6 Ways to Get Around Oakland & the Wider Bay Area

​Visiting the Bay and didn’t rent a car? It’s really no problem. The public transit in Oakland will get you where you need to go! You can pretty much reach any destination in the Bay by taking one or more of the various modes of transport listed below! By bus, by train, by boat, by shuttle, which will be your favorite?! 

1) Our Awesome Complimentary Shuttle Service

​When it comes to our shuttle service, we can get you where you need to go! Our drivers are incredibly friendly and very familiar with Oakland’s roads! Take the shuttle between the hours of 6:00AM to 11:30PM to the major transport hubs such as the Oakland International Airport (top of the hour), Lake Merritt BART station, and Jack London Square & Ferry (bottom of the hour).  Stop by the front desk to learn even more about our shuttle service! Read on below to learn a ton more about Oakland’s public transit options!

2) BART

“Is it near BART?” is a question you will often hear from visitors and locals alike. BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) is one of the Bay Area’s most popular and convenient means of getting to all the central locations around the Bay such as Downtown Oakland, San Francisco, and both Bay Area International Airports OAK and SFO!  There’s really no better way to get from Oakland to SF than BART during it's operating hours. Trip prices vary by the distances between stations and also by whether you are purchasing a one-way or round-trip ticket. On the weekdays, the trains run at an expedient interval of every 15 minutes. On the weekends it’s every 20 minutes. Easily plan your trip by downloading the BART app on your phone while in the Bay, or visit the online trip planner here.

3) ​AC Transit

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AC Transit, short for Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, is the East Bay’s local bus operator. Taking the bus around Oakland and the Bay is a great way to experience a taste of day-to-day life for locals. Major bus lines converge at Downtown Oakland just outside of Oakland’s 12th street BART station. Catch the bus to points of interest such as Amtrak's Jack London Square station (Routes 58L, 72, and 72M), downtown Berkeley (Route 18), UC Berkeley (Routes 1 and 1R), Lake Merritt (Routes 12, 26, 58L, and NL), Piedmont Avenue (Route 12), Rockridge (Route 51A), and an above ground scenic transport to downtown San Francisco (Route NL). If you take the bus, be sure to give yourself extra travel time! Plan your trip via AC Transit here! 

4) Broadway Free Shuttle

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If you’re already in Downtown Oakland and need to get to Oakland hotspots such as BART, Jack London Square, the San Francisco Bay Ferry, Amtrak, or AC Transit center, be sure to take advantage of the free transport and hop on the shuttle wherever you see the green Broadway Shuttle Icon! It runs Monday-Friday, 7am-10pm. Shuttles generally arrive every 11 minutes! Read more about it here.

5) ​Amtrak

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Amtrak trains run through Oakland, San Francisco, and Berkeley. While it’s not the most inexpensive means of transport in the Bay, take it for a train adventure! The Oakland station is located in Jack London Square. Catch a train there to get to San Francisco stations, Berkeley, and Emeryville. Get more info and buy tickets here!

6)​Ferry

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We’ve mentioned the Ferry on our blog here, probably several times, but it’s always worth another mention! If you would like a transport to/from Oakland out in the fresh Bay air, get your ticket and glide across the Bay on the Ferry. The best part is the amazing views you get of the Bay Bridge and San Francisco’s Skyline! The schedule can be found here!

Written by Jessi