In LA for a week next month and wouldn't mind seeing San Francisco. Only want to go for a day so anyone know the best way? Are there any cheap flights as driving is obviously too long for just a day?
2007-03-12 05:32:55 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Los Angeles
To make this journey in ONE day you must fly, every other method of travel will take too long. Lucky for you that the Los Angeles - Bay Area corridor is the most heavily traveled routes in the United States. Every airline flies there, some even having hourly departures. The competition for your business is fierce. Any good travel consolidator (Orbitz, Travelosity, ect) can get you a great fare. Yes, Southwest Airlines is very cheap, but they drastically over book this route, and you stand a good chance of getting bumped off the flight. In addition to flying to SFO, try pricing San Jose, SJC, (45 miles south), and Oakland, OAK, (12 miles east, although trying to cross the Bay Bridge in the a.m. is a real bear). Also consider taking a "Red Eye" flight up and staying that night in the bay, coming back the following night. Welcome to California, and enjoy your visit.
CAUTION: I apologize if this sounds like a racist remark, but it tends to be true. In downtown San Francisco, some Asian drivers tend to run red lights. Be careful crossing at intersections.
2007-03-12 13:10:39 · answer #1 · answered by Peedlepup 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, we have to keep Torsten away from his crack pipe. Just going fro LA to Santa Barbara via train takes 3+ hours, and LA to SF via train can take 12 hours or more, since FREIGHT traffic takes precedence. Go figure. (However, I HIGHLY recommend the train trip from LA to SB for a nice day trip.)
As you noted, driving is a bit much, considering the distance (over 400 miles). Even if you go up I-5 and cut over at 580, it's still a good 7-8 hour drive, although I once did it in under 6. That's still a lot of driving for a one-day.
The good news is that Southwest has some cheap flights, about $44 each way. However, they don't fly into SFO, but Oakland instead. But it's really no big deal, you can take a shuttle bus to the BART station, then take the BART under the bay and into downtoan SF in a few minutes. I've done it, and both my daughters (ages 23 & 20) have done this as well. You can get off in the Union Plaza area, then either take a cable car to the waterfront, or just walk the 2 miles. (Sometimes the line for the CC is just too long. My daughters did this a couple months ago as well. It's a bit of a hike, but there are a lot of cool neighborhoods you see: Market St, Chinatown, Little Italy, and North Beach).
Have fun!
2007-03-12 13:15:51 · answer #2 · answered by Capt. Obvious 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Southwest usually has some pretty cheap flights between LA and SF, so you might check there, or look up commuter flights between the two cities. You're right...driving is way too long..it would take you the day driving just to get there. The train isn't much faster.
2007-03-12 12:38:34 · answer #3 · answered by Woz 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You could drive down 101 N all the way up or 5 but with how much gas is now, it would probably be cheaper to take the train which would be 50 -75 dollars one way and it would take less time or you could go on www.southwest.com or www.expedia.com and get a ticket soon. sometimes you can get very cheap plane tickets if you get them in advance or A.S.A.P. I live in the bay area and I would recommend that you see San Fran. Make sure you see Haight & Ashbury, Pier 39, fishermans wharf, lombard St., Alcatraz, and drive over the golden gate bridge. It'll be one fun day.
2007-03-12 13:06:50 · answer #4 · answered by C-No Evil 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Here are some options.
Fastest: 1:10 mins Airplane Southwest into Oakland ($59 one way coach Promo Fare)
Cheapest: 11 hrs avg Bus Greyhound ($39 one way 7 day advance)
Train: 10 hrs avg Amtrak ($60 coach on-way)
Most Scenic: Car 7 hrs avg. {approx 368 miles} (Gas- it's CA they put some magic cleaner stuff in the gas $3.10 a gal avg)
Route #1 I-5 6 hrs (smell the fresh cow waste)
Route #2 I-101/PCH 7hrs (along the CA coast)
2007-03-12 13:10:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
driving takes like 7 hours, straight down the 5
2007-03-12 12:41:02 · answer #6 · answered by stinkypinky 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
get a plane ticket that is supposed to leave a week from now and just go on a plane. www.kayak.com has very cheap tickets.
2007-03-14 12:46:13 · answer #7 · answered by stephen G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
since you want to go for ONE day, you ONLY option is
to fly and I suggest you fly either Frontier (from Lax ) they operate
into SFO or from Long beach (a easier airport) fly Jet Blue
to Oakland..instead
2007-03-12 22:03:43 · answer #8 · answered by mobilemark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take the train!!! $60 one way and around 10 hours
Source: http://www.amtrak.com
2007-03-12 12:35:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
yes i flew and it was sometime ago i think i hour
2007-03-12 12:36:45 · answer #10 · answered by srracvuee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋