My Kingdom for a Ride!
November 5, 2008 6:23 PM   Subscribe

What are the possible ways to get from Downtown San Francisco to Napa Valley/Harbin Hot Springs and back.

I am flying into SFO next Tuesday and I am looking for ways to get from downtown to Napa Valley/Calistoga/Harbin Hot Springs for three days . At this time, I am unable to rent a rental car so it will have to be public transportation, shuttle or other option. The more fun the better. I have posted on Craig's List rideshare and have also posted on platonic relationships for "traveling buddy." I plan on posting at Harbin for a return ride. Any advice will be appreciated.
posted by goalyeehah to Travel & Transportation around San Francisco, CA (8 answers total)
 
This website seems to have some good info... I would really try to avoid public transportation in the North Bay because it's not that great (right now).
posted by cucumberfresh at 6:52 PM on November 5, 2008


Are you going straight from SFO to Napa and back? Or going to Napa from somewhere downtown?
posted by radioamy at 7:43 PM on November 5, 2008


Best answer: There's almost no public transportation to speak of in the North Bay. You can manage to get as far as Calistoga assuming you arrive at SFO mid-day, but be aware you're talking about as much as five hours of public transportation.

The 511 trip planner suggests the following: Take BART at SFO to El Cerrito del Norte. From there, take the Vallejo Transit #80 to the York/Marin Transit Center and hop the Napa VINE #10 to Calistoga. It estimates that if you take a 3PM train out of SFO you'll arrive in Calistoga around 7:30PM, at which point you're still some number of miles away from Harbin and it's already dark. This sounds like possibly the least pleasant way to travel since stowing away in the landing gear was invented.

Your best bet is to avoid public transportation and take an airporter. Bay Airporter Express claims to service the Calistoga area, although I've never used them myself. You can catch them at SFO's Courtyard 1, 3, or G, depending on which terminal you come into. If I were in your shoes I'd consider calling these guys and asking if they're willing to run you all the way out to Harbin. If not, they can at least get you into Calistoga and you might be able to score a taxi or something.
posted by majick at 7:48 PM on November 5, 2008


Best answer: Try this Yahoo group - Harbin Ride Board. If it helps there used to be a direct airporter shuttle from SFO to Santa Rosa. Depending on who responds, it might be easier to get a ride from there.
posted by a_green_man at 9:01 PM on November 5, 2008


Response by poster: I'd be willing to go from either SFO or downtown.
posted by goalyeehah at 11:44 PM on November 5, 2008


The Airport Express goes from SFO to Santa Rosa. It stops in Petaluma and Rohnert Park, but it's still pretty fast and a comfy ride.
posted by cucumberfresh at 12:27 AM on November 6, 2008


Best answer: I've always used Evan's to get to and from the airports. They drop off in Napa, then you can take the VINE #10 as far as Calistoga, it runs every hour or so, IIRC. Calistoga to Harbin is a bit trickier, I wouldn't count on a taxi, they're fairly nonexistent in the Upper Valley. Your best bet is to find someone else heading up there, their clientele is pretty good about helping each other out with rides.
posted by Jawn at 12:28 AM on November 6, 2008


Oh yeah, if you're up at Harbin on Wednesday night make sure you go to the dance. it's a hippie rave unlike anything I've ever seen before. It tends to end up with everyone naked and dancing and rolling around the ground to psychedelic trance. Last time I was there for one it was during a pagan festival so things were even crazier. I'm pretty sure they were on Wednesday nights, hopefully they're still happening.
posted by Jawn at 12:55 AM on November 6, 2008


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