Getting Around, Fresno Travel and Transport

(Fresno, California - CA, USA)



A high percentage of visitors to Fresno opt for a hire car or drive here from other parts of California, such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, both of which are a little over three hours away by car. This is typical of so many cities in the California Central Valley region, since rental cars are a very inexpensive and convenient transport option, being assisted by the presence of numerous freeways and interstates.

The Sequoia Kings Canyon Freeway (US-180) is a particularly busy freeway located on the northern boundary of downtown Fresno, where it travels eastwards to Squaw Valley and westwards, towards Mendota. Of interest, this is actually the biggest American city not to be intersected by an Interstate, although Highways US-41, US-99, US-168 and US-180 certainly make their presence known.

A relatively modest network of bus transport is present in Fresno, and since traffic congestion is rarely a problem, buses can prove to be a quick and cheap way to travel around the city. However, it is worth bearing in mind that both Herndon Avenue and Shaw Avenue can become a little on the congested side during peak commuter hours. For shorter journeys and late-night travel, you may well find that taxi cabs are more convenient and not that much more expensive.


Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) / Arriving by Air

Address: 5175 East Clinton Way, Fresno, California (CA), 93727, USA
Tel: +1 559 621 4500
The Fresno Yosemite International Airport is extremely close to the city center and in fact, is under 5 miles / 8 km away and to the east, being most easily reached by following East McKinley Avenue for the majority of the journey. This is a surprisingly busy airport and hub for both Alaska Airlines and United Express, serving more than 1.25 million passengers each year and being central to the transport infrastructure of the San Joaquin Valley.

Car Rental

The Pearl Harbor Survivors Memorial Highway (US-99) intersects the city in a northwest to southeast direction, connecting Madera and Kingsburg respectively, while the US-41 runs north to south. Directly to the south of Fresno, Interstate I-5 links many major destinations throughout California, from San Francisco (185 miles / 298 km northwest) to San Diego (335 miles / 539 km southeast).

Of note, car rental transport agencies operating at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport are Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National.

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Buses

Public transport in the city comes in the guise of the Fresno Area Express, with these buses traveling all around the Greater Fresno Metropolitan region. There are also additional long-distance buses that serve the city and these are operated by both the Orange Belt Stages (OBS) bus company and Greyhound, covering cities between Sacramento and Los Angeles.

Trains

Amtrak train transport regularly passes through and stops at Fresno, as part of the Californian San Joaquin Valley route. The scenic San Joaquin Valley route travels between Sacramento and Bakersfield, stopping at stations such as Hanford, Corcoran and Wasco to the south, and Lodi, Stockton, Oakland, Emeryville, Richmond, Martinez, Antioch, Modesto, Denair, Merced and Madera, to the northwest. Those planning a trip to the Yosemite National Park may like to catch a train to nearby Merced, and from there, board a dedicated Yosemite motorcoach, passing by Mariposa and also El Portal, along with a number of breathtaking waterfalls.

Taxis

Taxi transport is in good supply at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport, with the short journey from the airport to the city center taking in the region of ten minutes in good traffic conditions. You will find taxi cabs located alongside the airline terminal curb, as well as shuttle companies such as Coalinga Transit (tel: +1 559 935 1511) and the Fresno Area Express (tel: +1 559 498 1122).