Road trip from Santa Cruz to Oakland
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Sights & Landmarks
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Museums
Zoos & Aquariums
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ITINERARY
1h 25m67 miles15 stops
1
Barebottle Brewing Company
Big immersive open-format Brewery and Tap Room in the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Francisco producing locally-inspired beers with local ingredients via a competitive sourcing method. Amazing array of innovative beers in a space perfect for groups of all sizes, big and small. Daily Tours and Brewing Classes available. Families and Pets are welcome. Snacks available, and often has food trucks with yummy eats just outside.
2
Urban Putt
3
Make-Out Room
4
Southern Pacific Brewing
5
Oakland California Temple & Visitors' Center
Open to the public, the Oakland California Temple & Visitors' Center is a beautiful and peaceful place to visit. Visitors can walk through the colorful gardens lined with towering palm trees, sit by the fountains and cascading waterfall, enjoy the beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay Area, and feel the peace of the grounds. While you're there, you can take a guided tour at the Visitors' Center, learn more about you're family's history at the FamilySearch Library, and attend events at the Temple Hill Auditorium. Only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can enter the temple itself. A coveted location for photographers, the Oakland Temple is one of the best locations to enjoy a sunset over the Bay. At night, the Oakland Temple is brightly lit and can be seen throughout the Bay Area. Devotionals, concerts, and performances are hosted throughout the month in the Temple Hill Auditorium and most events are free.
6
GLBT Historical Society Museum
Located in San Francisco's Castro District, the GLBT History Museum is the first full-scale, stand-alone museum of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender history and culture in the United States — and only the second in the world. At 1,600 square feet (150 square meters), the museum is fairly small, but it packs a punch, celebrating 100 years of San Francisco’s vast queer past through dynamic and surprising exhibitions and programming. Open since January 2011, the museum is a project of the GLBT Historical Society, a San Francisco institution founded in 1985 that houses one of the world’s largest collections of LGBTQ archival materials.
7
Old Oakland Farmer's Market
8
St. Patrick Catholic Church
9
Haas - Lilienthal House
This Queen Anne style home, now a museum, was the house where the merchant family of blue jeans (Haas) and canned goods (Lilienthal) lived.
10
Jack London's Cabin
Jack London's Yukon home during the winter of 1897-98.
11
Jack London Square
Shopping, restaurants, and Jack London's cabin.
12
Oaktown Spice Shop
13
Lake Merritt
Saltwater lake in the middle of the city.
14
Boudin at the Wharf
This bakery produces traditional San Francisco sourdough and French breads that can be shipped or mail-ordered.
15
Cartoon Art Museum
Cartoon Art Museum has something for everyone — from comic strips, comic books and anime to political cartoons, graphic novels and underground comix. Visitors of all ages can view original cartoon art at exhibitions and screenings, produce their own comics and animation at classes and workshops, research deeply into our collection and library, and mingle with professional and aspiring cartoonists. The Museum's mission is to ignite imaginations and foster the next generation of visual storytellers by celebrating the history of cartoon art, its role in society, and its universal appeal. Located at 781 Beach Street (just one block from Aquatic Park, the Maritime Museum, Ghirardelli Square, and the Hyde Street cable car turnaround), the first floor gallery and lobby offer a beautiful historic façade, prominent street presence, convenient parking, and easy access to and from public transportation. Visit our website for a list of current exhibitions.
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OVERVIEW
Santa Cruz to Oakland
1
Start:Barebottle Brewing Company
San Francisco, California·
5.0
(89) review
Big immersive open-format Brewery and Tap Room in the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Francisco producing locally-inspired beers with local ingredients via a competitive sourcing method. Amazing array of innovative beers in a space perfect for groups of all sizes, big and small. Daily Tours and Brewing Classes available. Families and Pets are welcome. Snacks available, and often has food trucks with yummy eats just outside.
2
Start:Urban Putt
San Francisco, California·
4.5
(87) review
1096 S van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110-2616
3
Start:Make-Out Room
San Francisco, California·
3.5
(9) review
3225 22nd St, San Francisco, CA 94110-3006
4
Start:Southern Pacific Brewing
San Francisco, California·
3.5
(9) review
620 Treat Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110-2016
5
Start:Oakland California Temple & Visitors' Center
Oakland, California·
5.0
(940) review
Open to the public, the Oakland California Temple & Visitors' Center is a beautiful and peaceful place to visit. Visitors can walk through the colorful gardens lined with towering palm trees, sit by the fountains and cascading waterfall, enjoy the beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay Area, and feel the peace of the grounds. While you're there, you can take a guided tour at the Visitors' Center, learn more about you're family's history at the FamilySearch Library, and attend events at the Temple Hill Auditorium. Only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can enter the temple itself. A coveted location for photographers, the Oakland Temple is one of the best locations to enjoy a sunset over the Bay. At night, the Oakland Temple is brightly lit and can be seen throughout the Bay Area. Devotionals, concerts, and performances are hosted throughout the month in the Temple Hill Auditorium and most events are free.
6
Start:GLBT Historical Society Museum
San Francisco, California·
4.0
(87) review
Located in San Francisco's Castro District, the GLBT History Museum is the first full-scale, stand-alone museum of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender history and culture in the United States — and only the second in the world. At 1,600 square feet (150 square meters), the museum is fairly small, but it packs a punch, celebrating 100 years of San Francisco’s vast queer past through dynamic and surprising exhibitions and programming. Open since January 2011, the museum is a project of the GLBT Historical Society, a San Francisco institution founded in 1985 that houses one of the world’s largest collections of LGBTQ archival materials.
7
Start:Old Oakland Farmer's Market
Oakland, California·
4.5
(9) review
9th Street between Clay and Broadway, Oakland, CA
8
Start:St. Patrick Catholic Church
San Francisco, California·
4.0
(98) review
756 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103-3113
9
Start:Haas - Lilienthal House
San Francisco, California·
4.5
(91) review
This Queen Anne style home, now a museum, was the house where the merchant family of blue jeans (Haas) and canned goods (Lilienthal) lived.
10
Start:Jack London's Cabin
Oakland, California·
3.5
(90) review
Jack London's Yukon home during the winter of 1897-98.
11
Start:Jack London Square
Oakland, California·
4.0
(862) review
Shopping, restaurants, and Jack London's cabin.
12
Start:Oaktown Spice Shop
Oakland, California·
5.0
(9) review
546 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610-3515
13
Start:Lake Merritt
Oakland, California·
4.5
(926) review
Saltwater lake in the middle of the city.
14
Start:Boudin at the Wharf
San Francisco, California·
4.5
(943) review
This bakery produces traditional San Francisco sourdough and French breads that can be shipped or mail-ordered.
15
Start:Cartoon Art Museum
San Francisco, California·
4.0
(93) review
Cartoon Art Museum has something for everyone — from comic strips, comic books and anime to political cartoons, graphic novels and underground comix. Visitors of all ages can view original cartoon art at exhibitions and screenings, produce their own comics and animation at classes and workshops, research deeply into our collection and library, and mingle with professional and aspiring cartoonists. The Museum's mission is to ignite imaginations and foster the next generation of visual storytellers by celebrating the history of cartoon art, its role in society, and its universal appeal. Located at 781 Beach Street (just one block from Aquatic Park, the Maritime Museum, Ghirardelli Square, and the Hyde Street cable car turnaround), the first floor gallery and lobby offer a beautiful historic façade, prominent street presence, convenient parking, and easy access to and from public transportation. Visit our website for a list of current exhibitions.
CHECKLIST
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Car charger and portable battery
Water bottles and snacks
Travel pillow and blanket
Sunglasses and sunscreen
First-aid kit
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Hand sanitizer and wet wipes
Driver’s license and vehicle registration
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the driving distance between Santa Cruz and Oakland?
The distance is 67 miles
What's the travel time between Santa Cruz and Oakland?
The driving time can vary depending on traffic conditions, but it is typically 1h 25m mins in normal traffic
What are some of the best cities to visit between Santa Cruz and Oakland?
Some popular stops include
Are there any cool sights or attractions I shouldn't miss on my drive to Oakland?
There are plenty! Here are some stops you shouldn’t miss on your way to Oakland
What’s the weather like in Oakland?
The weather in Oakland is generally mild year-round, with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. See the links below for more information
Weather in Oakland in January
Weather in Oakland in February
Weather in Oakland in March
Weather in Oakland in April
Weather in Oakland in May
Weather in Oakland in June
Weather in Oakland in July
Weather in Oakland in August
Weather in Oakland in September
Weather in Oakland in October
Weather in Oakland in November
Weather in Oakland in December
Interested in a detailed plan for your time in Oakland?
Plan your dream Oakland trip with our daily itineraries featuring must-see attractions! See them here!
A 1-day itinerary in Oakland
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Where else can I travel to if I'm starting my trip in Santa Cruz?
We have a lot of great trip options for Santa Cruz! See the links below for all the itineraries we created for you