In Northern California we have included three meto areas: San Francisco Bay Area, Greater Sacramento, Greater Fresno and adjacent counties. The map on the left shows coverage however most activity is around major airports San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Sacramento. We have included a small section on all commercial airports in the shown area that you can find below. We have also included a paragraph on school/college transportation, we listed all major universities in the mapped area and included same advice on traveling between the school and the airport.

Important: it is important to note that in some areas airport shuttle is not available (you can still hire a private car or van but no rideshare). It is true especially in rural areas. In this case you want to contact you county and see if they have dial a ride service (most rural areas do!) it is just like a shuttle, will offer door-to-door service. Even though it will not take you to the airport, it can take you major transportation hub, bus/train station, or transit center, from there you can get an airport shuttle or express bus going your way to the airport. Keep in mind Amtrak Rail and Greyhound Bus Lines as well they might be a great alternatives when going far.

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Major International Airports

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) - major and by far largest airport in the Northern California offers numerous airlines providing flights all over the world. Getting around SFO - AirTrain is the airport's light rail system. Fully automated and free of charge, it connects all four terminals, the two international terminal garages, the BART station, and the airport's Rental Car Center. The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) BART station, located in Parking Garage G of the International Terminal, is the only direct rail link between the airport, the city of San Francisco, and the general Bay Area. The San Francisco Municipal Railway, San Francisco's transit agency, does not provide service to the airport. However, SamTrans, San Mateo County's transit agency, does, with three lines connecting Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal to San Francisco and the Peninsula down to Palo Alto. Numerous door-to-door van, airporter, limousine, hotel courtesy, and charter operators service the airport. Taxis, along with the aforementioned services, stop at the center island transportation island on the arrivals/baggage claim level of the airport.

Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) - is the smallest of the three main airports in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dominant airline is SouthWest Airlines. Still has connections to some of the major hubs in the US. Offers few options for ground transport including taxis, limousines, rental cars, shuttles and public transportation, which are located on or accessible from the airport. VTA (Valley Transportation Authority) operates free Route 10 Airport Flyer bus that connects the airport to the Santa Clara Station for Caltrain and Altamont Commuter Express commuter rail services as well as numerous local buses and to the Metro/Airport Light Rail Station for VTA's light rail service.

Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK) - major international airport, flights to/form most major destination in the US, Hawaii and Mexico, primary airline is SouthWest Airlines. Oakland International is not yet directly connected to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, but AirBART shuttle buses and AC Transit's Lines 73 and 805 buses take passengers between the terminal and the Coliseum/Oakland Airport station.

Sacramento International Airport (SMF) - major airport with connections to all major hubs in the US including San Francisco, also has flights to/form Hawaii and Mexico. Yolobus bus #42 connects the airport to downtown Sacramento and the nearby communities of Woodland and Davis. Sacramento light rail will also provide service to the airport when the Green Line is finished in 2011.

Other Commercial Airports

Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY) - regional airport served by a small number of airlines has flights to/from  Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. Monterey-Salinas Transit is the public ground transit organization serving the airport.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) - Offers flights to many major airports in the US including San Francisco. It serves the Reno metropolitan area, western Nevada, and parts of eastern California and is the closest commercial airport to the vacation and ski resort destination of Lake Tahoe. Public transportation to and from the airport is provided by RTC Ride bus #19 (RTC - Regional Transportation Commission), Eastern Sierra Transit Authority, and Modoc Transportation Agency (Sage Stage).

Chico Municipal Airport (CIC) - smaller airport serving Chico State University has scheduled flights to/form San Francisco via United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines.

Redding Municipal Airport (RDD) - mostly used for general aviation however has a direct flight to San Francisco via United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines.

Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport (STS) - located in Santa Rosa. It is a smaller regional airport. One commercial airline is operating in the STS - Horizon Air offers flights to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland (OR), and Seattle/Tacoma. Might be a good alternative if you travel to one of those destinations. Airport Express provides scheduled service between communities in Sonoma and Marin Counties and Sonoma, San Francisco and Oakland International Airports. Mendocino Transit Authority provides daily connections with Sonoma County Transit, Santa Rosa City Bus, AMTRAK, and Golden Gate Transit for regional service to Marin and San Francisco Counties in Santa Rosa. MTA also provides daily connections with the Sonoma County Airport Express at the Sonoma County Airport for service to and from the Bay Area airports. In Ukiah, MTA connects with Lake Transit service to and from Lake County Monday thru Saturdays.

Modesto City-County Airport (MOD) - smaller airport has scheduled flights to/form San Francisco via United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines.

Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK) - smaller airport, has service to Las Vegas and Long Beach via Allegiant Air.

Merced Regional Airport (MCE) - small airport, Great Lakes Airlines provides service to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bus connections to Yosemite National Park are available through the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS).

Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) - regional airport served by several airlines with flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Guadalajara, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland (OR), Salt Lake City, Seattle/Tacoma, San Francisco, and other places.

Visalia Municipal Airport (VIS) - small airport mostly used for general aviation, but is served by one commercial airline. Great Lakes Airlines offers service to LA/Ontario International Airport.
 

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San Francisco Universities

University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) - has a number of locations in San Francisco, medical center is located on Parnassus Ave. as well as in Mission Bay.

San Francisco State University (SF State or SFSU) - main school housing (dorm) 800 Font Blvd Mary Ward Hall San Francisco, CA 94132

University of San Francisco (USF) - college housing/dorms are at Lone Mountain Campus and Golden Gate Ave., entrance by the "Guard Shack".

Since none of the campuses are located next to BART stations it would not make any sense to use public transit to get to SFO. The price for airport shuttle is about $17 for first passenger and $10 for each additional (most companies). Taxi, Car Service, or a Limo would be in $45-$75 range. Similar picture is for OAK, $27 and $10 respectively. Taxi, Car Service, or a Limo would be in $55-$95 range. However if you really want to use transit to get to OAK you will need to use MUNI (San Francisco Municipal Railway - city's public transportation agency) to nearest BART station and take BART to Oakland Airport.

In the unlikely event of traveling to San Jose airport form San Francisco (shuttles are about $65-75 for first passenger, taxis and limos are costly) you may take MUNI to and San Francisco Caltrain Station, take Caltrain to Santa Clara Caltrain station, from there you can take free VTA ( Valley Transit Authority) Airport Flyer Route #10 bus to the airport.

University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley or UCB) - CAL Housing has a few locations and is scattered throughout the campus. Bear Transit is UC Berkeley’s shuttle system, servicing the campus and vicinity. Anyone can ride shuttles, which provide convenient transportation between campus, Downtown Berkeley BART, parking lots, Clark Kerr campus, the Hill area, residence halls, Richmond Field Station (RFS), and north and south sides of campus.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is about 25 miles from the campus, most people prefer shuttle (most popular are BayPorter and SuperShuttle about $35 for first passenger) however you can take BART to Berkeley BART station and take Berkeley’s shuttle to anywhere on campus.

Oakland International Airport (OAK) is located about 15 miles from the campus and pretty much the same advice will apply as to SFO, shuttles are about $30 for first person.

San Jose International Airport (SJC) is the farthest one of the three major airports to the campus and is located about 46 miles for UC Berkeley. From San Jose Airport take VTA ( Valley Transit Authority) Airport Flyer Route #10 bus to the Santa Clara Caltrain station. Ride Caltrain from the Santa Clara station to Millbrae Caltrain Station, transfer to BART take BART to Berkeley, use local transit (see SFO, OAK directions above)

Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University or Stanford) - Housing in Stanford is scattered but there is the Marguerite, Stanford’s free public shuttle service, which travels around campus and connects to nearby transit, shopping, dining, and entertainment.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) - is located about 25 miles from the campus and it is the best thing to take a shuttle (you might have to wait at the airport for up to 30 in the van going south but most probably will be one of the first ones to be dropped off). There are two best know companies operating in SFO - South & East Bay and SuperShuttle at about $25 for the first and $10 for each additional passenger. Cab is about $65. If you really want to take transit (unlikely, takes a long time) you may take SamTrans Bus #397 from SFO to Palo Alto and then take Marguerite Shuttle to where you need to go.

San Jose International Airport (SJC) - is located about 18 miles from the campus and it is really best to take shuttle or a cab (same companies apply, see above) the prices are about the same. Cab is about $55.

Oakland International Airport (OAK) - is the farthest of all major airports and is located about 35 miles form the campus, plus you have to cross the bridge and pay the toll that makes it more expensive, SuperShuttle will charge $55 for the first and $10 for each additional passenger. You may also take BART from OAK to Union City or Fremont BART stations and use one of the following options: The Dumbarton Express that runs weekdays from the Union City BART station across the Dumbarton Bridge to the Palo Alto Caltrain station, where you can connect with the Marguerite Shuttle. OR Line U Stanford Express operated by AC Transit and runs a weekday express shuttle bus service between the East Bay and the Stanford campus. This service is free for Stanford faculty, staff, students, and hospital employees who have a valid university ID or hospital employee ID.

University of California, Davis (UC Davis or UCD) - to travel between  UC Davis and UC Berkeley use Davis/Berkeley Intercampus Shuttle. Unitrans is Davis' transit system. YoloBus provides service to Sacramento, Woodland, the Sacramento Airport, as well as within Davis and throughout Yolo County. YoloBus connects with Unitrans at the Memorial Union and at many common stop locations throughout Davis. Amtrak station is located on Second St. at H St. on the Unitrans A-line bus.

Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is about 21 miles from UC Davis campus. The most efficient way is to use a shuttle van, best is Davis Airporter or SuperShuttle about $25 for the first person. If you rather use public transit than you have to take YoloBus #42 to Memorial Union station and transfer to Unitrans to get to campus.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) - is located approximately 85 miles form campus, you can still take a shuttle (same as above, rate is about $100 for first and $20 each additional) but it is not cheap, so the only alternative would be to take BART to Berkeley (Ashby, Berkeley Downtown or North Berkeley), use AC Transit to transfer to Amtrak (Berkeley or Emeryville (Emeryville station is staffed)) take Amtrak to Davis, transfer to Unitrans, it will take you to campus.

Oakland International Airport (OAK) - is about 78 miles from US Davis but getting here is easier, all you do is take AirBART shuttle to Oakland Coliseum Amtrak/BART Station, 700 73rd Avenue, off San Leandro Street, board Amtrak and the rest (see above)

University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz or UCSC)

Number of shuttle companies serve Santa Cruz click here for the list. Information on public transit to/form airport is listed below.

San Jose International Airport (SJC) - is approximately 35 miles from the UC Santa Cruz campus. From San Jose Airport take VTA ( Valley Transit Authority) Airport Flyer Route #10 bus to the Santa Clara Caltrain station. Ride Caltrain from the Santa Clara station to the San Jose Diridon (Cahill Street) Caltrain/Amtrak station. At the San Jose Diridon (Cahill Street) station transfer to the Highway 17 Express bus to the Santa Cruz Metro's Pacific Station in downtown Santa Cruz. At Santa Cruz Metro's Pacific Station take any University bus route to UC Santa Cruz campus.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) - is approximately 62 miles from the UC Santa Cruz campus. Take BART train at the SFO International Terminal; the SFO BART Station is located on the Departures/Ticketing Level of the International Terminal Boarding Area G side. BART provides a direct connection to Caltrain at the Millbrae station. Ride Caltrain from the Millbrae station to the San Jose Diridon (Cahill Street) station. At the San Jose Diridon station transfer to the Highway 17 Express bus to Santa Cruz Metro's Pacific station in downtown Santa Cruz. At Santa Cruz Metro's Pacific station take any University route bus to the UC Santa Cruz campus.

Oakland International Airport (OAK) - is approximately 63 miles from the UC Santa Cruz campus. Take the AirBART Shuttle that stops in front of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at the Oakland Airport. Get off at the Coliseum/Oakland Airport BART station Amtrak/BART Station 700 73rd Avenue, off San Leandro Street, Oakland, CA 94621. Take a BART train to the Fremont BART station. At Fremont BART station take VTA (Valley Transit Authority) Express Bus 180 to the San Jose Diridon Caltrain/Amtrak station. Take the Highway 17 Express bus from San Jose Diridon station to Santa Cruz Metro's Pacific station in downtown Santa Cruz. Take any University Route bus from Santa Cruz Metro's Pacific station to the UC Santa Cruz campus.

California State University, Chico (Chico State or Cal State, Chico) - The easiest way to get to Chico State from the airport is to FLY into Chico Airport and take transit to campus. The nearest major airport  to campus is Sacramento (SMF) and it is about 85 miles away. There is one company that offers scheduled shuttle service between Chico and Sacramento Airport. North Valley Shuttle departs form Jack's Restaurant (6th and Main) 3 times a day and is about $50 for the first passenger and about $30 for each additional. If you need to get to any other airport  Amtrak's Chico Station is located in the old Southern Pacific Depot. The station is a stop for Amtrak's once a day Coast Starlight as well as Amtrak California Motor Coach connections to/from the San Joaquins. Chico is an unstaffed stop. Neither tickets, baggage, nor package express shipments are handled at this location.