Transportation Guide for Santa Cruz
There are many ways to get to and around Santa Cruz County. Below is a list of car rental agencies, information on getting to Santa Cruz from local airports, and public and private transportation options in Santa Cruz County.
Santa Cruz Beach-Downtown Trolley:
The trolley is the best way to get back and forth between the beach and downtown and avoid parking and traffic. The Santa Cruz Trolley is convenient, ADA-accessible, and an enjoyable way to experience what Santa Cruz has to offer for all ages. Trolley riders can park downtown and easily get to the Monterey Bay Exploration Center, the Wharf, Main Beach, and the Boardwalk and still have time to shop and dine in the Downtown. The trolley runs daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. For more information, visit http://santacruztrolley.com/.
Trolley Stops & Departure Times:
- The trolley leaves the historic Del Mar Theatre at 1124 Pacific Avenue every 30 minutes on the hour (:00) and half hour (:30) to bring you to the beach.
- The trolley leaves the entrance to the Santa Cruz Wharf at 106 Beach St at quarter after (:15) and quarter of (:45) each hour to bring you back Downtown.
Car Rentals in Santa Cruz:
Zipcar Santa Cruz
Enterprise
Budget Car Rentals
Practical Rent a Car
Hertz
Autoworld at Santa Cruz
Airport Shuttle Service:
Early Bird Airport Shuttle
4525 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz
Phone: 831.462.3933
Fax: 831.462.6946
www.earlybirdairportshuttle.com
Santa Cruz Airport Flyer
4525 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz
(831) 423-5937
www.santacruzairportflyer.com/
Santa Cruz Experience
140 Seaview Avenue, Santa Cruz
(831) 421-9883
thesantacruzexperience.com/
Road Conditions:
For real-time traffic conditions and highway webcams in the Santa Cruz County area, visit the Regional Transportation Commission's Commute Solutions Traffic Conditions webpage. For current road conditions by phone, call the CalTrans (California Department of Transportation), (800) 427-ROAD. Or visit the California Department of Transportation website and enter the number of the highway you're taking (e.g., Highway 1, 9, 17, 129, 152, or 156).
Other Transportation Service:
Greyhound Service - Santa Cruz
Public Transit Information:
Highway 17 Express Bus schedule
Highway 17 Express and Caltrain schedule
Monterey-Salinas Transit Website
Amtrak
For transit guide information for Santa Cruz, please visit: http://www.iridethebus.org/
Samples of transportation guides from Santa Cruz to airports, cities, and places:
The following information provides some sample guides to take public transportation from Santa Cruz to different places. [Note: routes and fares may subject to change.]
For any further questions, please visit: Santa Cruz Metro or call (831) 426-6080
Santa Cruz to Airports:
1.) Santa Cruz to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
|
Transportation
|
To
|
Time
|
Fare
|
Runs every
|
|
Walk/bike/drive
|
Pacific Station(Metro Center)
920 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
|
|
|
|
|
SC-Metro:
Highway 17 Express
|
San Jose (Diridon) Station
|
1 hr
|
$4.00
|
1-2 hours
|
|
Caltrain
(800) 427-ROAD
|
Milbrae Station
|
1 hr
|
$5.75
|
30-60min
|
|
BART
415 989-2278
|
San Francisco Airport (SFO)
BART Station, Int’l Terminal
|
15-25 min
|
$1.50
|
15 min
|
|
Total fare
|
$11.25
|
|
Total travel time
|
2-3 hrs
|
|
Latest departure time
|
9pm
|
|
Latest return time
|
7:45pm
|
|
Approx. Driving Hrs:
|
1 hr 12 mins
|
|
1 hr 30 mins in traffic
|
For SFO parking options visit:
http://www.flysfo.com/web/page/parking/options/
2.) Santa Cruz to San Jose International Airport (SJC)
|
Transportation
|
To
|
Time
|
Fare
|
Runs every
|
|
Walk/bike/drive
|
Pacific Station(Metro Center)
|
|
|
|
|
SC Metro:
Highway 17 Express
|
San Jose (Diridon) Station
|
1 hr
|
$4.00
|
1-2hours
|
|
Caltrain
(800) 427-ROAD
|
Santa Clara Caltrain Station
|
5 min
|
$2.25
|
30-60 min
|
|
Airport Flyer VTA: (408)321 2300
|
San Jose Airport (SJC)
Opposite Terminal A or C
|
15 min
|
Free
|
15-30 min
|
|
Total fare
|
$6.25
|
|
Total travel time
|
2-2.5 hrs
|
|
Latest departure time
|
9pm
|
|
Latest return time
|
9pm
|
|
Approx Driving Hrs:
|
41 mins
|
For SJS parking options visit:
http://www.airportparkingconnection.com/sjc-san-jose-airport-parking.aspx
3.) Santa Cruz to Oakland International Airport (OAK)
|
Transportation
|
To
|
Time
|
Fare
|
Runs every
|
|
Walk/bike/drive
|
Pacific Station(Metro Center)
|
|
|
|
|
SC Metro:
Highway 17 Express
|
San Jose (Diridon) Station
|
1 hr
|
$4.00
|
1-2hours
|
|
VTA bus
(408)321 2300
|
Fremont BART Station
|
1 hr
|
$3.50
|
15-60 min
|
|
BART
510 465-2278
|
Coliseum BART Station
|
25 min
|
$3.40
|
5-20 min
|
|
AC Transit
510 891-4700
|
Oakland Airport(OAK)
4th Curb, between Terminals 1&2
|
15 min
|
$1.75
|
15-30 min
|
|
Total fare
|
$12.65
|
|
Total travel time
|
3.5 hrs
|
|
Latest departure time
|
9pm
|
|
Latest return time
|
7:30pm
|
|
Approx. Driving Hrs:
|
1 hr 15 mins
|
For OAK parking options visit:
http://www.avistarparking.com/fasttrack/Oakland_%28OAK%29-Airport-Parking
4.) Santa Cruz to Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
|
Transportation
|
To
|
Time
|
Fare
|
Runs every
|
|
Walk/bike/drive
|
Pacific Station (Metro Center)
|
|
|
|
|
SC Metro:
Highway 17 Express
|
San Jose (Diridon) Station
|
1 hr
|
$4.00
|
1-2 hours
|
|
Capitol Corridor
1-877-974-3322
|
Sacramento Amtrak Station
|
3 hr
|
$26.00
|
1-3 hours
|
|
Sacramento RT
(916) 321-BUSS (2877)
|
All points in Sacramento
|
|
$2.00
|
|
|
Total fare
|
$31.00
|
|
Total travel time
|
4 to 5 hours
|
|
Latest departure time
|
6pm
|
|
Latest return time
|
5:30pm
|
|
Approx. Driving Hrs:
|
2 hrs 49 mins
|
For SMF parking options visit:
http://www.ifly.com/sacramento-international-airport/Sacramento-SMF-Airport-Parking
5.) Santa Cruz to Monterey Airport (MRY)
|
Transportation
|
To
|
Time
|
Fare
|
Runs every
|
|
Walk/bike/drive
|
Pacific Station (Metro Center)
|
|
|
|
|
SC Metro
|
Watsonville Transit Station
|
1 hr
|
$1.50
|
30 mins
|
|
MST
1-888-678-2871
|
Salinas
|
1 hr
|
$3.00
|
1 hr
|
|
MST
1-888-678-2871
|
Monterey Airport (MRY)
|
40 mins
|
$3.00
|
1 hr
|
|
Total Fare
|
$7.50
|
|
Total Travel Time
|
2.5 to 3 hrs
|
|
Latest Departure Time
|
6pm
|
|
Latest Return Time
|
6pm
|
|
Approx Driving Hrs
|
48 mins
|
For MRY parking options visit:
http://www.ifly.com/monterey-peninsula-airport/Monterey-Peninsula-MRY-Airport-Parking
Santa Cruz to Shopping Sites:
1.) Santa Cruz to Capitola Mall
|
Transportation
|
To
|
Time
|
Fare
|
Runs every
|
|
Walk/bike/drive
|
Pacific Station(Metro Center)
|
|
|
|
|
Metro Bus
|
Capitola Mall
|
30 min
|
$1.50
|
15-60 min
|
|
Total fare
|
$1.50
|
|
Total travel time
|
30 min
|
|
Latest departure time
|
10:30pm
|
|
Latest return time
|
11:00pm
|
|
Approx Driving Hrs:
|
9 mins
|
2.) Santa Cruz to Target (Watsonville)
|
Transportation
|
To
|
Time
|
Fare
|
Runs every
|
|
Walk/bike/drive
|
Pacific Station(Metro Center)
|
|
|
|
|
Metro at SC
|
Outlook Shopping Center
|
1 hr
|
$1.50
|
15-60 min
|
|
Total fare
|
$1.50
|
|
Total travel time
|
1 hr
|
|
Latest departure time
|
11:45pm
|
|
Latest return time
|
9:30pm
|
|
Approx Driving Hrs:
|
19 mins
|
3.) Santa Cruz to Home Depot (Watsonville)
|
Transportation
|
To
|
Time
|
Fare
|
Runs every
|
|
Walk/bike/drive
|
Pacific Station(Metro Center)
|
|
|
|
|
SC Metro
|
Watsonville Transit Center
|
1 hr
|
$1.50
|
15-60 min
|
|
SC Metro
|
Home Depot
355 S Green Valley Rd, Watsonville
|
20 min
|
$1.50
|
60 min
|
|
Total fare
|
$3.00
|
|
Total travel time
|
1.5 hrs
|
|
Latest departure time
|
6:45pm
|
|
Latest return time
|
8:30pm
|
|
Approx Driving Hrs:
|
21 mins
|
Santa Cruz to Cities:
1.) Santa Cruz to San Jose:
|
Transportation
|
To
|
Time
|
Fare
|
Runs every
|
|
Walk/bike/drive
|
Pacific Station(Metro Center)
|
|
|
|
|
SC Metro:
Highway 17 Express
|
San Jose (Diridon) Station
|
1 hr
|
$4.00
|
1-2 hours
|
|
Total fare
|
$4.00
|
|
Total travel time
|
1 hr
|
|
Latest departure time
|
9pm
|
|
Latest return time
|
10pm
|
|
Approx Driving Hrs:
|
40 mins
|
2.) Santa Cruz to San Francisco
|
Transportation
|
To
|
Time
|
Fare
|
Runs every
|
|
Walk/bike/drive
|
Pacific Station(Metro Center)
|
|
|
|
|
SC Metro:
Highway 17 Express
|
San Jose (Diridon) Station
|
1 hr
|
$4.00
|
1-2 hours
|
|
Caltrain
(800) 427-ROAD
|
San Francisco(4th & King) Station
|
1.5 hrs
|
$7.50
|
30-60 min
|
|
San Francisco Muni
415.701.3000
|
All points in San Francisco
|
|
$1.50
|
|
|
Total fare
|
$11.50
|
|
Total travel time
|
2-3 hrs
|
|
Latest departure time
|
9pm
|
|
Latest return time
|
8pm
|
|
Approx Driving Hrs:
|
1 hr 25 mins
|
3.) Santa Cruz to Fremont
|
Transportation
|
To
|
Time
|
Fare
|
Runs every
|
|
Walk/bike/drive
|
Pacific Station (Metro Center)
|
|
|
|
|
SC Metro:
Highway 17 Express
|
San Jose (Diridon) Station
|
1 hr
|
$4.00
|
1-2 hours
|
|
VTA bus
(408)321 2300
|
Fremont BART Station
|
1 hr
|
$3.50
|
15-60 min
|
|
AC Transit
510 891-4700
|
All points in Fremont
|
|
$1.75
|
|
|
Total fare
|
$7.50
|
|
Total travel time
|
2-2.5 hrs
|
|
Latest departure time
|
9pm
|
|
Latest return time
|
9pm
|
|
Approx Driving Hr
|
55 mins
|
4.) Santa Cruz to Berkeley
|
Transportation
|
To
|
Time
|
Fare
|
Runs every
|
|
Walk/bike/drive
|
Pacific Station (Metro Center)
|
|
|
|
|
Highway 17 Express
|
San Jose (Diridon) Station
|
1 hr
|
$4.00
|
1-2 hours
|
|
VTA
(408)321 2300
|
Fremont BART Station
|
1 hr
|
$3.50
|
15-60 min
|
|
BART
510 465-2278
|
Downtown Berkeley BART Station
|
45 min
|
$4.05
|
15-20 min
|
|
AC Transit
510 891-4700
|
All points in Berkeley
|
|
$1.75
|
|
|
Total fare
|
$11.55
|
|
Total travel time
|
3.5 hrs
|
|
Latest departure time
|
9pm
|
|
Latest return time
|
7:45pm
|
|
Approx Driving Hrs
|
1 hr 27 mins
|
5.) Santa Cruz to Sacramento
|
Transportation
|
To
|
Time
|
Fare
|
Runs every
|
|
Walk/bike/drive
|
Pacific Station (Metro Center)
|
|
|
|
|
SC Metro:
Highway 17 Express
|
San Jose (Diridon) Station
|
1 hr
|
$4.00
|
1-2 hours
|
|
Capitol Corridor
1-877-974-3322
|
Sacramento Amtrak Station
|
3 hrs
|
$26.00
|
1-3 hours
|
|
Sacramento RT
(916) 321-BUSS (2877)
|
All points in Sacramento
|
|
$2.00
|
|
|
Total fare
|
$30.00
|
|
Total travel time
|
4-5 hrs
|
|
Latest departure time
|
6pm
|
|
Latest return time
|
5:30pm
|
|
Approx Driving Hrs
|
2 hrs 43 mins
|
Article by Kylie Chan and George Semfield, May 2011