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Destination Guides: Santa Cruz, United States - City Information
Home North America United States California SF Bay Area Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Destination Guide: City Information
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Destination Guide   Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, United States

 

Population:                  54,593

 

 

Elevation:                    20 feet above sea level

 

 

Land area:                   12.5 square miles

 

 

Location:                     77 miles Southeast of San Francisco, on Monterey Bay

 

 

 

Weather

 

 

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Average temp. (°F)

50.3

52.4

53.9

56.6

59.4

62.6

64.3

64.9

64.3

60.5

54.2

49.9

High temperature (°F)

61.0

63.0

64.8

69.3

71.8

75.2

76.3

77.0

76.8

73.3

65.5

60.8

Low temperature (°F)

39.7

41.8

42.9

44.0

46.9

50.1

52.3

52.6

51.6

47.7

42.8

39.0

Precipitation (in)

6.9

6.5

5.1

2.0

0.7

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.4

1.5

4.3

4.5

 

Climate

 

 

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Days with precip.

9

8

8

5

2

1

0

0

1

2

6

8

Wind speed (mph)

6.2

6.5

7.6

8.0

8.5

8.8

8.0

7.5

6.7

5.8

5.4

5.7

Morning humidity (%)

90

89

86

82

78

73

71

74

76

79

86

89

Afternoon humidity (%)

68

59

51

41

35

31

29

30

33

38

56

67

Sunshine (%)

48

65

76

83

90

94

97

96

93

87

66

48

Days clear of clouds

7

8

11

13

17

22

26

25

23

19

11

8

Partly cloudy days

7

7

8

9

9

6

4

4

5

6

7

6

Cloudy days

18

13

12

8

5

2

1

1

2

5

11

17

Snowfall (in)

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

 

 

 

Local Seasons:

 

Perfect, beautiful, dry, delightful…there are not enough words to describe the perfect weather in this magnificent California city.  Lowest (night) temperatures are near 40 degrees F and the high temperatures are rarely above 80 degrees F. Make no mistake about it; Santa Cruz is a place for visitors who enjoy outdoor activities.    The Boardwalk is California’s oldest amusement park but don’t let that deter you.  It is “state of the art”  and blends  old-time nostalgia with modern thrills. Winter is just cool enough for warming up with the Chili Cook-Off, held each February.  Spring is the perfect time for those long walks on the beach with your special someone.  Summer is made for visitors.  With perfect weather for any activity, you may want to consider a whale watching trip or just take a day at the beach for some “people watching”.  Whatever the season, this remarkable California city will leave you tan and smiling.

 

Getting There:

 

By Car

 

Santa Cruz is 77 miles southeast of San Francisco. The most scenic route to Santa Cruz is along Calif. Route 1 from San Francisco, which, aside from the "you fall, you die" stretch called Devil's Slide, it allows you to cruise at a steady 50 mph. Faster but far less romantic is Calif. 17, which is accessed near San Jose from I-280, I-880, or U.S. 101, and literally ends at the foot of the boardwalk. The exception to this rule is on weekend mornings, when Calif. 17 tends to logjam with Bay Area beachgoers while Calif. 1 remains relatively uncrowded.

 

By Air

 

The nearest major airport is

San Jose International Airport

2077 Airport Blvd., San Jose, CA 95110

408-277-4SKY

Located 30 miles northeast of Santa Cruz.

 

San Francisco International Airport is approximately 60 miles north of Santa Cruz

Located near the junction of Highways 101 and 380. 27

650-821-8211

 

Most car rental companies operate at or near the airports

Taxis are also available

 

By Bus

 

Greyhound

Sean & Sharon Love
425 Front Street, Santa Cruz CA 95062

831-423-1800

Local Bus Service

 

ABC Transportation (airport service)
3131 Porter Dr., Soque

831-464-8893

 

Santa Cruz Airporter (airport service)
131 Front St., Santa Cruz

831-423-1214 or 800-497-4997

 

Early Bird Airport Shuttle (airport service)
4525 Portola Dr., Santa Cruz

831-462-3933

 

By Train

 

Amtrak Bus Connector Service

800-USA-RAIL

The nearest train depot is located in San Jose.
From San Jose's Diridon Station, this service connects with Amtrak's Capitol, Coast Starlight, and San Joaquin service; Caltrain from San Francisco and the Peninsula; VTA routes 63, 64, 68, 11, and 180; the South Bay Flyer to Greyhound as well as the San Jose and San Francisco Airports.

 

Getting around:

 

With so many things to see and do in and around Santa Cruz, the best way to get around is by car.  However, other means of transportation are available as well.

 

By Bus:

Santa Cruz METRO operates 42 routes throughout Santa Cruz County. Bus Information - (831) 425-8600

 

Greyhound Lines
800-231-2222

 

By Water Taxi:

 

Free Santa Cruz Harbor water taxi operates weekends & holidays 10–6, Memorial Day through Labor Day.

831-475-6161

 

National Holidays:

 

New Year's Day: Jan. 1

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day: 3rd Mon. in Jan.

President's Day:  3rd Mon. in Feb.

Memorial Day: last Mon. in May

Independence Day: July 4

Labor Day: 1st Mon. in Sept.

Thanksgiving Day:  4th Thurs. in Nov.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Dec. 24 and 25

New Year's Eve: Dec. 31

 

 

 

 

 

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