The most popular method of travel into the city is via the Sacramento International Airport (SMF), located about 10 miles northwest of downtown. Many people also choose to fly into San Francisco International Airport (SFO), located about 90 miles west.
If driving is a more convenient or desirable option for you, Sacramento is easily accessible by many highways. The main north-south route is via I-5; this is also the main Interstate along the west coast. I-80 is the major east-west route, and connects the city with San Francisco to the west, and Reno, Nevada, to the east. California State Route 99, also known as Hwy 99, also runs north-south through the city but is closer to the eastern part of the Central Valley. There are also numerous smaller thoroughfares.
You may also wish to consider the train, as Amtrak provides service directly in the city, right near the historic Old Town Sacramento area. Amtrak also operates the Capitol Corridor service, a 168-mile passenger train service running from San Jose to Sacramento. It runs generally parallel to I-80. Amtrak's Coast Starlight also stops in Sacramento; this is a scenic route providing service to Seattle and Portland to the north, and to San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara to the south. The California Zephyr makes daily stops in the city as well and services areas to the east, including Reno, Denver, Omaha, Chicago and other intermediate cities. The San Joaquin is a regional service that passes through Sacramento, stopping in Stockton, Fresno, and Bakersfield.
Greyhound bus lines has a station in downtown Sacramento, as well as several satellite stations in the region.
Once you have arrived in the city, you have several options as to how to get from place to place. The most popular of these is by car; either your own vehicle, rental, or by taxi.
If you'd like a more laid-back way to catch some of the sights, many areas of the city are bicycle-friendly, especially in the downtown area. There are many shady, flat streets and bike routes and lanes are clearly marked, making this enjoyable transportation option quite popular.
For public transportation, look to the Sacramento Regional Transit District, also known as RT, for an extensive system of both light rail and bus services connecting various points in the city and the greater metropolitan area.
