<p>9 PM Sunday night–best way to get to Berkeley from SFO. One small suitcase. Can anyone give me a fairly fast, fairly safe public transportation route?</p>
<p>THANKS!</p>
<p>I just did that trip. I took a taxi but that was expensive. You can take the BART (train/subway system), however, right to downtown Berkeley from SFO. I’m sure those who live there can give you further details.</p>
<p>An answer:</p>
<p>[BART</a> - QuickPlanner Result](<a href=“http://www.bart.gov/schedules/quickplanner.aspx?orig=SFIA&addr1=&dest=DBRK&addr2=&type=departure&date=4%2F10%2F2011&time=9%3A00+PM]BART”>http://www.bart.gov/schedules/quickplanner.aspx?orig=SFIA&addr1=&dest=DBRK&addr2=&type=departure&date=4%2F10%2F2011&time=9%3A00+PM)</p>
<p>The Downtown Berkeley station is about a block west of the UC Berkeley campus. The above web page has information about the station, including neighborhood maps.</p>
<p>I’ve used Bart during daytime for under $10. You can also use airport pickup services that take you door to door like EastBay Connection for about $35.</p>
<p>As you can see from that BART Quick Planner, there are three Berkeley stations, plus Rockridge is on the Oakland/Berkeley border. Where in Berkeley are you headed? I live just east of Oakland and often take BART from SFO, no problem.</p>
<p>Not budget, but [url=<a href=“http://www.uber.com/]Uber[/url”>http://www.uber.com/]Uber[/url</a>] is fast, comfortable and safe.</p>
<p>Just to let you know: BART is very convenient from the airport. Not a major hassle like public transportation from an airport can sometimes be.</p>
<p>jmmom: thanks for the reassurance! That’s the extra bit of info one always wants when coming into a strange city (I know the airport, but not Berkeley) at night. And thanks to the rest of you as well. I thought BART would work but I’ve never used it, so it’s good to know people use it regularly.</p>
<p>My son swears by Bart and if I don’t have a big bag I use it. But most of the time, I have been traveling for hours and hours and I am too tired to use it. I go with a pick up service.</p>
<p>One question to think about, where in Berkeley? I wouldn’t hesitate to take BART but Berkeley is hilly. How far would you have to walk from BART?</p>
<p>Yes, please tell us where in Berkeley you are heading. As mentioned, different BART stations might be best for your destination, depending. And/or getting from the station to your resting place could be an issue (or not).</p>
<p>Just one warning–the last train leaves just before midnight, so this won’t work if your plane is extremely late.</p>
<p>Caught Bart to Berkley with S. We had two pieces of luggage and a carry on apiece & managed OK. Be sure to get off at the right stop, NOT downtown Oakland (which can be somewhat scarier). We caught Bart to & from Berkley several times. It is VERY EASY to catch Bart from SFO & very reasonably priced. Yes, if you plane arrives very late, may need to make other arrangements, like SuperShuttle or car.</p>
<p>It would be very unusual for a plane from Portland to SFO, scheduled to arrive at 9pm, to be delayed to midnight. Obviously it if does happen, alternate arrangements will have to be made … but I wouldn’t worry about it.</p>
<p>Trip went fine. Flight was early 
and DD met me at airport after all (she thought she had to work). Thanks for your support!</p>
<p>Great! – just a note, if your goal is to get to Berkeley, next time you may find it easier to fly into Oakland. Portland/OAK flights are generally a little cheaper, and if the BART thing doesn’t work out, cabfare or a shuttle would be less as well.</p>
<p>From OAK, getting to the Coliseum BART station requires using the AirBART bus or the AC Transit #50 bus (note: this route is bidirectional, so be sure to ask the driver if the bus is going to Coliseum BART (or OAK airport on the way back) before boarding). Look up the web sites for current fares and schedules.</p>
<p>Then from Coliseum BART, use a Richmond train to get to any of the Berkeley stations (in the other direction, use a Fremont train to get back to Coliseum from Berkeley).</p>
<p>OAK usually has fewer flight delays than SFO.</p>
<p>All our frequent flyer miles are on an airline that only goes to SFO from PDX.</p>