Local Transportation

This Page Updated: March 2024
Accommodations
 

Public Transportation from the San Francisco International Airport

From the San Francisco Airport take the Marin Airporter (phone: 415/461-4222; $27 one way) from any of the blue pillars downstairs at ground level for all domestic flights. This bus leaves hourly on the half hour as posted on the pillars. If you are staying at the Corte Madera Inn or in that vicinity, get off at the fourth stop (an hour drive) at Larkspur Landing, which is within a mile of our class location. From there take Uber, Lyft or a taxi to your accommodations.

For international flights, the new pick-up point for the Marin Airporter is on the arrivals (baggage claim) level. To find the bus, cross to the Center Island Transportation Zone, and wait at the green and white striped curb. Look for the sign saying "Airporter". Please note: This is a new pick-up location. They no longer pick up on the ground floor in Courtyard "A". 

You can also take the Marin Door to Door from the airport. This 24-hour service is $98 for 1 to 2 people from this airport. Call 415/457-2717 to make arrangements. If you call by noon the day before, they will meet you on time for your flight arrival.

Public Transportation from the Oakland International Airport

The Oakland Airport is a bit closer to our class location as the San Francisco Airport. Some airlines may charge less to fly into Oakland. 

From the Oakland Airport take the Sonoma County Airport Express (phone: 800-327-2024) leaves the Oakland airport every 2 hours from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm. The cost is $37 to San Rafael (or $35 for seniors and vets). Round trip tickets are available on their website at a discount. Buses pick up passengers directly outside baggage claim in the center island at the regional transportation stop. It is about a 50 minute ride to the San Rafael Transit Hub. From there you can take a taxi, Uber or Lyft south to Corte Madera, which is about 3 miles.

Marin Door to Door (see above) is also $98 for 1 to 2 people from this airport.

Reasonable Automobile Rentals at Both Airports

Here are the car rental agencies with offices near the San Francisco and Oakland Airports that are usually the most reasonable. Note: car rental rates via websites are sometimes higher than via phone calls. Also, rates often change. The best deals are often the ones done well in advance

Enterprise Rent-a-Car 
www.enterprise.com, 650/697-9200, extension 5. 
Compact car rates for HTI students at the San Francisco and Oakland airports were $173 per week, plus tax and airport fees but have been higher the past two years. Email or call us to get the HTI discount code.

Dollar Rent A Car
www.dollar.com, 800-800-4000.

Thrifty Rent a Car
www.thrifty.com, 800-THRIFTY

All of these typically offer rates that include generous free mileage, but not insurance, nor extra fees for persons under age 25. Be sure to confirm all costs when reserving your car. The added fees are usually lower at the Oakland Airport than the San Francisco Airport.

For all of the above agencies, if your arrival is at the San Francisco terminal, take the blue AirTrain via short term parking and ride to the rental car center for offices on the 4th floor. 

 

Class Meeting Location
The classes meet at the Corte Madera Inn, Corte Madera (next to Hwy 101, a 10 minute drive north of the Golden Gate Bridge). If you want to use your GPS, Google Maps or Mapquest.com, the address of the Inn is 56 Madera Blvd., Corte Madera CA 94925, which is not our mailing address. There is plenty of free parking.

Directions from San Francisco: Going north on Highway 101, take Paradise/Tamalpais exit, then turn left to cross the overpass. Turn right on Madera Boulevard. Turn right at the first street past the shopping center. The Inn is on your left.

Directions from the East Bay: Take Highway 580 across the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge. Take the Sir Francis Drake Boulevard exit to Highway 101 and go south. Take the second exit, Madera Blvd. The Inn appears immediately on your right.

Directions From the Sacramento area and beyond: Going west on Highway 80, take Hwy. 37 to Hwy. 101 and go south, then continue with the following directions below.

Directions from the North: Going south on Highway 101 past San Rafael, take the Madera Boulevard exit, which is soon after the Sir Francis Drake Boulevard exit. The Inn appears immediately on your right.

These instructions help make it easy to locate us from the San Francisco Bay Area counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma, and from throughout Northern California.