<p>I've heard that you can take a train from Orange County to the Bay Area. Does anyone know anything about this????</p>
<p>Yes, it is the Coast Starlight route which is part of the Amtrak system.
[Amtrak</a> - Routes - California - Coast Starlight](<a href=“http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Route_C&pagename=am/Layout&cid=1241245648567]Amtrak”>http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Route_C&pagename=am/Layout&cid=1241245648567)</p>
<p>Thank you. Looks like it would be more cost effective to drive if going to Berkeley on short notice. My son’s birthday is in a couple of weeks. I thought I might go up there to see him. Looks like driving is the cheapest option. Thanks for the information though. :-)</p>
<p>On short notice, yes, driivng would be the most cost effective (unless driving an SUV or other major gas guzzler). Time effective as well, since the train will take at least twice as long as it would take to drive.</p>
<p>If you book far enough in advance, it would be most cost effective and time effective to fly to Oakland on Southwest Airlines. If purchasing less than 21 days in advance, however, which sounds like what you’d be doing, it will run you about $200 for the round trip, then another $8.00 roundtrip from Oakland Airport using public transport.</p>
<p>Don’t know if you need to get a hotel, but driving up, also factor in car parking charges, which runs about $15/day.</p>
<p>^^ Thanks UCLA77. My son is a freshman and I am still learning about everything. I think we will drive as we have been doing. We stay in Fremont and just drive in from there. We don’t have to pay for parking at we’ve found a Marriott that is fairly inexpensive. Thanks for the info.</p>