Mills college area in Oakland (San Francisco, Alameda: rental car, rental, home)

[Cadream]

Hello. I am visiting SanFrancisco for the first time next week. I will be traveling to/from Oakland (Mills College area) to downtown SanFrancisco during non rush hour times. I have heard that parts of Oakland are dangerous and am trying to find the best & safest way as a young woman traveling alone. Rental car, BART, car service? Any info is appreciated. Thank you.

[jade408]

Do you have street smarts and common sense? You'll need them to navigate most of the Bay Area. Which part of downtown SF are you going to? There are areas that are seedy and you should be a little cautious.

Around Mills College is a quiet residential area. Not many transit options or much foot traffic, so you won't be able to walk or take the bus from BART to get home.

In terms of safety? It is fine. It isn't convenient to drive or park in SF most of the time. Get a ride to and from BART. Not sure which is the closest to Mills.

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by Cadream

Hello. I am visiting SanFrancisco for the first time next week. I will be traveling to/from Oakland (Mills College area) to downtown SanFrancisco during non rush hour times. I have heard that parts of Oakland are dangerous and am trying to find the best & safest way as a young woman traveling alone. Rental car, BART, car service? Any info is appreciated. Thank you.

Take the NL transbay bus from 55th/MacArthur to the transbay terminal in San Francisco, that's the easiest way from Mills. I don't recommend taking the bus from the Seminary/Camden stop, it's much seedier than 55th/MacArthur at night.

[Gentoo]

I used to live across the street from Mills on MacArthur. It's rather hit and miss. It seems to get worse at night but as NF said, Seminary is worse and even when I lived over there, I avoided it. The NL is the best way to get to SF as well. Getting to BART from there is a pain. You have to go to High st. I forget that bus number now but it takes you to Fruitvale BART.

There are lots of young women who walk around in that area considering Mills is an all girls college so you won't feel too out of place.

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

I used to live across the street from Mills on MacArthur. It's rather hit and miss. It seems to get worse at night but as NF said, Seminary is worse and even when I lived over there, I avoided it. The NL is the best way to get to SF as well. Getting to BART from there is a pain. You have to go to High st. I forget that bus number now but it takes you to Fruitvale BART.

There are lots of young women who walk around in that area considering Mills is an all girls college so you won't feel too out of place.

You're talking about the 14 down High street. You can actually get to BART from Seminary though, you take the 45 down to the Coliseum BART.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by Nineties Flava

You're talking about the 14 down High street. You can actually get to BART from Seminary though, you take the 45 down to the Coliseum BART.

Yeah, that's a seedier way to go though. Yes it was the 14. I took it sometimes, mostly to transfer to get into Alameda.

[Cadream]

Thank you for your responses. I am confused because I did see some posts on this thread that portrayed the area as very dangerous, mod cut but I am wondering if I'd be better off with a car service from SF to Oakland? Would this be outrageously expensive and unnecessary? Would i have a hard time getting a car to take me to this area?

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by Cadream

Thank you for your responses. I am confused because I did see some posts on this thread that portrayed the area as very dangerous, mod cut but I am wondering if I'd be better off with a car service from SF to Oakland? Would this be outrageously expensive and unnecessary? Would i have a hard time getting a car to take me to this area?

Mills College is on the periphery of the Seminary neighborhood which is indeed very dangerous. However, as long as you don't make a habit of hanging around the Valero on Seminary/Camden at night and you don't go below Fleming Avenue you'll be fine. The area above Fleming between Seminary and 55th is a decent part of a fairly large middle class neighborhood (Maxwell Park) but even it can feel pretty deserted at night so if you can find someone to walk home with.

Car service would be a good option if you can afford it, otherwise the NL bus is the best option. It's around a 40 minute trip from 55th & MacArthur to San Francisco.

[citymama]

I would rent a car. I lived on Morse between 55th and Seminary right by Mills and I always felt nervous at red lights, day or night. I wouldn't want to try and wait for a bus out in the neighborhood. Does the city bus have a stop on Mills campus?

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by citymama

I would rent a car. I lived on Morse between 55th and Seminary right by Mills and I always felt nervous at red lights, day or night. I wouldn't want to try and wait for a bus out in the neighborhood. Does the city bus have a stop on Mills campus?

No.