Travel

Flight

SFO - San Francisco International Airport

For our out-of-towners, this might be your cheapest bet. When Jack and I fly to Dublin, we always fly to and from SFO. While this airport is 1 hr 30 mins from where we live, there is a train that will take you directly to Sacramento! It's called the Amtrak and it costs about $30. Typically, a flight from Dublin to SFO takes approximately 11 hours, while your flight back will take 10 (if it's a one-way, that is).

Flight

OAK - Oakland International Airport

Your second cheapest bet might be Oakland International Airport. This airport is only about 30 minutes from SFO, and I recommend checking out the prices while you hunt for plane tickets!

Flight

SMF - Sacramento International Airport

While we've not had much luck finding cheap flights to and from SMF, this will be the most convenient bet for travel. This airport is located 30 minutes from where we live, and it will be a piece of cake to do pick-ups for those who are not renting a car. Alternatively, an uber would probably be about $30-$60 depending on the time of day.

Train

Amtrak

The Amtrak is great for longer travel in California (and between states!) You can relax in one of the dining cars and look at California through the big windows along the way. For those not renting a car, I highly recommend taking Amtrak from Emeryville or Hayward to Sacramento. A one-way ticket is about $30 and will take about 2 hours and 30 minutes to arrive. Please check the website provided for more details about station locations.

Train

BART

If you're flying into SFO and plan on staying for a few days (highly recommended), then you need to know about the public transit. SFO has an underground train system called BART. Don't make the rookie mistake of calling it "the BART", it's just "BART" ;). As you can see from the map, it runs directly to and from both Oakland International Airport and SFO. At the station, you'll find ATMs where you can purchase a "clipper card" which you can keep and replenish during your stay. You can use cash, credit cards, or debit cards. On the ATM, there will be a sign with fees for both one-way trips, and round trips for every station. Simply add or subtract the amount stated on the screen to match the amount needed for your trip, and pay! the local crazies are intimidating but are mostly just smelly. Don't be alarmed.

House Or Rental

Airbnb

I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend downloading Airbnb and doing some research in advance. This will likely be the cheaper option, especially for those who are trying to save by staying in big groups. If you decide to go this route, look up stays in Folsom or El Dorado Hills. Areas in Auburn, Sacramento and Roseville might be tempting, but you may end up having to do a lot of uber rides as those areas are farther out.

Travel Note

Parking Information (on location)

For those driving in for the wedding, please note that there is a park at the end of the street with room for 10-13 cars. If you're turning on to Stonebriar, it will be directly to your right. We will not have much room on our driveway, and if you want to park on the street, park on OUR side of the street. The neighbor across from us is not friendly!

Travel Note

Renting a Car

While it might seem smart to rent a car straight from SFO, please note that on a scale of 1-5, San Francisco is about a 4 and a half in terms of difficulty. The motorway in and out of SF is brutal and the drivers are mean. Not to mention, traffic is astounding. AND you will be charged an arm and a leg to park overnight if you can't find street parking. If you're spending time in the city, stay there without the rental car, and consider renting one after you leave the city.

Travel Note

Greyhound Bus

The Greyhound bus is another option for getting to and from Sacramento. The website is very easy to use as well. This bus is for longer travel, not for city hopping.