Getting outside of Davis

Browse this page to find out the best ways to reach the airports during the holidays, the Bay Area for a fun weekend, Lake Tahoe for a hike, and much more!

Local Airports

The three major airports closest to Davis in the greater NorCal area are in Sacramento, San Francisco and Oakland. These are each accessible by a variety of public transportation means like ride shares, shuttle services and more.

SMF - Sacramento Municipal Airport

The closest airport to Davis (and arguably most convenient), SMF is the smallest of the 3 major airports but the routes to/from SMF are the most straightforward both in terms of traffic and public transportation. The downside is that SFO and OAK may offer more flight options and cheaper prices.

Getting a Lyft or Uber from Davis is a feasible option and can be cheaper than taking a shuttle - but be cautious to order it with plenty of time in case there don't happen to be any drivers in the area at that moment!
If you have some time to spare, not too much luggage, and want to save a few bucks, Yolobus lines 42A and 42B take you directly to SMF from Davis. This is hands-down the cheapest way to get to SMF (unless you have someone who can give you a ride - but pay them gas money!). If you're leaving from Sacramento, the Sacramento Region Transit also offers an Airport Express Bus Service (Route 142).
Shuttle services that go to SMF are also available such as Davis Airporter, Shuttle Wizard, and Shuttle Sacramento Airport. Scroll down the page to see more public transportation and carpool ideas.
For more details, see the official SMF parking and transportation page.

SFO - San Francisco International Airport

SFO is the largest airport in the Bay Area and the second busiest in California, after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Boasting 4 terminals, 7 concourses with 115 gates, and two airside connectors that enable passengers to roam (post-security) between adjacent terminal buildings, SFO is also home to the first museum in an international airport, displaying both permanent artwork and temporary exhibitions in more than 20 galleries including public art, photography, student art, and video art.

Unfortunately, SFO is the farthest from Davis so the most cost-effective method is probably to carpool via Waze Carpool, rideshare groups (scroll down the page for some suggestions), or shuttle services such as Davis Airporter or Shuttle Sacramento Airport.
If opting to take public transportation, one efficient method is to first connect to the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART) because it goes directly to SFO. Ways to connect to BART include:
- - FLIX BUS - Bus to Oakland, board BART at one of its Oakland stations
  - Berkeley Shuttle - Take the shuttle from UCD Shields Library to UCB Campus, board BART from its downtown Berkeley station
  - SOLANO EXPRESS - Leave from the Silo, ride all the way to the last stop (Pleasant Hill), board BART from the Pleasant Hill station
  - AMTRAK - Board the Capitol Corridor from downtown Davis, connect to BART from the Richmond station
See SFO's ground transportation and public transit pages for more info.

OAK - Oakland International Airport

The third-largest airport in the Bay Area, OAK has two two terminals and is an operating base for Southwest Airlines. OAK is closer to Davis than SFO and sometimes has cheaper flights than SFO and SMF. As of 2014, both BART and Amtrak have direct connections to OAK, so you can use a similar way to get OAK as SFO. OAK's official web page on public transportation and Wikipedia page provide more details on additional transit systems you can take.

Fun fact: from 2/2019-1/2020 the busiest domestic flight departing from OAK was to Las Vegas!

Close Getaway Destinations

Here are some awesome - and reasonably close! - places for a quick getaway, as well as ways to reach them without a car.

SACRAMENTO/GREATER DAVIS AREA

The greater Sacramento area has a lot to offer and is a quick getaway from the occasionally too-small Davis. The greater Davis area includes other nearby towns such as Woodland and Winters, which are popular for shopping, wine tasting and breweries. Best of all (if you know where to go) - no undergrads! Check out our destinations page for more details on fun things to do in the area.

Public Transportation:

UNITRANS - Davis bus system that connects you to Yolobus and Solano Express. Fare: $1.25 one ride
YOLO BUS - Bus system to Sacramento/Winters/Vacaville/SAC Airport. Fare: $2.25 one way
SOLANO EXPRESS - Leaves from the Silo, takes you to Solano county and the East Bay. Fare depends on the bus you take.
AMTRAK - The Capitol Corridor line runs from Auburn to San Jose, stopping by the Davis Amtrak station. Fare depends on the destination.

Ride sharing/carpools:

UC DAVIS RIDE SHARING Facebook group
Waze Carpool, recommended by the UC Davis goClub

SAN FRANCISCO/BAY AREA

The Bay Area is a hot spot for good food, cultural diversity, dancing, museums and other cultural displays, and community events such as art fairs and music festivals. Check out our destinations page for more details on fun things to do in the area!

Public Transportation:

Berkeley Shuttle - Departs from UCD Shields Library to UCB Campus, twice a day. Fare: $15 one way
FLIX BUS - Bus to Oakland, SF, Berkeley. Fare: $12-20 round trip
SOLANO EXPRESS - Leaves from the Silo, takes you to Solano county and the East Bay. Fare depends on the bus you take.
AMTRAK - The Capitol Corridor line runs from Auburn to San Jose, stopping by the Davis Amtrak station. Fare depends on the destination.

Ride sharing/carpools:

UC DAVIS/BAY AREA CARPOOL Facebook group

LAKE TAHOE

Lake Tahoe is a beautiful place for outdoor recreation, including camping, hiking and water sports. The area is generally divided into North Lake Tahoe and South Lake Tahoe (you can read more about the different offerings of each here).

Public Transportation:

AMTRAK - Fare (each way) is generally between $30-45 for the train and $5 for the bus
- SOUTH LAKE TAHOE: Take a train from Davis to Sacramento Valley Station, and then an Amtrak bus to South Lake Tahoe. The total trip is about 3hrs in total each way, but be warned: there is only one bus that runs from Sacramento to Lake Tahoe per day, so be sure the train you take will get you there on time!
- NORTH LAKE TAHOE: Take a 4hr train ride from Davis to Truckee, and there are buses that will take you to Tahoe City, Carnelian Bay, Crystal Bay, Incline Village, etc.

Ride sharing/carpools:

Getting back from Tahoe: TAHOE RIDESHARE facebook group

If you're visiting in winter, be sure to check out the Caltrans page on required snow gear for vehicles and the CHP's winter driving tips.

YOSEMITE

Yosemite is listed as one of the most beautiful natural sites in the United States! Yosemite can be divided into the insta-famous Yosemite Valley and the greater Yosemite National Park, which includes the surrounding mountains and valleys. Don't miss out on fantastic hiking and scenic views because of the lack of a car, and be sure to check out our destinations page for the best places to visit and camp!

Public Transportation:

Bus service is available to Yosemite Valley (and, during summer, to some other areas of the park) from cities throughout California and the rest of the United States.

Amtrak provides a combination of train and bus service to Yosemite Valley. Amtrak also provides limited service to White Wolf and Tuolumne Meadows daily during July and August (weekends only during June and September). Amtrak service beyond Merced (including Yosemite) is provided by YARTS.
Greyhound provides bus service to Merced, where you can transfer to YARTS to continue to Yosemite Valley. YARTS also provides limited service to Crane Flat, White Wolf, and Tuolumne Meadows daily during July and August (weekends only during June and September).

Specific directions are available showing how to access public transportation [600 kb PDF] from some of the major airports in the area.

WITHIN THE PARK - BE SURE to check out the NPS website for more details on public transportation options with the park. Operation is contingent on the season and the weather, so always check before you plan!

Ride sharing/carpools:

Check out CarpoolWorld for potential rides, especially during the busy season
YOSEMITE RIDE SHARE facebook group

If you're visiting in winter, be sure to check out the Caltrans page on required snow gear for vehicles and the CHP's winter driving tips.

NAPA/SONOMA

Napa is home to some world-famous vineyards and beautiful scenery, however the greater Northern California area has many fantastic wine towns worth exploring from Lodi to St. Helena. Check out our destinations page for more details on the best things to see in Napa and Sonoma counties as well as more student-priced alternatives!

Public Transportation:

The Vine Transit runs along the major Napa County destinations all the way from Calistoga to Vallejo. To reach their operation route, you can take an Amtrak to Fairfield and hop on from there.

Ride sharing/carpools:

Students constantly commute to and from Bodega Marine Lab, and Napa and Sonoma are along the way! Ask around on the BML listserv and you might find someone willing to give you a lift.

THE COAST

Check out our destinations page for more details on fun things to do near Bodega Bay/Bodega Marine Lab, Point Reyes, Santa Cruz and Monterey!

Vehicle shares and rentals:

While public transportation can be cheaper and more eco-friendly, it's not always the fastest option. Sometimes you need to bring a lot of luggage or camping supplies, travel to an unusual destination point, or just want the freedom to move around as you please! Here are some options for renting a car in the local area:

Shared motility companies such as Zimride and Zipcar
Car rental agencies such as Avis, Budget, and Enterprise. These are primarily grouped off of Chiles Road in southeast Davis.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Southern California has some of the most famous destinations in the United States, including Los Angeles and San Diego, as well as amazing parks such as Death Valley, Joshua Tree and Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Park.

Public Transportation:

Check the website www.rome2rio.com for ideas on how to get to your destination via public transport.

Ride sharing/carpools:

ORANGE COUNTY/UC DAVIS RIDESHARE Facebook group
SOCAL/UCDAVIS RIDESHARE Facebook group

Vehicle shares and rentals:

Shared motility companies such as Zimride and Zipcar
Car rental agencies such as Avis, Budget, and Enterprise. These are primarily grouped off of Chiles Road in southeast Davis.

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