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Transportation and Driving Directions

Transportation to Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is located at the top of the Monterey Bay on the Central California coast, just south of San Francisco. Getting here is easy since several major highways run to Santa Cruz and the San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Monterey International Airports are all nearby.

Airports
Santa Cruz is best served by San Jose International Airport (SJC), just 45 minutes away. Travelers may also use San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 2 hours away, Oakland International Airport (OAK), 2 hours away, or Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), 1.5 hours away.

Airport Shuttles
The Dickens Project does not provide shuttles from the airports to campus. You can find information about various transportation options by clicking on the airport links above. Below are links to airport shuttle companies that service the Santa Cruz area.

The Dickens Project organizes return shuttles to the San Jose and San Francisco airports on Saturday, July 27. The shuttles depart from the Cowell College Circle. On the shuttle registration form, please note if you will need assistance with your luggage. Cowell Circle is located uphill from the apartments.

  • Shuttle to SJC ($50): The shuttle bus departs at 9:00 AM on Saturday, July 27, and takes about an hour to get to SJC. Reserve here.
  • Shuttle to SFO ($75): The shuttles depart at 10:00 AM on Saturday, July 27, and take about two hours to get to SFO. Reserve here.

Driving Directions to Santa Cruz and UC Santa Cruz

 

map of the Bay AreaUC Santa Cruz is located on California’s Monterey Bay – 75 miles south of San Francisco, 45 miles north of Monterey and Carmel, and just over the coastal mountains from Silicon Valley and the San Jose International Airport.

From Oakland: Take Interstate 880 South to San Jose, where the freeway becomes Highway 17. Continue on Highway 17 South to Santa Cruz. On the outskirts of Santa Cruz, take Highway 1 North (toward Half Moon Bay). On Business Highway 1 (Mission Street), travel approximately one mile north to Bay Street in Santa Cruz. Turn right on Bay and proceed up the hill to the main campus entrance.

From San Jose: Take Highway 17 South to Santa Cruz. On the outskirts of Santa Cruz, take Highway 1 North (toward Half Moon Bay). On Business Highway 1 (Mission Street), travel approximately one mile north to Bay Street in Santa Cruz. Turn right on Bay and proceed up the hill to the main campus entrance.

From San Francisco: Take Highway 101 South or Interstate 280 South to Highway 85 South. Take 880 South (which becomes Highway 17) to Santa Cruz. On the outskirts of Santa Cruz, take Highway 1 North (toward Half Moon Bay). On Business Highway 1 (Mission Street), travel approximately one mile north to Bay Street in Santa Cruz. Turn right on Bay and proceed up the hill to the main campus entrance.

From Walnut Creek/Concord: Take Interstate 680 South to San Jose, where it becomes Interstate 280 North. From 280 North, take Highway 17 South. On the outskirts of Santa Cruz, take Highway 1 North (toward Half Moon Bay). On Business Highway 1 (Mission Street), travel approximately one mile north to Bay Street in Santa Cruz. Turn right on Bay and proceed up the hill to the main campus entrance.

From Sacramento: Take Interstate 80 West to the exit for Interstate 680 towards San Jose. In San Jose, Interstate 680 becomes Interstate 280 North. From 280 North, take Highway 17 South. On the outskirts of Santa Cruz, take Highway 1 North (toward Half Moon Bay). On Business Highway 1 (Mission Street), travel approximately one mile north to Bay Street in Santa Cruz. Turn right on Bay and proceed up the hill to the main campus entrance.

From Los Angeles: Take Interstate 5 North. Take Highway 152 West, to Watsonville. Take Highway 1 North to Santa Cruz (toward Half Moon Bay). On Business Highway 1 (Mission Street), travel approximately one mile north to Bay Street in Santa Cruz. Turn right on Bay and proceed up the hill to the main campus entrance.

From Santa Barbara: Take Highway 101 North, then Highway 129 to Watsonville. On Business Highway 1 (Mission Street), travel approximately one mile north to Bay Street in Santa Cruz. Turn right on Bay and proceed up the hill to the main campus entrance.

Directions to Cowell College and Stevenson College from the Main UCSC Entrance

Once you pass through the main UCSC entrance on Bay Street and High Street, continue on Bay Street which becomes Glenn Coolidge Drive. Continue straight on Glenn Coolidge Drive. You’ll pass two stoplights; then, Glenn Coolidge Drive will curve to the left and become McLaughlin Drive. Take the first left towards Stevenson College. You will see signs directing you to Dickens Universe Registration. If you arrive outside of the normal registration hours on Saturday or Sunday, please go directly to the Conference Services Office. 

Please note: if you are using Uber or Lyft, please direct your driver to Cowell College Circle on Saturday (if you are a Dickens Project Consortium member), or to Stevenson College Circle on Sunday.