An easy drive south of San Francisco, Santa Cruz County’s small-town charm and idyllic beach communities offer the quintessential California vacation. Santa Cruz County is easily accessible by car via Highway 17 through the Santa Cruz Mountains, or California’s scenic Highway 1. One of the most direct routes linking the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley, Sacramento, and the Central Valley to Santa Cruz County, this scenic drive takes motorists past redwood trees, a glistening blue reservoir, fauna such as grazing deer, and over a summit at an elevation of 1,800 feet. Arriving at the summit, a view of the Monterey Bay is the first glimpse visitors will have of what awaits. This 26-mile picturesque route is the most direct way to get to Santa Cruz County from inland locations.
View a map of Santa Cruz County or download a printable version of the map.
AIRPORTS
San Francisco International Airport
Phone: 800.435.9736 or 650.821.8211
806 South Airport Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94128
http://www.flysfo.com
Driving Directions
San Jose Mineta-San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Phone: 408.392.3600
1701 Airport Blvd.
San Jose, CA 95110
http://www.flysanjose.com
Driving Directions
OTHER TRANSPORTATION & VISITOR INFORMATION
AIRPORT SHUTTLE SERVICE
Early Bird Airport Shuttle
4525 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz
Phone: 831.462.3933
Fax: 831.462.6946
www.earlybirdairportshuttle.com
Private door-to-door airport transportation. Exclusive, reliable, professional and safe. Operates 24 hours a day! Internet Wi-fi. Open daily for reservations, 9am – 6pm
PARKING INFORMATION
City of Santa Cruz
Parking information, electric car charging, bike lockers and more…
http://www.cityofsantacruz.com
LOCAL BUS SERVICE
Highway 17 Express
San Jose to Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley
Catch the Santa Cruz Metro’s Highway 17 Express at San Jose’s Diridion Station. Leaves numerous times daily.
Bus Schedules
ROAD CONDITIONS
CalTrans
For current road conditions, call the CalTrans (California Department of Transportation)
(800) 427-ROAD
http://www.dot.ca.gov
Local Highways
Highway 1
Highway 9
Highway 17
Highway 129
Highway 152
WEATHER AND ROAD INFORMATION
National Weather Service/Monterey
(831) 656-1725