Super Bowl LX isn't in San Francisco exactly. How to plan your trip.
- GAB NEWS
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Thinking of going to San Francisco for Super Bowl LX?
Think again.
While San Francisco is absolutely worth visiting, the game is being played about an hour away in Santa Clara.
It can be confusing since Levi’s Stadium is home to the San Francisco 49ers, not the Santa Clara 49ers, but it’s nowhere near what locals have long called “the city.”
Here’s what else first-time visitors should know about the Bay Area.
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Where visitors underestimate the Bay Area
The Bay Area is big.
It spans nearly 7,000 square miles, with nine counties clustered into five main areas:
San Francisco
East Bay, which includes cities like Oakland and Berkeley
Peninsula, home to Half Moon Bay and Stanford University
North Bay, including Napa and Sonoma Valleys and Muir Woods National Monument
South Bay, known for Silicon Valley and where the Super Bowl will be played
Travelers will want to keep distances in mind when planning to sightsee regionally.
Bay Area weather
Weather can vary widely across the Bay Area.
At any given moment, it can be sunny and clear in Santa Rosa, chilly in San Francisco, and enshrouded in fog in Millbrae.
“Microclimates, it's a real thing thanks to the bay,” said Linsey Gallagher, president and CEO of Visit Napa Valley. “In Napa Valley, we often have warm days and cool nights, and that fog blanket rolls in every afternoon and cools things off, and when the sun comes up in the morning from the east, it pushes that fog back out over the ocean ... That's part of what makes this such an incredible wine growing region is that grapes really like that.”
Maggie Lang, chief Sales and Marketing officer for the San Francisco Peninsula, recommends packing and wearing layers.
“It’s never going to be freezing,” she said. “At worst It dips into, I would say, maybe the 40s on a really cold night, but we've had amazing weather, so just dress in layers.”
Getting to the Bay Area
There are three major airports in the Bay Area.
The biggest and busiest is San Francisco International Airport, which is not technically in San Francisco but in the Peninsula.
The other two airports are Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK, formerly Oakland International Airport) in Oakland and San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) in San Jose, not to be confused with SJO near San José, Costa Rica.
The closest airport to Levi’s Stadium is San Jose Mineta.
Getting around the Bay Area
Travelers don’t need to rent cars because public transportation and rideshares are readily available. However, cars can offer more flexibility for exploring places like the Pacific coast or wine country.
There are multiple public transit options across the region, which accept Tap & Ride digital payments through credit and debit cards or smart devices, as well as traditional payments.
BART, or Bay Area Rapid Transit, offers high-speed rail service between parts of the Peninsula, San Francisco, the East Bay and two cities in the South Bay. Regular fares start at $2.55 and are based on distance traveled.
CalTrain offers commuter train service between San Francisco, the Peninsula and the South Bay. Fares vary by the number of zones traveled, starting at $4 for adults and $1 for riders under the age of 19. Day passes are available as well.
Muni offers light rail, bus, streetcar and cable car service in San Francisco. A single cable car ride costs $9 for most riders over age 4. Other types of Muni rides are $3 for adults and free for users under the age of 19. Day passes and passports are also available.
VTA. or Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, offers light rail and bus service across the South Bay. Fares start at $2.50 for adults and $1.25 for riders under the age of 19, with 8-hour and day passes available.
Ferry: Several different companies offer ferry service around the bay: San Francisco Bay Ferry, Golden Gate Ferry and Blue and Gold Fleet. Prices vary by route and carrier, but range from about $5 to $15 for adults, with discounted fares for children and seniors.
Super Bowl transit
Super Bowl attendees can take BART to the Milpitas Station, then transfer to the VTA Orange Line to get to Levi’s Stadium.
Alternatively, they can take Caltrain to Mountain View Station and transfer to the VTA Orange Line for Levi’s Stadium.
Amtrak-operated Capital Corridor trains will also offer game-day service from the East Bay and as far as the Sacramento area. The Santa Clara-Great America Station is within walking distance of Levi’s Stadium.
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Where to stay
There are a number of hotels in Santa Clara for fans who want to stay near the action.
“Santa Clara is the home of Super Bowl LX – and the only place where fans can walk from their hotel straight to the game,” Christine Lawson, CEO of Discover Santa Clara, said in a statement to USA TODAY. “That proximity shapes the entire weekend.” Lawson recommends visitors enjoy the flavors of the city on its Global Games Food Trail, with Michelin-recognized Jang Su Jang and local favorite Stan’s Donuts – “two stops that reflect the diversity and personality of the community.”
With so many public transportation options available, however, travelers can stay and dine just about anywhere around the Bay Area and still get to the game.
San Francisco is home to iconic sights like cable cars, Chinatown, North Beach, curvy Lombard Street, the Painted Ladies houses, the Presidio, Golden Gate Park, and nearby Alcatraz Island, as well as endless dining options for every budget and palate.
The centrally located Peninsula stretches between San Francisco and the South Bay, with the ocean to the west and the bay to the east. “Coastside, Half Moon Bay and Pacifica are absolutely stunning,” Lang said. “Right now, it's the perfect time because it's Dungeness crab season, so you can go straight out on the dock and get some freshly caught crab, and they'll cook it right there for you.” On the bayside, Lang highlighted towns like San Mateo and Burlingame. “Our greatest pride here is that the Peninsula County is actually the most diverse county in California,” she said. “Each little town has its own cultural stance.”
Foodies will also find an array of dining options in Oakland, which is just across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco and 40 minutes from Santa Clara. Peter Gamez, CEO of Visit Oakland, said the East Bay city has its own burger trail and vegan trail, along with James Beard-recognized and Michelin-star restaurants. “And with 125 languages, I tell people, that are spoken in Oakland, that is going to reflect on our food,” he said. Gamez noted that the city is hosting numerous Super Bowl-related events, and Super Bowl travelers who book a one-night hotel stay in Oakland through Visit Oakland’s website will receive a $25 rideshare credit.