How to get to camp via public transit from SJC airport:
Getting from San Jose Airport (SJC) to University of California at Santa Cruz via public transit:

Public transit from SJC to UCSC takes roughly 2–3 hours ($10–$20) by

  • taking VTA Bus 60 or 10 to Santa Clara Caltrain Station,
  • riding Caltrain to San Jose Diridon Station,
  • taking the Highway 17 Express Bus to Santa Cruz Metro Center,
  • followed by a local Metro bus (10, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20) to campus.

VTA website: Accepts Clipper Card
Caltrain website: Accepts Clipper Card
Santa Cruz METRO website: METRO Splash Pass App for mobile phone is recommended for purchase of fares. Download Splash Pass from the Apple App Store or Google Play. DOES NOT ACCEPT CLIPPER CARD
Clipper Card information
Santa Cruz METRO splash pass information

  1. Take the VTA #60 bus from Terminal A or B to the Santa Clara Transit Center.
  2. From the Santa Clara Transit Center, take a southbound Caltrain to the San Jose Diridon Station.
  3. Board the Highway 17 Express Bus at the Diridon Station (usually Bay 10). This bus runs to Pacific Station in downtown Santa Cruz. The Highway 17 Express runs roughly every 30–60 minutes, with last buses around 10 p.m
  4. From Pacific Station, take any METRO bus (10, 15, 16, 18, 19, or 20) headed to the UCSC campus.
    Alternative: Uber or Lyft typically costs $60 – $150, and takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic. Note that highway 17 is busy in the morning on weekdays heading NORTHBOUND (into Silicon Valley) and in evening heading SOUTHBOUND (toward Santa Cruz). Also note that weekend traffic over Hwy 17 heading toward Santa Cruz (southbound) in the summer can be VERY BUSY in the morning (people heading to the beach), and VERY BUSY in the evening (beachgoers heading home)

Alternative: Airport Shuttles: Santa Cruz Airport Flyer or Early Bird Airport Shuttle may cost $40-$50 per person one way.