How to Travel to Redding

Courtesy of our Friends at LiveInRedding.org

Traveling to Redding can be a little tricky unless you fly directly into the Redding Municipal Airport.  But never fear, we have provided extensive details, instructions and links to all of your traveling options.

Flights:

The closest airport is Redding Municipal Airport (RDD) and if convience over cost is more important to you, than this would be your airport of choice.  The best thing to do is try to get a connecting flight at the time you purchase your ticket.

However, if cost is a factor for you, the most affordable flights will likely be found flying into either Sacramento (airport code: SMF) or San Francisco (airport code: SFO)  and then taking some form of ground transportation into Redding. You will have better ground transportation options if you can get a flight into Sacramento.  Sacramento is a little over two hours drive to Redding and San Francisco is a four hour drive to Redding.  For those new to California, it is an easy and beautiful drive.

We have found that consistently give you some of the best prices on flights into the area. (And right now they are offering a $20 discount on all flights!)

Travel Coordination:

We have provided a special page to help facilitate coordinating rides to Redding with other travelers.  The list can be found here or you can go to our Travel Coordination page to ad your travel plans to the list.  Combining travel with other students and visitors will help to cut down on your overall expense.

Ground Transportation (Rental Cars, Public Transportation):

Rental Cars from Sacramento & San Francisco
If you are traveling with more than one person in your family or group, the most convenient and economical option to get to Redding from Sacramento is to rent a car (one way).  The Sacramento International Airport is only two hours and 15 minutes from Redding, and it is very easy to drive to Redding from the airport. You only have to get on I-5 North and stay on it until you are in Redding.  In order to rent a car in the U.S. you must have a driver that is 25 or over with a valid drivers license and a credit card.

The typical cost to rent a one way car from Sacramento is around $100 + insurance if you don’t have it + gas.  I have found that cheapoflights can usually find me the best rates for a rental.  However, if you prefer to work with the rental company directly these are the companies that will rent one ways to Redding.

Try looking for a rental with

Shuttle from Sacramento
If you are traveling alone, your most economical and safe option is First Class Shuttle Service.  This service picks you up at the airport, is safe, friendly and they are used to shuttling Bethel students and visitors on a regular basis.  They offer a discount for Bethel students of $60 one way or $95 round trip.  The shuttle runs between the Sacramento International Airport and Redding Oxford Suites Hotel, located on 1967 Hilltop Drive in Redding.

Here is their website and you can find an expanded schedule therehttp://www.reddingfirstclassshuttle.com

Public Transportation

The only other option from Sacramento and San Francisco is the Greyhound Bus.  The Greyhound Bus is very affordable though not recomended for females traveling alone for the first-time in the United States. The Greyhound’s station is not at either airport and you will have to arrange separate transportation by taxi or BART to get to the station. If this is your first time traveling in the US or in a big city this can be a confusing process. Both the bus and the station can be unsafe, so try to stick around and sit by someone you feel comfortable with, strike up a conversation, and tell the bus driver if you have a problem with anyone or just feel unsafe. Note that you do not have to share a seat with anyone until the bus is full. You don’t have to be charitable if you feel unsafe with someone.

Greyhound Bus
http://www.greyhound.com

To catch a Greyhound bus from the San Francisco Airport:

1. At the International Terminal, follow the signs to BART (the local train system).
2. Buy your ticket in the BART machine. You’ll need to have dollar bills. It costs about $8.10 to get to the Greyhound Bus Station from the airport by BART. It will take about a half hour. Please note that the machine only gives change up to $8 (total)… so if you put in $20 to buy a $8.10 ticket, you will only get $8 change.
3. Get off the train at Montgomery Street.
4. Take the elevator from the rail tracks up to the main hall of the BART station.
5. Cross the entire hall to the other end. Take the escalator to the street. (If in doubt, ask the ticket controller as you go through the turn rail ticket pass machine).
6. At the top of the escalator, go round the corner of the hotel i.e.: turn left, then right, where the Doorman/Porter will call a taxi for you.
7. Take the taxi (cost: about $5.00) to the Greyhound Bus Station a few blocks down.
   • 425 Mission Street
     Suite 3 (between 1st St & Fremont St)
     San Francisco, CA 94105
     (415) 495-1555
     You can get info from their website: Click here.
   • Hours Of Operation
     Hours of operation subject to change.
     Please call to verify hours before making travel arrangements
   • Station
     Monday-Sunday: 12:00 am-1:00 am, 5:30 am-11:59 pm
     Holiday: 12:00 am-1:00 am, 5:30 am-11:59 pm
   • Ticketing
     Monday-Sunday: 5:30 am-11:59 pm
     Holiday: 5:30 am-11:59 pm
   • The price of a one-way ticket from San Francisco to Redding is about $43.
8. The Greyhound luggage weight allowance is less than that of the airlines. You will have to pay if your luggage is over the limit ($20 per overweight bag under 60 pounds weight).

TIP: Take some of your stuff from one of your suitcases and put it into the other one until the first one is the right weight. You will then only have to pay for one overweight case that they will take in as checked luggage. The lighter case (and all other luggage) you will have to keep with you until you are ready get on the bus. Until then, if you are staying in the Greyhound waiting area, put your lighter suitcase in front of your gate (a door with your gate number above it in the waiting area) so that you can be one of the first to board the bus as you do not want to sit in the back.

The daytime buses make several more stops than the night buses. Don’t be surprised if the buses are not quite as comfy or clean as you expect them to be.