In a couple of weeks I have some site visits to perform in the Bay Area. My last day, I planned a site visit in the AM in Santa Cruz. Then I have to hop a flight at 1:50 back to Philly. I am guessing that I have to get to the airport by 12:45.
So given the traffic from Santa Cruz, how early would I have to leave to get to the airport in San Jose. Should I be worried about the traffic? If I miss the flight, my only other options are getting the red eye home.
Are you driving a rental car that would need to be returned to the rental agency? If so, then you might need more time to complete the paperwork and catch the rental company shuttle to the terminal.
Shouldn’t take too long. Even if it takes me about 15 minutes, I don’t check my bag and can head right to security.
On a “normal” weekday, you could make it to the airport easily in 90 minutes or less. Getting there is straightforward–just hop on 17(it turns into 880) and take the Coleman exit . This time of year, weather can be an issue. Highway 17 isn’t fun in the rain, and accidents are pretty common when it gets wet.
Yes, but sometimes you have to wait for the shuttle bus to the terminal, and then there’s the long wait to get through the security checkpoint. I’d be nervous if I only allowed an hour to: return the car, take the shuttle to the terminal, stand in line to get your checked bags taken care of, stand in another line to get through the security checkpoint and then stand in line to board.
90 minutes! That’s more than I had budgeted. I may have to re-think the plan in that case.
90 minutes?
He’s not going in rush hour. I’ve driven to the airport from Santa Cruz a couple of times, and it’s never taken more than an hour. If there’s an accident or some other impediment, sure; but around 11:30 on a regular weekday i’d be pretty surprised if it took more than an hour.
The car rental in now in the new garage, acccross from the terminal.
As for travel time I just made it from Watsonville to My home in South San Jose 45 minutes. Depending on where you are in Santa Cruz 45 minutes should get you to the airport.
You’re right, that trip over the hill doesn’t usually take very long. But I never count on smooth sailing on 17, and I always give myself plenty of leeway when it comes to driving to *any *airport. 45 minutes *should *be enough time to make it from downtown Santa Cruz, but there have been times when I’ve been stuck behind a jacknifed big rig for more than an hour.
The joke was on me. I switched my appointments around to be in Redwood City on the last day.
I went to Santa Cruz on day 2 and ended up driving to SF that evening to meet a friend. Took me 3 hours from Santa Cruz to SF. That was fun.
On the day of my flight it took me more than an hour to get from Redwood City to San Jose Airport because of the rain. Almost missed the flight. Afterwards, my contact told me that it would have been better to take 280 instead of 101. Ugh.