Getting to LBNL
The best way to get to LBNL is to use the LBNL shuttle system from Downtown Berkeley. Please take the “Blue” shuttle, as the “Orange” line does not pass by the physics building. The shuttle stop in Downtown Berkeley is marked on the map, and you should get off at Building 65 (also marked on the map). If you arrive by car (rental, taxi or rideshare), please be aware that google maps will by default send you to the back entrance of the lab (“strawberry gate”), which is not open for visitors. To avoid this, please enter “Berkeley Lab Blackberry Gate, 1 Cyclotron Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720” in google maps, or ask your driver to do so.
The timetable of the Blue Shuttle can be found at https://commute.lbl.gov/resource/shuttle-buses/maps-routes-schedules/blue-route/
GETTING TO BERKELEY
Unless you arrive at odd hours, the simplest way to get from San Francisco airport (SFO) to Berkeley is taking the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). Looking at the SFO map, the BART station is next to the International Terminal G (sometimes JetBlue) and a couple of minute walk from Terminal 3 (United), otherwise take the free AirTrain to BART (runs every few minutes). The BART takes 55min and costs $9.25 each way (as of early 2015), it’s every 15min during the day, every 20min at nights and weekends. Tickets can be purchased at any BART station; hold on to it as it’s needed to exit. At SFO, take the Richmond line directly to the Downtown Berkeley stop, or takePittsburg/Bay Point train to the 19th St. Oakland station, were you can transfer to the Richmond train to the Downtown Berkeley station. (The trains usually wait for each other at this station, except when one of them is delayed.) From OAK airport, you can also take BART ($8.50 each way); the station is located across from the Terminal 1 baggage claim area and a short walk from Terminal 2. Change at Oakland Coliseum to the Richmond train, and take that to Downtown Berkeley.
For directions to BART at the OAK airport, see https://www.bart.gov/guide/airport/oak
For directions to BART at the SFO airport, see https://www.bart.gov/guide/airport/sfo
A taxi from SFO to Berkeley will probably cost ~$100 and an Uber car around ~$60. Driving times vary between 35 minutes (no traffic, very rare) to well over 1h15 (traffic jam on bay bridge, quite common). Street parking is free 6pm — 9am in Berkeley. Use of a rental car is not encouraged.
If you arrive by car (rental, taxi or rideshare), please be aware that google maps will by default send you to the back entrance of the lab (“strawberry gate”), which is not open for visitors. To avoid this, please enter
“Berkeley Lab Blackberry Gate, 1 Cyclotron Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720”
in google maps, or ask your driver to do so. Note that there is a lot of large wildlife on the lab grounds (turkeys and deer), so please exercise caution while driving, especially after dark.
Further information can be found behind the following links, such including directions, a map of the LBNL site and the shuttle bus information.
Between Downtown Berkeley and LBNL:
LBNL runs a shuttle bus between Downtown Berkeley and LBNL. The shuttle bus stop in Downtown Berkeley is just across the street from the Downtown Berkeley BART stop. The shuttle to take is the Blue Shuttle, and the timetable can be found at https://commute.lbl.gov/resource/shuttle-buses/maps-routes-schedules/blue-route/
