Flying In

The most convenient airport is SFO (San Francisco), but OAK (Oakland) may be an acceptable option. SJC (San Jose) is 50 miles away with unpredictable traffic and is not recommended.

Uber, Lyft, and taxi service can be found from SFO or OAK. Public transit options exist as well (BART with MUNI transfer), if you have the time and patience. If you are not planning on traveling outside the center of San Francisco, you probably don't need a car if you are comfortable taking public transportation.

Driving In San Francisco

If can get by without a car, you'll be better off. Driving and parking in San Francisco can be a challenge. Remember always to lock your car and do not leave anything valuable in the car, even if hidden. If you park on the street, read all of the signs carefully. There might be a good reason your parking spot was open. If you fail to curb your wheels properly on any slope, not only will you get a ticket, but apparently thieves target such cars thinking they belong to out-of-towners.

Parking at the Host Hotel

Parking around the hotel can be extremely difficult weekdays and on Saturday. Please remember that during these times street parking is limited to one or two hours - you cannot simply continue to feed the meter beyond this limit without risking a ticket. Hotel guests park for $30 a day, and receive in-and-out privileges. Others may park at the hotel for $20 up to 5 hours, with no in-and-out. Validate your parking ticket at the Stompede registration desk or Hoedown entry.

Public Transportation

WITHIN SAN FRANCISCO: The MUNI fare is $3 cash, or $2.50 with a Clipper card or MuniMobile app, for all forms of transportation except the cable cars. Transfers are free: you can transfer as much as you like, even for a return trip, within 2 hours. Cash fares should get a paper transfer from the driver. Clipper card and MuniMobile app passengers should tap the card or phone for each ride: “transfer” will appear on the screen, and you will not be charged.

The Holiday Inn and Regency Center are served by MUNI bus north-south express line 49 on Van Ness and line 19 on Polk Street; and east-west lines 1, 2, and 3 (with the 38 not too far away). Most of these lines pass near BART stations. Also, the hotel is located at the terminus of the California Street cable car line.

• MUNI information here.
• To determine when the next bus is coming: https://www.nextbus.com/sf-muni/. Allow location services and the site will automatically display the relevant transit lines and times for your location.
• Consider using the MuniMobile app to purchase and pay fares. 

PUBLIC TRANSIT DIRECTIONS: SFO AIRPORT TO THE HOTEL

Public transportation from SFO to the Holiday is a bit cumbersome. Take the free AirTrain to the airport BART station at the International Terminal. Purchase your ticket at the fare machine. If you’re planning on taking public transit during your stay, you might want to get a Clipper card ($3) which covers both BART and MUNI (San Francisco’s system). Load up your ticket with the value you think you need.

To get to the hotel, take BART to the Civic Center station ($10). At the Civic Center station, we recommend that you transfer inside the station to MUNI Metro. Take any line one stop outbound (west) to Van Ness. Exit Van Ness station and take the #49 express bus northbound to Bush Street, one block from the hotel.

• BART information here

PUBLIC TRANSIT DIRECTIONS: HOTEL TO THE CASTRO

Getting to the Castro from the hotel by public transit is fairly easy. Here's how!

• Find a bus stop on Van Ness, located in the center of the street.
• Take MUNI bus #49 down Van Ness (heading left as you come out of the hotel).
• The fare is $3.00, exact change, or $2.50 with a Clipper card or MUNI Mobile. If paying by cash, collect a transfer, good for 2 hours. Note: a day pass good for all day is only $5.
• Get off at Market Street.

Now you have two choices:

• Slower but prettier:
• Find the bus stop island on Market Street (north side)
• Take an F-line trolley west (towards Twin Peaks). Sometimes a bus will replace the trolley.
• Go to the end of the line at Jane Warner Plaza, 17th & Castro & Market

OR

• Fast and efficient:
• Go underground. This is the Van Ness Station.
• Tap your Clipper card or phone at the fare gate, or if you have a paper transfer, show it to the gate agent.
• Take the K, L, or M MUNI Metro outbound.
• Go two stops to Castro Station. You are at Castro & Market.