Transit Guide for Santa Cruz
The following information concerns the public transportation system and car rentals in Santa Cruz County:
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 current road conditions, please visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi or call CalTrans (California Department of Transportation): (800) 427-ROAD
Highway 1
Highway 9
Highway 17
Highway 129
Highway 152
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