Berkeley, CA Road Trips

Like the rest of the Bay Area, Berkeley has a mild climate, with wet, mild winters and dry summers. The high temperature is typically in the 60s °F (between 15 and 20 °C). The city's position directly across the bay from the Golden Gate ensures that Berkeley gets its share of fog, with mornings typically cool and foggy, followed by sunny afternoons, with the fog returning at night. The city's location also means you may experience brisk winds coming off the bay if in an exposed area: typically, the marina or a hillside facing the bay. Visit Berkeley website

1 Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA), 2155 Center St (Corner of Center St and Oxford St), ☏ +1 510-642-0808, [email protected]. W-Su 11AM–7PM. As a visual arts venue, BAMPFA is dedicated equally to art and film. Its art collection and exhibitions reflect the diversity of the UC Berkeley campus and San Francisco Bay Area, with particular strengths in 20th- and 21st-century work. The museum, run by the University of California, is in a building that is itself an impressive work of modernist architecture, incorporating a 1939 Art Deco-style building. With one of the most extensive film archives in the world, the PFA offers many film series throughout the year, focusing on directors, eras, or artistic movements. It also screens some of the films during the annual San Francisco International Film Festival. $18, free for BAMPFA members; UC Berkeley students, faculty, staff; 18 & under; one adult per child 13 & under; and artists with exhibits. (updated Oct 2025) 2 Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Avenue, ☏ +1 510-526-1131 ext 701, fax: +1 510-548-2240, [email protected]. W-Sa noon-5PM. Non-profit organization dedicated to the improvements of ecology. Established in 1969, it provides eco-friendly education and focuses on the efforts of urban sustainability and climate change. (updated Oct 2025) 3 The Lawrence Hall of Science (The Lawrence), 1 Centennial Dr (in the hills of the Berkeley campus), ☏ +1 510-642-5132, [email protected]. W-Su 10AM–5PM. Offers many hands-on science exhibits, especially good for children.

1 924 Gilman (Alternative Music Foundation), 924 Gilman St (8th & Gilman), ☏ +1 510-524-8180. North Berkeley is home to one of the world's most famous punk rock clubs, known simply as Gilman, after the street it is located on. Shows are Friday and Saturday evenings, and sometimes Sunday afternoons. The Gilman is an all ages venue, with a harsh no drugs or alcohol policy, and operates as a private club, requiring you to purchase a membership card to attend a show, though in practice this is only a minimal fee on top of your ticket price. (updated Feb 2025) 2 Adventure Playground, 160 University Avenue (south side of the Berkeley Marina), ☏ +1 510-981-6720, [email protected]. Year-round Sa Su 11AM–5PM, and summer M–F 9AM–5PM, closed on holidays and for rain. This "junkyard" playground for school-age kids is a top-10 playground according to the National Geographic magazine. Kids can build with real tools, paint their creations, and play in the water and mud. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and clothes that you don't mind being ruined. Tools are collected 30 minutes before closing time. Zipline is taken down 15 minutes before closing time. Reservations are required (and expensive) for groups of five or more children, including if you plan to meet another family at the playground. Up to 4 children with parents: free; more than 4 children: $75 to $180 ; one child without parents: $10 for three hours.

Berkeley is a culinary wonderland, renowned for its restaurants. From casual to candlelit, Berkeley's restaurants share a passion for great taste. With more than 350 restaurants in town, there is a great array of cuisine choices. Culinary adventures extend beyond restaurants and cafes to encompass tours, tastings and more. The city imposes a 25¢ fee on all disposable cups – even for a cup of water, which would otherwise be free. You can bring your own water bottle, cup, or coffee mug to restaurants to avoid paying this fee. 1 Bageltopia, 1401 University Avenue. Tu–Su 7:30AM–2PM. Excellent bagels, with a variety of spreads ranging from classic cream cheese to "sushinova" to "vegan sunshine". (updated Feb 2025) 2 Gypsy's Trattoria Italiana, 2519-A Durant Ave (Near Telegraph, at the street-side of a small court of restaurants.), ☏ +1 510-548-4860, fax: +1 510-548-4875. Daily 10AM-midnight. A modest diner with a good variety of Italian favorites. (updated Feb 2025) 3 La Mission, 1255 University Ave (between Bonar St & Chestnut St), ☏ +1 510-845-5898. M-Sa 10AM-11:30PM, Su 10AM-11PM. Fresh, delicious Mexican food with an outdoor seating patio. (updated Feb 2025) 4 Little Plearn Thai Kitchen, 2283 Shattuck Ave (between Bancroft Way and Kittredge St), ☏ +1 510-704-1442. M-F 11AM-3PM, 4-9PM; Sa Su 11AM-9PM. A comfy little spot with art on the walls and some tidy exposed brickwork and a sizable menu. (updated Feb 2025) 5 Montecristo Taqueria, 1446 University Ave (between Acton St & Sacramento St), ☏ +1 510-486-0321. Daily 10AM-midnight.

Berkeley has a host of fine drinking establishments. Wineries and breweries are also in the mix, with free tours and tastings offered at a number of venues. 1 Free House, 2700 Bancroft Way, ☏ +1 510-647-2300, [email protected]. M-F 4:30PM-midnight. An atmospheric and friendly alehouse that has a wide variety of drinks, many from local brewers and also does burgers, salads and particularly unusual pizza. (updated Feb 2024) 2 Jupiter, 2181 Shattuck Ave (between Center and Allston), ☏ +1 510 843-8277. Tu-Th 4-10PM, F Sa noon-11PM (21+ only after 7PM), Su noon-10PM. The backyard patio is fantastic. On weekend nights they usually have live music in the beer garden. They have a huge selection of beer, including local and their own microbrews. Food includes wood-oven pizzas in many sizes. Online reservations. $30-50. (updated Feb 2024) 3 The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave (corner of Shattuck Ave and Prince St), ☏ +1 510-841-0188, [email protected]. Su-W 4PM-2AM. A lively leftist pub that hosts a variety of live events from poetry slams to live bands. Check website for calendar and music stream. (updated Feb 2024) 4 Acme Bar & Company, 2115 San Pablo Ave (between Addison St and Cowper St; south of University), ☏ +1 510-644-2226, [email protected]. Daily 3PM-closing. An entire wall of whiskey options and a considerable menu of beers and mixed drinks and cocktails. A neat mix of dive bar and hipster. Online orders, same day delivery. Food orders through sister restaurant. $15 and under.

In addition to offering a wide range of lodging accommodations, Berkeley hotels and inns are increasingly eco-travel friendly. As of January 2013, more than 60% of the rooms in Berkeley are certified "Green" by the Bay Area Green Business Program (BAGBP). If you are looking for chain hotels the nearby city of Emeryville is south of Berkeley and is home to more national brands. It is illegal to park a "heavy-duty" vehicle on city streets overnight (2–5AM) in Berkeley, unless you first obtain a temporary permit. RVs are generally considered to fall into this class. The nearest camping area is in the Tilden Regional Park, for groups only. 1 Berkeley Lab Guest House, 1 Cyclotron Rd, Building 23 (on the LBNL Campus on the Hill), ☏ +1 510-495-8000, fax: +1 510-495-8800, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Anyone with a university affiliation (yes, even students) can book rooms or sponsor a guest. Cheap rates, great views from the hill, a quiet location, and comfortable beds make this a hidden gem for campus visitors. Its location on university property, which exempts you from city taxes, and free parking (a valuable commodity in Berkeley) makes the guest house even more affordable for scholars, parents, and relatives alike. No smoking. No minors. No pets. Please contact first if you have an assistance animal, which are permitted.. $175/$195. (updated Feb 2025) 2 Downtown Berkeley Inn, 2001 Bancroft Way (at Milvia St), ☏ +1 510-843-4043, fax: +1 510-843-4046, [email protected]. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM.

Oakland International Airport (OAK IATA) is the closest option. Take the BART to OAK "people mover" ($6 extra fare) or the AC Transit #73 bus ($2.10) to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Oakland Airport station, and then take a Richmond-bound train to the Downtown Berkeley station ($2.40). Alternatively, you can use a rental car and drive up Interstates 880 and 80 to the University Avenue exit. There are also shuttle van services, providing door-to-door service. San Francisco International Airport is also convenient. BART runs from the International Terminal to Berkeley in just under 1 hour. Driving without traffic is as short as 35 minutes, but at commute hours can take up to 2 hours. From SFO, take US Highway 101 north and then Interstate 80 east, crossing the San Francisco Bay Bridge. Stay on I-80 east and exit at one of the 3 Berkeley exits: Ashby Avenue, University Avenue, or Gilman Street. San Jose International Airport (SJC IATA) is in the region. A rental car or shuttle service is likely fastest and easiest, public transportation is possible but very time-consuming (a little over two hours). San Jose is considerably farther from Berkeley than San Francisco (at least an hour's drive in no traffic) and is not recommended. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), +1 415 989-2278, a regional commuter rail and subway system, offers frequent service to Berkeley from San Francisco (including the airport), Oakland Airport and other parts of the East Bay. If you are visiting San Francisco and planning a side-trip to Berkeley, BART is the easiest and fastest way to go.

Berkeley has a somewhat conflicted relationship to the automobile. The number of one way streets and restrictions on parking make the experience of driving in Berkeley somewhat lackluster, and worth avoiding if you can. Cars are most useful far away from downtown (i.e. not near the campus) or in Berkeley's steep hills. It's often better to stay on the main roads unless you know your way because of the many road barriers to prevent through traffic in residential areas. Be mindful of cyclists and pedestrians; many cyclists often ride in lanes (as is their legal right in California), and pedestrians may expect cars to stop for them. Remember that as a motorist, you need to be especially cautious in order to avoid harming cyclists and pedestrians. Be very careful when driving near the University as students tend to have the mindset that they have the right of way. To further confuse drivers many roads near the university are one way roads (and can turn so spontaneously, so watch signs at major intersections) or are closed to certain drivers. Parking can be difficult and expensive near campus and downtown. The easiest and most expensive means of parking is in one of the several garages. The biggest garage near campus is the Telegraph Channing Garage. Many stores on Telegraph have validation coupons discounting hourly parking 50% or $5 off all-day parking. Arrive after 8PM and pay only $4 night rate until closing. Most street parking is either metered (expect to pay at least $1.50 per hour) or 2-hour, but free after 6PM.

West and South Berkeley, especially near Oakland, can be unsafe at night. While the north side is quieter and generally safer, use common sense and avoid walking alone at night. Also be aware of your surroundings: the more bars on windows, generally the less safe the area. Bicycling is generally a safe way to get around at night; for those who prefer not to ride, free night escorts are provided by the University of California police near campus: call +1 510-642-WALK (9255). Berkeley has a well-deserved reputation for protests, riots, and strikes, and you may see a protest or two in progress during your visit. However, the vast majority of protests today are raucous but protesters are typically strictly nonviolent. (The same cannot always be said of the police, and it's worth keeping a wide berth of any in-progress police action unless you're willing to risk a rib or two.) The last time the National Guard was called in to patrol the city was 1991.