Directions
This page has advice on how to get to UC Davis; for getting around once you’re here, please see the page on local information.
By air
If you’re coming directly to BoCa LonGa, you should if at all possible get a flight into Sacramento International Airport (SMF), where if you fly into Terminal B, you will see the distinctive sculpture of a red rabbit.
From there it’s about 20 miles to the Hyatt Place on the UC Davis campus, and you can easily get a rideshare from the airport or rent a car—if the latter, leave the airport by taking I-5 North (counterintuitively) toward Redding (if you have a compass you will note you are in fact heading West, despite the highway designation), then exit onto CA-113 for Davis, then take I-80 briefly East and follow directions under “by car” below.
If you fly into San Francisco (SFO) you will need upon arrival to follow the below directions for onward travel either by car or by train.
By train
Amtrak serves Davis and the train station is a mile from the Hyatt Place. Take the Capitol Corridor service and get out at Davis Station. If you catch the Z line bus, it will take you to Hutchison Drive & Old Davis Road, and you will have something under a half mile still to walk. Or you can walk the whole way, or take a rideshare.
If you’re coming from San Francisco you may take the BART Red line from San Francisco to Richmond Station, then transfer to Amtrak for Davis. The BART Red line serves San Francisco International Airport (SFO), so if you wish to come direct from there, take the BART Red line to Richmond, then transfer to the Amtrak Capitol Corridor for Davis, and do the reverse if you’re flying out of SFO going home.
If you wish to depart from the San Francisco waterfront you may find it easier to take the Amtrak bus service from 401 Mission Street (by the Hyatt Regency and the Ferry Building) across to Emeryville and then board the Amtrak Capitol Corridor for Davis there.
San Francisco to Davis by train should take 2–3 hours.
Other Amtrak trains stop at Davis station as well—if you’re coming from the East, the California Zephyr from Chicago (which you can reach via the Lake Shore Limited from the Northeast and via the Crescent and Floridian from the Southeast) stops in Davis, as does the Coast Starlight if you should wish to come from, or go to, points North or South along the West Coast.
By car
Davis is located on Interstate 80. From San Francisco it’s about 70 miles and freeway all the way. Cross the Bay Bridge and head east on I-80, passing through Berkeley, Fairfield, Vacaville, and Dixon. Take exit 71 for Old Davis Road / UC Davis and follow Old Davis Road past the Mondavi Institute for Food and Wine Science on your right, and the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts on your left, and you will come to the Hyatt Place on your left. The hotel has a parking lot right in front.
If you should be coming from the East, you will come into town on I-80 eastbound after passing through Sacramento and crossing a causeway. You should take exit 71 for Old Davis Road/UC Davis, and follow Old Davis Road to the Hyatt Place as described above.