Riding the Bus

Santa Cruz Metro’s route 3 will take you to one of Santa Cruz’s best kept treasures: Natural Bridges State Park. Route 3 begins running at 6:50 am and makes its last run at 5:50 pm.

For a scenic trip to the world famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk or a seafood dinner on the Santa Cruz Wharf, take Santa Cruz Metro route 3 or 19 from the downtown Metro Center. Both the Wharf and Boardwalk are about a 15 minute walk from Pacific Station.

For a trip to Capitola’s picturesque wharf and seaside shopping area, simply hop on Route 66 at the Santa Cruz Metro Center. Then transfer to Route 55 at the Capitola Mall.

Gain easy access to this 800 acre freshwater wetland and great birding location by taking Santa Cruz Metro’s route 71 bus. Four miles of paved trails and 29 trail entrances in Watsonville neighborhoods offer opportunities to jog, walk or bicycle.

From the Metro Center in Downtown Santa Cruz, board the Highway 17 Express. The fare is $7.00 each way or $14.00 for a day pass. The 17 Express will take you to the Diridon Train Station in Downtown San Jose. The Valley Transit Authority (VTA) is the public transportation provider in San Jose. The VTA provide rides throughout the San Jose area. www.vta.org

From the Metro Center in Downtown Santa Cruz, board the Highway 17 Express. The fare is $7.00 each way or $14.00 for a day pass. The 17 Express will take you to the Diridon Train Station in Downtown San Jose. While at Diridon Station, board Caltrain to San Francisco 4th&King Station for $7.50 each way. San Francisco MUNI is the public transportation provider in the San Francisco Area. MUNI can provide rides throughout San Francisco.

From the Metro Center in Downtown Santa Cruz, board the Highway 17 Express.The fare is $7.00 each way or $14.00 for a day pass. The 17 Express will take you to the Diridon Train Station in Downtown San Jose. At Diridon Station board the VTA Route 180 or 181 to the Fremont BART Station. The VTA Fare is $3.50 each way. If your destination is Fremont, then your last stop should be at the BART station. If you are traveling to Oakland, use BART to get you here.

The Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) provides service to the sub-urban cities that resided to the east of the Bay Area. The Ace Train has stops in San Jose, Santa Clara, Fremont, Pleasanton, Livermore, Tracy, Lathrop, and Stockton. For Information on fares and schedules go here to the ACE website. To get to the Ace Train: From Santa Cruz, board the Highway 17 Express. The fare is $7.00 each way or $14.00 for a day pass. The 17 Express will take you to the Diridon Train Station in Downtown San Jose. The ACE Train departs from Diridon Station four (4) times a day, click here for the schedule. The ACE Train conductor will be posted at the entrance to the train track 15 minutes before the train departs. Tell him or her where you would like to go and pay your fare (cash only). The conductor will also tell you which track the train is departing from, go to that track and board the train.

From the Metro Center in Downtown Santa Cruz, board the Highway 17 Express. The fare is $7.00 each way or $14.00 for a day pass. The 17 Express will take you to the Diridon Train Station in Downtown San Jose. At the Diridon station, purchase tickets for the Amtrak Capitol Corridor at the ticket desk for $26.00 inside the Diridon station. The ticket agent will tell you when and what track the train is departing. Board the train when appropriate to do so. Exit in Sacramento; the Sacramento Regional Transit (Sacramento RT) is the public transportation provider in Sacramento.

Monterey-Salinas Transit Bus #78 runs directly between Monterey and Santa Cruz twice per day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Check the schedule for details.

Monterey-Salinas Transit Bus #27 makes seven trips each weekday (every two hours) between Marina and Watsonville. Check the schedule for details.

Monterey-Salinas Transit Bus #28 via Castroville and #29 via Prunedale runs every two hours between Salinas and Watsonville. Check the schedule for details.