San Jose, United States

Getting around San Jose

How to travel around San Jose — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Last updated 2026-08-09

1. VTA light rail

Local light rail and buses, useful along a few corridors.

Cost: USD 2.50

2. Caltrain

Commuter rail north to San Francisco, about an hour on the express.

3. Rented car

The valley is spread out and built entirely for driving.

4. Uber and Lyft

Widely used, and the practical option without a car.

5. BART extension

Rail reaching the eastern edge of the city, with more under construction.

Booking apps in United States

Agreeing the fare in an app before you travel removes the argument at the end of the journey, which is where most transport scams happen. Links go to each app's official page — lookalike apps are themselves a scam.

Uber

Nationwide ride-hailing with the fare shown before booking.

Coverage: Nationwide, including airport pickup zones.
Why it helps: Avoids the unofficial drivers who tout inside airport terminals at several times the licensed rate.

Lyft

The main US alternative to Uber, often cheaper on the same route.

Coverage: Nationwide.
Why it helps: Fare is agreed in the app before the trip, and the route is recorded — which removes the refused meter, the tampered meter and the fixed 'foreigner price' in one move.

Transit

Real-time transit planning across most US city networks.

Coverage: Most metropolitan areas.

Amtrak

Official booking for the national intercity rail network.

Coverage: Nationwide corridors.