Nearby Airports

UC Davis is located near two international airports: Sacramento International (SMF) and San Francisco International (SFO). You will likely fly into one of these airports and then need to take ground transportation to Davis or Sacramento. 

There are several ground transportation options from each airport to your final destination, including hired vans and cars, rideshares and public transit. Please be aware that these options range in cost and convenience, and some need to be booked in advance, so do your research.

When choosing flights, please keep in mind your arrival time, as SMF is typically a 20-30-minute trip to Davis and SFO can take between 2-3 hours depending on the time of day. 

Ground Transportation from the Airport 

Taxis and Ride Sharing Apps 

On-demand taxi services are available at both airports, as are app-based ride-sharing services like Lyft or Uber, which offer rides in private cars. Depending on the time of day you arrive and traffic conditions, travel time and cost will vary. 

Shuttle and Hired Car Services 

There are shuttle van and car service providers throughout the area that travelers can schedule in advance to pick up at San Francisco International Airport or Sacramento International Airport and drop off at an address in Davis, Sacramento, or other local areas. You must make a reservation in advance, so book your ride early to ensure they have room. Plan to have access to a phone, such as an airport courtesy phone, pay phone or cell phone that can connect to U.S. numbers. 

Public Transportation 

BART and Amtrak from San Francisco 

For a relatively inexpensive option, you can take BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), a public transportation system serving the San Francisco Bay Area. Ride BART from the SFO station to the Richmond station, where you can connect with an Amtrak train to transport you to Davis and Sacramento. Davis and Sacramento have stops along the Amtrak line. You will likely need a car or taxi service from the station to your final destination. Keep in mind, with multiple stops, this option is complicated and requires advanced planning and has a longer travel time. 

YoloBus from Sacramento 

YoloBus offers direct bus service from Sacramento International Airport to UC Davis. Although inexpensive, this bus only comes once an hour, will not deliver you to a specific address in Davis (so make arrangements as necessary) and may not have space for extra baggage.