Getting around

Flying into San Francisco or Oakland Airport for John Carroll Weekend? Save time, money and hassle by downloading Clipper on your phone before you arrive! Clipper is the all-in-one transit card for the Bay Area, including BART between both airports and San Francisco, Muni within San Francisco (including the world-famous cable cars), and Golden Gate Transit and Ferry for a trip across the bay to Marin! For more information, visit: www.clippercard.com.

Walking
San Francisco is a relatively small city and therefore is wonderfully walkable. However, the city is also known for its abounding (and sometimes challenging) hills. If you opt to walk the city, be mindful that in some cases you may find yourself walking uphill for quite a few blocks. Take heart though—these steep hills will reward you with beautiful views (and plenty of steps if you’re tracking them).

 

Bike rental services
Like many cities, San Francisco has a bikeshare system, where riders can rent bikes for a period of time through the Lyft app (the bikes are operated by the company Lyft). Because of the abundance of hills, it may be worth renting an electric bike. If you are interested in renting a bike for a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito, head to Sports Basement in the Presidio Park. Please be advised that there is a steep hill to get to the bridge and an even steeper hill to come back to San Francisco from Sausalito. If you want to avoid the challenging hills on your return from Sausalito, you can always take the ferry.

 

BART
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is the public metro system that connects the entire Bay Area. Within San Francisco, all the lines follow the same track and can be used to get to many destinations within the Bay Area.
*Please note: the trains run every 15 minutes on weekdays, and every 20 minutes on weekends.

 

Light Rail
The Muni System has a network of fuel-efficient buses and light rail Metro trains that touch the corners of the entire city. All subway and surface stations are wheelchair accessible, with 24 surface platform stations above ground. Some limited underground trains can be used in conjunction with BART for longer trips (beyond San Francisco). Download the MuniMobile app prior to your arrival to instantly purchase your transit tickets, or purchase a Clipper Card at any BART or Muni station.

 

Cable Car
The legendary San Francisco cable car has been in operation since the late 1800s, assisting locals and visitors alike in traversing the city’s intimidating hills. Select from any of the city’s three lines—the Powell-Hyde, the Powell-Mason, and the California lines—or simply look for brown and white cable car signage at metro stops. These lines run through some of the city’s most popular neighborhoods and attractions, including Chinatown, Union Square, and Fisherman’s Wharf.

 

Ferry
The San Francisco Bay ferry is a fun and classic means of transportation around the Bay Area. The ferries connect locations such as Oakland, Angel Island, Alcatraz Island, and Pier 41. Keep in mind that the air is always cooler near (and on) water, so dress accordingly!

 

Caltrain
Caltrain is the environmentally conscious electric train that travels the scenic route, connecting the Peninsula and South Bay and stretching from San Jose to the southern parts of San Francisco. Learn more about the Caltrain Electrification program and the beautiful places the train currently travels through.