula. The city depot is at 700 Fourth St., at Townsend Street.
GETTING AROUND
For a map of San Francisco’s public transportation options, see the inside back cover of this guide. You can also call 511 for current transportation and traffic information or check www.511.org.
By Public Transportation
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, 1 S. Van Ness Ave., better known as “Muni” ( 415/673-6864; www.sfmuni.com), operates the city’s cable cars, buses, and streetcars. Together, these three services crisscross the entire city. Fares for buses and streetcars are $2 for adults, 75¢ for seniors 65 and over, children 5 to 17, and riders with disabilities. Cable cars, which run from 6:30am to 12:50am, cost a whopping $6 for all people 6 and over ($3 for seniors and riders with disabilities before 7am or after 9pm). Needless to say, they’re packed primarily with tourists. Exact change is required on all vehicles except cable cars. Fares are subject to change. If you’re standing waiting for Muni and have wireless Web access (or from any computer), check www.nextmuni.com to get up-to-the-minute information about when the next bus or streetcar is coming.