dawizard

Hi All,

Planning a short trip over the long weekend to SFO, planning on staying in and around the union square area (I'll be flying into SFO and don't plan on renting a car) and do the touristy stuff while I am there.

However, I do have to visit some friends in Danville, CA (near Diablo vista park). It would just be a day trip, spend a little time and then head back into town. I would hate to get stuck driving around on my own.

So, my question to you experts here is - What possible transport options do I have to get that far? I looked at Google maps and it gets me close to the general area using BART but I still have to take a bus ride and then a cab ride after that. Are there any better alternatives to this like some kind of shuttle service in the vicinity or am I better off sticking with what Google maps suggests?

I probably will have more questions regarding things to do while I am there but I'll search the forums and start a separate thread for that. Looking forward to sunny cali!!

Thanks much in advance!!

musicfan

Perhaps this is a dumb question, but can't your friends pick you up from the BART station? Or they know someone who can?

dawizard

Not a dumb question...I should have cleared that up, they may not be able to pick me up - Also, I don't want it to be a burden on them and be a little independent when I go, so I figured that I'll go on my own....

sf7307

Danville is a suburb like any other, meaning it's fairly easy to get into and out of the city, but not so easy to get around without a car once you're there.

Suzie

The Park is between 9 and 11 miles from the Dublin/Pleasenton BART station depending on which road you take. Public transportation is pretty weak in the area. For such a short distance I would opt for a taxi to connect me.

SAB

If a friend was visiting me from out of town and was going to take BART out to see me, I would insist on picking them up. However, if you don't want your friends to pick you up, then you should probably take a cab from BART.

Suzie

I've been thinking about this and I do wonder if maybe you are not from CA. Those of us who are do not think that driving a few miles is any big deal. Are these people older or in some way thinking that picking you up from BART would be an inconvenience? Please keep in mind WE DRIVE EVERYWHERE! If we didn't live for our cars we'd have better mass transit.

dawizard

Thanks for chiming in folks.

@Suzie - You are correct, I am not from CA so we are not so used to the whole concept of driving around for an hour or two is "normal"

As for my friends, they are not so much older folks but just not well enough to come about pick me up, that is why I am trying to minimize any impact on them since I just want to visit them.

It seems like BART + Cab sounds like the best combo. I was just mainly wondering if there were some "obvious" shuttle like services that I wouldn't be aware of but looks like besides BART there aren't many other options.

Thanks much!

Suzie

Ya I think that's the best combo. Enjoy!

Parrothead

I would bet that with the price of taxis in the burbs you could probably do a 1 day rental from Hertz or Priceline cheaper and easier.

I went less than 3 miles last year in a taxi in Fremont in the East Bay and paid $9 plus tip. Some 1 day rentals are as cheap as $25. Plus, I've never checked out zipcars details but they are all over SF.

SAB

Parrothead, The taxi rates in the Tri-Valley area (Pleasanton/Dublin) are $2.50 per mile with a $2.50 flag drop, so a ten mile cab ride would be around $27.50 without the tip--so you have a point assuming OP can rent a car, for under $30.

janisj

"cab ride would be around $27.50 without the tip--" . . . and the same again for the trip back. So even a $50 car rental would be cheaper.

NorCal_Jo

Hi dawizard
I just noticed some posters recommending that you take BART to Pleasanton? Do not take BART to Dublin/Pleasanton. You want to take BART to Walnut Creek and take a cab from the Walnut Creek BART station to Danville. It sounds like you would go to Danville as a day trip and would leave from downtown SF (likely Montgomery street station or nearby). It is 35 minutes to Walnut Creek and less than 10 minute drive (assuming no traffic) to Danville. It is 45min to Dublin and a 15 min drive to Danville so not massive difference but as someone who lived in Danville and commuted to SF and San Jose for years, I would never choose to go to Dublin over Walnut Creek plus if your friends end up able to drive somewhere, Walnut Creek has many more restaurant/shopping etc options close to the BART station.

Danville as your friends may have told you is a very small suburb town but has a nice little main street and is considered a great place to live in the East Bay with nice restaurant options. I recommend that you plan your trip to arrive in Walnut Creek outside of the morning commute time so you don't get caught up in traffic in your cab ride to Danville(can be bad both south and north bound between danville and Walnut Creek or Dublin). You should be safe after 9am.

Have fun and say Hi to Danville for me! I live in the UK now and miss it and California.

NorCal_Jo

P.S. - not sure if you are staying over for the actual July 4th but forgot to mention that Danville has the best 4th of July parade (I think around 9am). It is a totally hokey small town parade but is the most well loved in the region and usually gets about 40,000 people which is amazing given the town is about 60,000. They actually had to make a rule that you can't put your lawn chairs out on the street until 6pm the night before as some people were claiming their bit of sidewalk 2 days before the parade! We were lucky to live within one block of the main street so we had the luxury to walk up at the last minute and didn't care about standing. It is such a great taste of hometown America and a huge street party but I'm sure your friends would tell you about it.

Of course, they also do great firework in many locations around the Bay Area including SF which is beautiful IF the fog cooperates and stays away.

dawizard

Thanks norcal_jo ! Great piece of advice there about traveling to Danville!

It ended up being that one of my friends will be able to pick me from the Bart station thankfully so all is sorted out