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There is a tradition of [http://sfcasualcarpool.com/ "casual carpools"] (known elsewhere as "slugging") across the Bay Bridge (check that website for further info). This is a good way to get out of the city along I-80 if you're leaving in the afternoon, but less useful in the morning as it's mainly for commuters. Some but not all drivers ask for a $1 contribution (still cheaper than BART). You can try to follow I-80 to get to I-5 north, but if you're trying to go north you'll probably have an easier time on US-101, see below.

=== Going North (USYou can try to follow I-101) === From San Francisco, the best place 80 to hitch in this direction is on approach get to Golden Gate Bridge from Lombard Street. Just before it reaches the Presidio, it makes an angular turn toward the bridge, and a couple blocks down that angular street (at Richardson and Lyon) is a large rarelyI-used bus stop area which makes a perfect hitching spot. Immediately across the bridge is Marin County5 north, which is mostly a rich suburban area where getting a ride may be difficult, so but if you're going up trying to go north you'll probably have an easier time on US-101 it's best if you can get a ride from SF at least as far as Novato. Alternately you can take Highway 1 from Marin County up the coast, but while very scenic this road has little traffic so be prepared for long waitssee above.

In San Francisco, go to 19th Avenue, which is also Highway HIGHWAY 1. Find a good traffic light while walking South. You can even start in CLOSED BETWEEN RAGGED POINT and GORDA : ''BE CAREFUL DUE TO MUD and ROCK SLIDES the Golden Gate Park. Along Great Highway (e.g. 1 is closed between RAGGED POINT and GORDA since May 2017 and should apparently REOPEN at the end END of JULY 2018.'' you can still take the L metro line) also works extremely well and may have less local traffic101 from Santa Cruz till San Luis Obispo instead.

In San Francisco, go to 19th Avenue, which is also Highway 1. Find a good traffic light while walking South. You can also take SamTrans even start in the Golden Gate Park. Along Great Highway (it's $1e.50 from Daly City, $4g.00 from downtown SFat the end of the L metro line) to Pacifica, also works extremely well and get off at Reina Del Mar and Hwy 1may have less local traffic. Much more low key than dealing with the city, These are both very good options if you have the spare cashdon't want to pay for a bus/BART.

You can also take SamTrans bus 110 for $2 from Daly City station (just south of the SF city line, reachable by BART or Muni bus) to Pacifica, and get off at Reina Del Mar and Hwy 1. Much more low key than dealing with the city, if you have the spare cash. Once you're out of the city and dealing with smaller town traffic (Pacifica and Southsouth), getting picked up is a piece of cake.

Continuing beyond Santa Cruz towards Los Angeles along Highway 1 will probably be slower than taking I-5 but this is considered one of the most scenic roads in California.

You If you're starting from closer to San Jose, you can also reach Santa Cruz by taking the Caltrain (it is easy to get on w/o paying though inspectors do come through) all the way VTA 68 bus from there south to Gilroy for $2 and hitchhiking out on 1st street, which is also highway 152. Good (west); this is a good hitching spot in the morning when people are headed from Gilroy to Santa Cruz to work. This may make sense if you're starting Though at that rate the 17 bus from somewhere south of SF (e.g. San Jose or Mountain View)all the way to Santa Cruz is $5 and takes a much more direct route.

'''Option 1'''<br>Take the I-5 if you want to get there fast. You might want to take the BART train to '''Dublin/Pleasanton'''(about $6). The BART station is located next to a highway onramp, but you freeway entrance which has a lot of traffic and a fairly decent spot to stop (after the 'freeway entrance' sign). You might have better luck if you walk further East east to the following onrampentrance which has less traffic, but a big bus stop to pull into a couple hundred meters before the entrance itself. (You're actually hitching onto I-580 here but it merges into I-5 further out; avoid getting a ride to Tracy or Stockton if you want to go south, it won't do you much good.)

This route worked really well for an anonymous user [[User:Zenit|Zenit]] followed this advice in 2009: Take BART south November 2017 and found it extremely hard to Milbraeget out of Pleasanton. Change onto CaltrainHe spent the whole day hitching at various on-ramps in the area, take that to San Jose and all he got for maybe $7. Take bus 68 his pains was a short ride to Gilroy from Livermore, and more of the same there, 1 hour 20 minutes, $1.75He would certainly try option number two next time. Hitchhike east along the Pacheco Pass highway, which leads towards I-5; many cars here will be continuing south Do ''not'' take a ride to Los Angeles on I-5. If heading towards Las Vegas, get off I-5 at exit 257, Tracy or with people going to get onto highway 58. Take that EastModesto, avoid getting stuck stick it out in Bakersfield. 58 goes all the way through, past Mojave and Barstow, towards VegasLivermore until somebody going south stops for you.

If youThere are a few dumpster-diveable supermarkets around, e.g. the Safeway and the Sprout're considering taking s in Dublin (just west of I-680) and a bus: booking far in advance you can sometimes find Megabus tickets from San Francisco to Los Angeles for as little as $1.50, though itRancher's usually at least $10Market just west of the Santa Rita on-ramp.

== Things To Do =='''Option 2'''<br>The Bay Area is a diverse placeThis route worked really well for an anonymous user in 2009: Take Caltrain south to San Jose (about $9 from downtown SF, $7 from the BART transfer at Millbrae). Take VTA bus 68 to Gilroy from there, with a long and proud history of Left1.5 hours, $2. Hitchhike east along the Pacheco Pass highway (152 east), which leads towards I-5; many cars here will be continuing south to Los Angeles on I-leaning politics and Counter Culture5. It is also If heading towards Las Vegas, get off I-5 at exit 257, as a wholeto get onto highway 58. Take that East, one of avoid getting stuck in Bakersfield. 58 goes all the wealthiest way through, past Mojave and most expensive places in the United States. The area should have something to offer for everyoneBarstow, towards Vegas.

[httpIf you're considering taking a bus://thelonghaulbooking months in advance you can sometimes find Megabus tickets from San Francisco to Los Angeles for as little as $1.org/ The Long Haul Infoshop] in Berkeley50, though it's usually at least $10. With less advance purchase, is an anarchist library Megabus and community space which often has neat eventsGreyhound are typically in the $20-$40 range.

The Bay Area is home to a number of great parks for relaxing and hiking in. Golden Gate Park in [[trash:San Francisco is a lovely urban park. For hiking it is best to go further out to Mount Diablo State Park in the East Bay or south to Big Basin Redwoods state park (or walk across the Golden Gate Bridge ]] [http[nomad://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=37.832374,-122.480557&spn=0.0005,0.001198&t=h&z=20 turn right walk down the steps under the bridgeSan Francisco]] to the other side walking north a few more yards to Conzelman Road, walk up and West through the Marin Headlands, ).

Food Not Bombs serves free meals both in [http://sffnb.org/ San Francisco] and Monday-Friday in Berkeley (at People's Park between Dwight & Haste, above Telegraph Ave.) and is a good place to meet people.  Other Free places, see : [httpCategory://chowhound.chow.com/topics/428809 ChowhoundCalifornia] or [http://www.freeprintshop.org/ Free Charts]