There are 5 ways to get from San Rafael to Arcata by bus (Amtrak), car, bus, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus (Amtrak)
best- Take the bus from Petaluma to ArcataAmtrak Thruway Connecting Service
6h 53mBus via Ukiah
cheapest- Take the bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform B to Santa Rosa Transit Mall101
- Take the bus from 2nd Street Transit Mall to Pear Tree Center - Ross65
- Take the bus from Pear Tree Center - NB Stop to H St & 4th St
8h 46m$15–38Drive 261.3 mi
- Drive from San Rafael to Arcata261.3 mi
4h 45m$48–69Bus to San Francisco International Airport, fly to Arcata-Eureka Airport
- Take the bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A to Hwy 101 @ Seminary Dr Bus Pad
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Arcata-Eureka Airport (ACV)SFO - ACV
5h 26m$98–584Bus to Oakland International Airport, fly to Crescent City, bus
- Take the bus from San Rafael to Oakland International Airport
- Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Crescent City (CEC)OAK - CEC
- Take the bus from Cultural Center Transit Hub to Arcata Transit Center
6h 12m$180–319
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Arcata-Eureka Airport (ACV) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San Rafael to Arcata is to bus via Ukiah which costs $15 - $40 and takes 8h 46m.
The fastest way to get from San Rafael to Arcata is to drive which takes 4h 45m and costs $45 - $70.
No, there is no direct bus from San Rafael to Arcata. However, there are services departing from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform B and arriving at Arcata Transit Center via 2nd Street Transit Mall, Pear Tree Center - NB Stop and 5th St & H St. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 46m.
The distance between San Rafael and Arcata is 267 miles. The road distance is 262.8 miles.
The best way to get from San Rafael to Arcata without a car is to bus which takes 6h 53m and costs .
It takes approximately 6h 53m to get from San Rafael to Arcata, including transfers.
San Rafael to Arcata bus services, operated by Golden Gate Transit, depart from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform B station.
San Rafael to Arcata bus services, operated by Golden Gate Transit, arrive at Santa Rosa Transit Mall station.
Yes, the driving distance between San Rafael to Arcata is 263 miles. It takes approximately 4h 45m to drive from San Rafael to Arcata.
There are 91+ hotels available in Arcata.
What companies run services between San Rafael, CA, USA and Arcata, CA, USA?
Amtrak operates a bus from Petaluma to Arcata twice daily, and the journey takes 5h 20m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Arcata-Eureka Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–550
- Website
- advancedaircharters.com
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Crescent City
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–240
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from Petaluma to Arcata
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 415-455-2000
- info@marintransit.org
- Website
- marintransit.org
Bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A to Hwy 101 @ Seminary Dr Bus Pad
- Ave. Duration
- 11 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
- Website
- https://marintransit.org
- Seniors 65+, Youth 5-18.
- $1
- Adults 19-64
- $2
- Phone
- +1 415-921-5858
- bridgecomments@goldengate.org
- Website
- goldengate.org
Bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A to Hwy 101 @ Seminary Dr Bus Pad
- Ave. Duration
- 10 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $5–7
- Website
- https://www.goldengate.org/
- Adult
- $5–7
Bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform B to Santa Rosa Transit Mall
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 9m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $8–12
- Website
- https://www.goldengate.org/
- Adult
- $8–12
- Phone
- +1 800-696-4682
- Website
- mendocinotransit.org
Bus from 2nd Street Transit Mall to Pear Tree Center - Ross
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $4–23
- Website
- https://mendocinotransit.org
- Schedules at
- https://mendocinotransit.org/maps-and-schedules/
- Phone
- +1 707 443 0826
- Website
- hta.org
Bus from Pear Tree Center - NB Stop to H St & 4th St
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $2
- Schedules at
- https://hta.org/agencies/redwood-transit-system/
- Phone
- +1 707-837-8700
- Website
- groometransportation.com
Bus from San Rafael to Oakland International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- $21–55
- Website
- https://groometransportation.com/sonoma-county/
- First Passenger
- $21–55
- Website
- redwoodcoasttransit.org
Bus from Cultural Center Transit Hub to Arcata Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 59m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $6–10
- Website
- https://redwoodcoasttransit.org
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