Alameda Island Transportation: Ferry, Car + More

Ferry

As an island community, Alameda relies upon the San Francisco Bay Ferry. The closest ferry terminal is on Main Street, just .6 miles from Admiral’s Cove (about a 12-minute walk), and there are several other locations on the island where you can hop on a ferry. Here's a full list of all Ferry Terminals:

• Main Street Alameda Ferry Terminal - Weekdays & Weekends Located at 2990 Main Street, on the northern shore of Alameda Island. It’s served by the Oakland & Alameda route (weekdays and weekends) plus South San Francisco commute-hour service,
• Alameda Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal - Weekdays Only Situated on the southern side of Alameda Point, this weekday‑only terminal connects to the San Francisco Ferry Building via the Alameda Seaplane route.
• Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal - Located at Bay Farm Island, 215 Adelphian Way, this commute-hour weekday terminal operates on the Harbor Bay–San Francisco route.

Destinations & Route Times from Main St Terminal:

• San Francisco Ferry Building (via Oakland & Alameda route) Transit time from Main Street Alameda to San Francisco is approximately 15–30 minutes, depending on the direction and schedule. The Oakland & Alameda route connects Main Street Alameda, Oakland Jack London Square, and San Francisco Ferry Building.
• Oakland Jack London Square Served by the same Oakland & Alameda route, this is the nearest Alameda departure on the westbound trip toward Oakland. Typically 15–25 minutes between Main Street Alameda and Oakland Jack London Square.
• South San Francisco Ferry Terminal (via peak‑hour commute service) The South San Francisco commute-hour route includes stops at Main Street Alameda and San Francisco, with service in the morning and evening commute hours only. Total ransit time along this route is approximately 40 minutes.

Check out our Alameda Ferry FAQs for a complete list of destinations, tips, advice and more.

Alameda Water Shuttle

The Alameda Water Shuttle is a free, year-round service that provides a quick and convenient connection between Alameda Landing and Jack London Square in Oakland. The scenic trip takes just 5–7 minutes, making it an ideal option for commuters, cyclists, and visitors looking to avoid the long detour through the Posey Tube or over the bridges. The shuttle is fully ADA accessible and bike-friendly, with space for up to 31 passengers and 14 bicycles, and it operates Tuesday through Sunday, running as many as 63 trips per day with extended evening hours on weekends.

AC Transit

Unlike BART, AC Transit has a big presence in Alameda with bus routes all around the island. It’s a great way to just get around the island, though not particularly efficient for exploring the rest of the Bay Area. It offers multiple local and school service routes (such as Lines 19, 21, 96, and several 600-series), including express service across the Bay Bridge to San Francisco during weekday commute hours. It also connects to key destinations within Alameda—including South Shore Center and Bay Farm Island—and provides feeder service to BART stations in nearby Oakland.

BART

While there is not a BART station directly on Alameda (largely due to our island status), there are several BART stations nearby on the main land and multiple shuttles and routes to get to them.

• Fruitvale BART station Most Alameda residents use the Fruitvale BART, as it’s just across the Fruitvale Ave. bridge. By bike, it’s easiest to use this station and there is free secure bike storage.
• Oakland Jack London station Technically, the closest BART station to Admiral’s Cove is actually the Oakland Jack London stop just across the Posey Tube. By bike, it’s easier to get to the Fruitvale station (unless you wish to take the ferry across), but by car the Oakland Jack London station is a short ride away. Depending on what lines you wish to get on, it could be more efficient to go to the slightly further 12th Street station.
• 12th Street BART station The Alameda Landing Express is a free weekday shuttle from Alameda Landing (a 12-minute walk from Admiral’s Cove) to the 12th Street BART station in Oakland (an 8-minute ride). The shuttle runs until 7PM, so you can be sure to get home after your work commute.

Car

Commuting by car in Alameda offers quick access to Oakland and beyond, though times vary depending on traffic—especially during commute hours. The island is connected to surrounding areas via bridges (Park Street, High Street) and tunnels (Posey/Webster Tubes), then on to I‑880 or I‑80 for regional drives. While Alameda itself is compact and easy to navigate by car, travel times to major job centers can vary widely with traffic conditions.

• Alameda to Oakland (Downtown / City Center) — ~13 minutes (~3 mi via Park/High Street Bridges) Berkeley Parents Network
• Alameda to San Francisco (Downtown via Bay Bridge) — ~25 minutes (≈15 mi via I‑80; longer in heavy traffic; typical times range 30–35 minutes.
• Alameda to Fremont / Silicon Valley (via I‑880 southbound) — ~45–60 minutes in moderate traffic; often 90 minutes or more during peak times.
• Alameda to Walnut Creek / Pleasanton (via Oakland + BART or car) — ~45 minutes driving or combined BART drive time
• Alameda to Sacramento (via I‑80 east) — ~2 hours driving under normal conditions.

Biking

Alameda Island is quite small — only 23 square miles, and about 6.5 miles on the long side and 1 mile across. This means biking is a common and practical way to get around. It takes less than 30 minutes to bike across the entire long side of the island.

Alameda recognizes that, and in order to support healthy physical activity, the environment, and safety, they have implemented widespread biking infrastructure and programs. They have even acted as innovators in bike transit, as they were the first East Bay city with a public dock-less bike share system.

The city offers free classes on biking and bike safety and runs a Bike Festival every year with education, bicycle maintenance, and more.

The most commonly used BART station by Alameda residents — the Fruitvale BART — has free secure bike storage and a bike shop to support riders who use multi-modal transport to get to the BART and take the train throughout the Bay Area. There are also low-cost (5-cents-an-hour) lockers throughout the city for public cyclist use. Not to mention plenty of free public racks.

In partnership with the city, Bike/Walk Alameda releases regular editions of a Bike Walk map indicating bike paths and the best walking routes.

Discover Alameda

Living at Admiral’s Cove means coming home to a spacious townhome with modern comforts, private entrances, and your own dedicated parking spot—no circling the block required. Set in Alameda’s scenic West End, you’re just steps from the waterfront, parks, and ferry, with all the charm of island living plus quick access to the city. Contact us today about available apartment rentals, move-in specials, and more.