Hi, During our trip to SF in August, we are takin a day out to visit the Six Flags Park at Vallejio. Not my choice I have to admit but I have been out voted. Can anyone advise on the best way to get there and how long it takes. We are stopping near Union Square and on the day we plan to go (a monday) we will have our hire car. I have heard that you can get a ferry there, how easy is this? Any help greatly appreciated?

Since you'll have a car the easiest/fastest by far will be to drive. The park is right on Interstate 80 so easy to get to. Just don't leave SF until after 9:30 or 10:00 to miss some horrendous traffic.

There is a passenger ferry - but it is a long trip.

It will be about a 40 minute drive from Downtown San Francisco to Vallejo. Parking is something like $15, be prepared for that. Try to stay out of 8-9:30 am commute traffic and then 4:30-6 as earlier poster noted.

The ferry probably isn't practical - I don't think there is a reliable, regularly scheduled way to get from the terminal to Great America. You would have to take a cab, and then call another cab to take you back to the terminal. You could give 6 Flags a call to chat about the ferry option, Guest Services might have some advice.

Do bring hats and sunscreen - gets boiling hot there at 6 Flags.

Whoops - correction to the Great America moniker, I actually meant 6 Flags!

I think the ferry doesn't go to the park, you'll need to take a local bus. It is doable, but not advisable.

The options you have:
1. rent a car
2. there are tour companies to take you to and from

Or if you want to go to the Great America instead, it's an easy BART ride from Union Square to Fremont and the express bus to Great America

The Vallejo Ferry website says its about an hour trip and from the ferry landing you can take a bus to Six Flags which drops you off across the street from the park -
The Vallejo Ferry website has more information and fare schedules

If you drive, you could stop in Benicia on the way to or from. I used to love going there and buying Annieglass and looking at the glassblowers and the art galleries. I've heard it's changed for the better; it might be worth googling. Have fun!

Scooby, have never been to this 6F, but just to let you know. Have been to a number of other 6F parks to & they can have a long line to get into parking, &/or then purchase tickets. & that can happen on any day or all days in July & August(before school starts again). Most 6F open at 10am, but usually open the parking lot about 9:30am. At that time the entrance line is usually not too long. But at 10:30, 11:00 it could take quite awhile to get in if it is a busy day.(or if you hit it on a slow or rainy day you could get right in.) We usually plan to get to the park area by about 9am or earlier & have breakfast somewhere nearby & then head over to the park for about 9:30am. Otherwise I wouldn't plan on getting there until after 11am, unless you don't mind waiting. Does anybody have any personal experience with getting into this park for Scooby?

Hello scoobydoo, before I look up all the information would you tell me if you prefer to drive from SF to Vallejo (you would drive over the SF/Oakland Bay Bridge, go East on I-80 and at Vallejo take the East Hwy 37 turnoff that would take you right to Marine World.

Or would you prefer to take the ferry? You can catch the ferry at the foot of Market St.,right behind the Ferry Building, a 55 minute water trip across the SF and San Pablo Bay and than take a taxi to 6Flags Marine World which would be a couple of miles away. Best regards.

Thanks for all the help, I think we will take the car to the park. The ferry seemed a good idea but just a bit concerned about getting back via taxi/ferry. Would it be better to purchase our tickets for the park prior to going?

You can buy the tickets there easily, but look for discounts. I think there are soda cans out now in the SF Bay Area with like $10 off admission. The ferry is really nice and the bus drops you off right at the park, but it is also an easy drive! Have fun. They just opened a new area in the park...it is Thomas the Tank Engine and friends. So, if you have Thomas fans, they will love it!

emsmom: Scoobydoo asked this in May 2006 - their trip was last August . . . .