Travel Resources

Travel for Intersessions

Check the weather and dress in layers - both San Francisco and Washington, DC can have variable weather conditions, especially between indoor and outdoor spaces. Attire for intersession tends to be business casual, jeans are acceptable unless otherwise specified. We recommend wearing shoes that are comfortable for walking so you can get around town more easily.

Outside of class, both cities have a wealth of opportunities. We hope you take advantage of being in San Francisco or Washington outside of programmatic activities.

Both cities are walkable with robust public transportation and ride share. We do not recommend renting a car for either city and parking is available but limited or expensive at both campuses.

We do not coordinate accommodations or room blocks however we have recommendations for both cities.

Airports and Train Stations

San Francisco

San Francisco is served by two airports.

San Francisco Airport (SFO) is a 30 minute drive from campus or 60 minutes away by public transportation. It is a 20 minute drive from downtown and 35 minutes by public transportation.

SFO is the larger airport in the region and is served by all major domestic airlines.

Oakland Airport (OAK) is a 40 minute drive from campus or 1 hour 10 minutes away by public transportation. It is a 30 minute drive from downtown and 55 minutes by public transportation.

OAK is a smaller airport and is a great place to look if you are flying Southwest Airlines.

Washington, DC

Washington, DC is served by three airports.

Reagan National Airport (DCA) is a 15-20 minute drive from where classes are held downtown or 30 minutes away by public transportation.

SFO is the closest airport to DC and an American Airlines hub.

Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) is a 45 minute drive from where classes are held downtown or 1 hour 10 minutes away by public transportation.

IAD is the large international airport in the region and a United Airlines hub.

Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) is a 1 hour drive from where classes are held downtown or 1 hour 30 minutes away by public transportation.

BWI is located between Baltimore and Washington can be significantly cheaper than the other two airports.

For train travel, Union Station is located near Capitol Hill and downtown DC. It is a 15 minute drive, 20 minute metro ride, or 45 minute walk to where classes are held.

Accommodations

San Francisco

Classes in San Francisco are typically held at the Hilltop Campus at 2130 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117

There are few hotels near campus. The closest are:

We also recommend students look at AirBnb for the most walkable options near campus.

When looking for hotels in other parts of the city, downtown options include:

For more economic options, consider the historic motels along Lombard street in the Marina District such as:

Washington, DC

Classes in Washington, DC are either held at or near 1608 Rhode Island Ave NW.

There are many hotel andAirBnb options within walking distance.

Hotels particularly close by include:

Public Transportation

We recommend the use of public transportation during your time in San Francisco or Washington, DC.

In San Francisco, there are two public transportation systems, BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and Muni. BART should be used for greater Bay Area transportation needs, including getting from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to the University of San Francisco. If traveling within San Francisco, the Muni system is most accessible to the city. You can download the MuniMobile app or BART app to pay for tickets and plan your route.

In Washington, DC, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) runs the Metro (subway) and buses throughout the area. You can download the Smar Trip app to pay for tickets and plan your route.

Parking

San Francisco

In San Francisco, street parking is typically accessible on the weekends although it is monitored and enforced. Students can also purchase day passes for on-campus parking for $25 a day on the USF Mobile App.

Washington, DC

In Washington, street parking is limited, metered, and enforced. We recommend using a parking app such as Spot Hero to secure a parking spot in a nearby parking garage.

Planning your Trip

San Francisco

Washington, DC