1. Rent a car at the airport from one of the major car rental agencies. If you are interested in this option and you don't want to keep your car during your stay be sure to ask if you can do a one-way rental to Santa Cruz.

2. Take a shuttle, limousine, or car app service from the airport.

3. Take a combination of bus and train public transport to the Santa Cruz Metro station and walk 6 blocks from the Metro Station to the Hinds House.

The public transport option is the least expensive and takes the most time (up to 3 hours). The limousine service is the fastest and the most expensive for one person (1.25 hours). This option is roughly the same price as the shuttles if there are two people. Shuttle services are a little less expensive than limousine service and take a little longer, as you have to wait for other passengers going to Santa Cruz (2 hours). Below we give more details on each option. 

There are shuttle services that will pick you up at the airport and take you to Santa Cruz. They pick up passengers at San Jose and San Francisco airports. 

-Early Bird Airport Shuttle (831) 462-3933

-Santa Cruz Airport Flyer (831) 423-5937

 

There are two Limousine services in Santa Cruz that provide airport pickup. The advantage of these services is they will pick you up at a prearranged time. This means you don't have to wait an hour or two for the next shuttle to arrive. If you are traveling alone these services are about twice the price of the shuttles. If you are two people traveling, their fees are about the same as the shuttles with faster service. For the best prices ask for the "Town Car" service.

-ABC Sedans and Limousines (831) 477-0170

-Cornerstone Airport Express (831) 477-0980

 

There is no direct train or bus service to Santa Cruz from San Francisco or San Jose airports. Taking public transportation from the airports is possible if one is willing to exchange time and convenience for a lower cost to travel. Help us keep this current by letting us know of schedule and destination changes.

Taking the VTA Airport Flyer in 3 steps: 

1. From the airport terminal follow the ground transportation signs. The Airport Flyer stops at the islands in front of both terminals. There are two different Airport Flyer buses. You want the bus to the Caltrain Station. Ask the driver if that bus is going to the Caltrain Station. If it's going to the Metro Light Rail Station, do not get on. Get off the bus at the Santa Clara Caltrain Station (the last stop). 

 

1. Taking BART: The BART Station is attached to the International Terminal. Buy a ticket and put it in one of the fare gates. Electronic signs and automated announcements indicate where the trains are going. Get on the train to the San Bruno Station. At San Bruno, get on the “Millbrae” train. Avoid all other trains. Move toward the front of the train if possible. You will be closer to the escalator when you get off. Get off the train at Millbrae which is the only stop. An agent will announce it.

2. Finding the Caltrain: After getting off the BART train, go up to the mezzanine and re-process your ticket. Now, go down to the far Caltrain platform — the one that's across the Caltrain tracks. Find a red Caltrain ticket machine and buy a ticket to Zone 4. All trains that stop at this platform go to San Jose. Get off at the Diridon Station.

3. Taking the Highway 17 Express Bus to Santa Cruz: This bus leaves the Diridon Station and travels over the Santa Cruz Mountains (45 minutes) via Highway 17 ($4.00 one way). The first bus leaves for Santa Cruz at 6:00 am and leaves about every half hour until the last bus at 10:40 pm Mon-Fri. The last bus leaves at 10:10 pm on weekends. 

For the Highway 17 Express, dial 1 800 USA -RAIL (nationwide, toll-free). Ask for schedules between Santa Cruz and San Jose. For other transportation services, dial 511 (San Francisco Bay Area, toll-free) or 1 408 817-1717.