Country Guides > North America > California

Travel to California

Getting there by Air

The majority of flights to California are operated by US carriers JetBlue Airlines (www.jetblue.com), American Airlines (www.aa.com), Delta Airlines (www.delta.com) and United Airlines (www.united.com).

Major airports are: Los Angeles International Airport, San Diego International Airport, Oakland International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Burbank Bob Hope Airport, Ontario international Airport, Norman Y Mineta San Jose International Airport, John Wayne Airport, Palm Springs International Airport and Sacramento International Airport.

Note

Rules and regulations for flights in the United States are more strict than those in Europe. Check the TSA website (www.tsa.gov) for specific advice on what is and isn’t allowed onboard.

Approximate Flight times

From London to Los Angeles is 11 hours 15 minutes. To San Francisco from New York is 5 hours 50 minutes.

Departure tax

None.

Main Airports

Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)

The Hollywood Burbank Airport, also known as the Burbank Bob Hope Airport, is the closest airport to Hollywood and central Los Angeles and is one of six major airports in the area. Our Hollywood Burbank Airport guide includes information on terminal facilities, public transport access and accommodation options nearby.

Website: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/united-states-america/california/burbank-bob-hope-airport

Location:

Hollywood Burbank Airport is located 5km (3 miles) northwest of Burbank and 20km (12 miles) north of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Los Angeles International Airport, commonly known as LAX, ranks among the busiest transportation centres in the United States. Spanning nearly 3,000 acres, it features over 150 gates distributed among nine terminals arranged in a horseshoe configuration. This guide to Los Angeles Airport provides details on terminal amenities, ground transportation options, and accommodations in the vicinity.

Website: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/united-states-america/california/los-angeles-international-airport

Location:

Los Angeles International Airport is approximately 27km (17 miles) southwest of Los Angeles City Hall, which is located in the Civic Center district of downtown Los Angeles and serves as the focal point of the local government.

The airport is also about 53 km (33 miles) from Disneyland, the iconic amusement park in Anaheim, California.

Oakland International Airport (OAK)

One of three major airports in the San Francisco Bay Area, Oakland International Airport is located south of Oakland and just across the water from San Francisco. Our guide to the airport includes important contact details and information on airport facilities, public transportation access and nearby accommodation options.

Website: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/united-states-america/california/oakland-international-airport

Location:

Oakland International Airport is located 8km (5 miles) southeast of the city of Oakland, in the US state of California.

Ontario International Airport (ONT)

Ontario International Airport, which is a short distance from the city of Ontario in California, is the third largest airport in the region. Our guide to the airport provides useful information about the air facility, including details of terminal services, public transport access and nearby accommodation options.

Website: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/united-states-america/california/ontario-international-airport

Location:

Ontario International Airport is located 61km (38 miles) east of Downtown Los Angeles and 37km (23 miles) west of Downtown San Bernardino.

San Diego International Airport (SAN)

Known locally as Lindbergh Field, San Diego International Airport serves its namesake city in southern California. Our San Diego International Airport guide provides information relating to terminal facilities, public transport routes and nearby accommodation options.

Website: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/united-states-america/california/san-diego-international-airport

Location:

San Diego International Airport is located 3km (2 miles) northwest of San Diego, in southwest California.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

San Francisco International Airport, commonly known as SFO after its IATA code, is a vibrant aviation hub comprising of four terminals and seven concourses. It is the gateway to the San Francisco Bay Area. This San Francisco International Airport guide includes information on terminal facilities, travel routes to and from the airport, and nearby accommodation options.

Website: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/united-states-america/california/san-francisco-international-airport

Location:

San Francisco International Airport is about 24km (15 miles) south of Fisherman's Wharf, a busy tourist area on the northern waterfront.

Getting There by Water

Water note

California’s entire western border is the Pacific Ocean with major ports in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and San Diego. See www.portoflosangeles.org for further information.

Ferry operators

Golden Gate Ferry (www.goldengateferry.org) operate three regular ferry routes to the San Francisco Ferry Building from Larkspur (in Marin County), Sausalito, and Tiburon. A ferry service also links San Francisco with the Bay communities of Vallejo, Oakland and Alameda. San Francisco departure is from Pier 1, adjoining the Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street, or from Fisherman's Wharf.

Getting There by Rail

The Amtrak (tel: +1 800 872 7245; www.amtrak.com) terminal in Los Angeles is Union Station, at 800 North Alameda Street, on the edge of the business district. It is at the western end of several major routes across the southern Rockies, is the southern terminus of the West Coast line to Seattle (although there are frequent shuttle services heading further south to San Diego), and at the western end of east-west routes from Chicago, St Louis and New Orleans.

In San Francisco, the Embarcadero BART station and the Transbay Transit Terminal, at 200 Folsom Street, are used only for limited suburban services. The Amtrak Terminal at Emeryville, across the Bay, is the central node on the West Coast line and also the western terminus of a line running across the high Rockies to Salt Lake City and beyond. Amtrak provides free shuttles between their Oakland station and the Transbay Terminal.

San Diego is served by Amtrak trains from Los Angeles, with its Santa Fe Depot station located downtown on 1050 Kettner Boulevard and its Old Town Transit Center situated on 4005 Taylor Street.

Rail note

Approximate rail journey times:
From Phoenix to Los Angeles is 8 hours, from Dallas is 39 hours, and from Chicago is 61 hours.
From Reno to Oakland is 6 hours, from Salt Lake City is 16 hours, and from Denver is 31 hours.

Getting There by Road

California is easily accessed by road from surrounding states and Mexico via the John J. Mongtomery freeway (Interstate 5). Greyhound bus service (tel: +1 214 849 8100; www.greyhound.com) has several daily departures.

Driving note

Drivers with international licenses are legally allowed to drive in California.