traveler24

Parked for 8 days in long-term parking...$ 80..
Prompt & frequent shuttle service to terminal..plenty of room for luggage
Was out in a big field (flat area formerly used to grow rice).Roads paved and some gravel.Well lighted except for end rows. We knew we would be returning at night so parked near one of the shelters..
Shuttle ride back to car took a little longer, but shuttles were numerous and driver helpful.
Have not heard of any vandalism so far and this was over Thanksgiving holiday.
One good idea- take a picture of you area where you parked for reference on return..Lane numbers.
I did not think of that, even though I wrote down numbers for wallet
Future flights--i will probable book out of Oakland, as I can get local transport much less than $80.
Transport from home town to Sacto. run $90 one way..

MmePerdu

I've used SMF long-term parking too, up to 3 weeks, even though a shuttle from home is slightly less at that point. I like to get home asap so worth it. However, next trip is 4 weeks and I'm considering the shuttle this time. Does anyone know another option? Hotels seem to be about the same as long-term and then, again, a wait for a ride.

tomfuller

Ever ride the Amtrak Capitol Corridor to Davis or Sacramento?
The YOLO bus 42B leaves Sacramento at 5 minutes past the hour. $2 per person out to the airport.
http://www.yolobus.com/routes/index.php/42B
The 42A bus will take you from Davis to the airport.

MmePerdu

I'm coming from the other direction, no convenient buses from where I live.

janisj

tom has recommended Yolobus several times on here (he must have taken it once when staying at 'his' hostel downtown). It isn't useful for anyone out of the downtown area or in parts of Yolo County. But eve if one IS coming from downtown or Yolo County, the YoloBus isn't all that convenient really since there are so few bus stops and it runs so infrequently.

For students at UCDavis -- sure -- but otherwise . . .

janisj

I used to park out in the long term lot all the time. Not bad at all. But now I'm more into comfort/convenience. If I'm traveling for more than maybe 3 days I use Supershuttle or catch a ride w/ friends. For the trip home I'll use Supershuttle or a cab . . . or if my ETA is late in the evening I'll pre-book a meet and greet limo.

For short trips - out of Terminal A I use the parking garage, and for terminal B I park in either the garage or the hourly lot because they are about a 2 minute walk.

tomfuller

The 2 or 3 times I took the YOLO bus out to the airport, I got on the 7:05AM bus. The southbound Amtrak Coast Starlight arrives in Sacramento about 6:15AM.
The bus gets me to the airport to rent a vehicle by 7:45 and I'm on my way long before the downtown rental places open.
Memorial Day weekend in 2008, DW and I rented a car at the airport and went to Wheatland for a Geowoodstock event.
We spent that night in the hostel and drove the next day through north Tahoe and found a geocache near Carson City.
We turned the car in at the Sacramento airport and made it back to the Amtrak station in time to catch the midnight train back north to Oregon.
There is a Capitol Corridor train that leaves Auburn at 6:30AM ($16 per adult) to Sacramento if that would be helpful.
Parking at the HI hostel is only for paid guests (fenced lot).
On street parking near the hostel is free from 6PM to 8AM.

Underhill

We use a driver service, a nice guy who picks up in a black town car complete with cold water bottles. He even came into the terminal to carry our luggage out to the car.

janisj

>>On street parking near the hostel is free from 6PM to 8AM.<<

Not any more - the parking situation is changing significantly. Downtown meters run til 10PM and when there is a big event at the new arena or downtown in general there will be dynamic pricing.