Oakland has increasingly become one of the Bay Area’s most vibrant cultural wonderlands. It’s got fine dining, an eclectic night life, some fabulous music venues. But it’s not all about the nightlife either—from scenic Lake Merritt to a vibrant arts scene, Oakland offers no shortage of things to do in the daylight hours.
And, it’s just a hop, skip, and a BART (or boat or bus!) ride from San Francisco. Here, everything you need to know about how to get to Oakland (and what to do there).
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By BART
Four BART lines connect San Francisco to Oakland: Richmond (red line), Pittsburg/Bay Point (yellow line), Dublin/Pleasanton (blue line), and Fremont (green line).
Note: Fremont and Richmond trains do not run after 7:15 p.m., but you can still take the Dublin/Pleasanton or Pittsburgh/Bay Point trains to any destination. Get more information about BART.
West Oakland
Trains: Richmond, Pittsburg/Bay Point, Dublin/Pleasanton and Fremont
Duration: 7 minutes
Cost: $2.90
12th St. Oakland City Center
Trains: Richmond, Pittsburg/Bay Point
Duration: 10 minutes
Cost: $3.10
19th St. Oakland Center
Trains: Richmond, Pittsburg/Bay Point
Duration: 13 minutes
Cost: $3.10
MacArthur
Trains: Richmond and Pittsburg/Bay Point
Duration: 17 minutes
Cost: $3.30
6 Things to Do Near Macarthur Station
Rockridge
Trains: Pittsburg/Bay Point
Duration: 20 minutes
Cost: $3.50
5 Things to Do in Rockridge
Lake Merritt
Trains: Dublin/Pleasanton and Fremont
Duration: 12 minutes
Cost: $3.10
4 Things to Do in Lake Merritt, Oakland
Fruitvale
Trains: Dublin/Pleasanton, Fremont
Duration: 16 minutes
Cost: $3.50
Colisum/Oakland Airport
Trains: Dublin/Pleasanton, Fremont
Duration: 19 minutes
Cost: $3.80
By Ferry
The ferry ride across the Bay to Oakland is as lovely as it is simple. Two organizations, the Blue and Gold Fleet’s Oakland/Alameda Oakland’s Jack London Square. Get more ferry information.
Blue and Gold Fleet
Departure Point: San Francisco Ferry Building
Duration: 30-40 minutes
Cost: $6.25 (adult)/$3.50 (children and seniors)
By AC Transit
AC Transit runs a wide web of buses throughout the East Bay, with several Transbay lines connecting San Francisco to Oakland. Note that some of the transbay buses run on weekdays only. Check the schedules before departing. All Transbay bus tickets cost $4.20 for adults and $2.10 for children and seniors.
San Francisco Stop: Transbay Terminal (Howard Street between Main and Beale)
Line B (weekday only)
Stops: Lakeshore/Longridge; Longridge/Grosvenor; Trestle Glen/Lakeshore
Duration: 18 – 31 minutes (depending on stop)
Departures: 7:26 a.m. and then regularly between 4:30 and 6:55 p.m.
Line C (weekday only)
Stops: 40th/San Pablo; MacArthur BART; 41st/Piedmont
Duration: 18 – 31 minutes (depending on stop)
Departures: 7:26 a.m. and then regularly between 4:30 and 6:55 p.m.
Line E (weekday only)
Stops: Claremont/Hudson; Domingo/Ashby
Duration: 16 – 35 minutes (depending on stop)
Departures: 6:59 a.m.; regularly between 4:45 p.m. and 7:09 p.m.
Line NL
Stops: Thomas L. Berkeley/Broadway; Lakeshore/MacArthur; Fruitvale/MacArthur; Macarthur/Millsbrae; Eastmont Transit Center
Duration: 18 – 45 minutes (depending on stop)
Departures: regularly between 6:06 a.m. and 12:05 a.m.
Line O
Stops: Fifth/Washington; Atlantic/Webster; Encinal/Park; High/Fernside; Fruivale BART
Duration: 15 – 43 minutes (depending on stop)
Departures: regularly between 6:00 a.m. and 10:05 pm
Line P (weekday only)
Stops: Oakland/MacArthur; Grand/Oakland; Highland/Highland
Duration: 22 – 30 minutes (depending on stop)
Departures: regularly between 3:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Line W (weekday only)
Stops: Fifth/Washington; Atlantic/Webster
Duration: 18 – 22 minutes (depending on stop)
Departures: regularly between 4:10 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
