Free BART shuttle from Downtown Berkeley BART, then a 5 to 10 minute walk. Hotel Shattuck Plaza and the Residence Inn (with the Study Hall rooftop lounge) sit by the BART station, with bars and food all around.
Claremont Resort, Berkeley HillsVisiting fans pick this
Car or rideshare. Historic resort at 41 Tunnel Road with the Limewood bar; quieter and pricier.
Rajesh Chhetri, Google Maps
Berkeley Marina
Car or rideshare. DoubleTree by Hilton at 200 Marina Blvd, on the water. RVs can't park in UC lots, but the Marina may have RV parking.
San Francisco
BART to Downtown Berkeley, then the free shuttle. Most hotel supply in the region and a direct BART line from SFO.
Around the stadium
From a specialist guide
Telegraph Avenue on the south side of campus has pubs and a sports bar, and Downtown Berkeley around the BART station has the hotels, beer bars and restaurants. Free game-day shuttles run from Downtown Berkeley BART to the stadium.
Map of the area
Tap a pin to see the place.
Getting to California Memorial Stadium
From San Francisco International
From a specialist guide
OAK Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport is closest. BART connects straight from the terminal and runs to Downtown Berkeley.
On game day
Checked at the source
BART Shuttle to Stadium area, then a 5 to 10 minute walk. Northside Shuttle to Stadium area, then a 5 to 10 minute walk. Southside Shuttle to Stadium area, then a 5 to 10 minute walk. BART from the airport. Downtown Berkeley station, 2160 Shattuck Ave.
Parking and tailgating at California Memorial Stadium
Tailgating
Checked at the source
The official pregame tailgate for every home game, on Memorial Glade next to Doe Library. Opens 3 hours before kickoff and is free for all fans, with food trucks, a full beer garden, bands, Oski, lawn games and big screens showing other games. Outside alcohol is not allowed in Oski's Village; buy drinks at the official beer garden. Tailgates are allowed in the BBQ Exclusion Zone around the stadium only with no grills, heat-producing appliances or open flames. Grills and other cooking appliances need a UC Berkeley Fire Prevention permit. Lower Hearst Structure (Level 2), Genetics Garage, Lower Sproul Garage and Bancroft Parking Structure are first come, first served for a $55 flat rate, card only. There is no RV parking in any UC lot.
Game day at California Memorial Stadium
Getting in
Checked at the source
Bag policy: One clear bag up to 12 x 12 x 6 inches, a one-gallon clear resealable bag, or a small clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches. No backpacks, clear or not.
Cashless: The stadium is cashless. Ticket office, concessions and merchandise stands take Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
Re-entry: No re-entry, with no exceptions.
Touring the stadium
From a specialist guide
Ride the elevator 200 feet up the Campanile for views of campus, the hills, San Francisco and the Golden Gate. $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and visitors 17 and under.
After the final whistle
Checked at the source
Free shuttles back to Downtown Berkeley BART run from the start of the fourth quarter to an hour after the game. Rideshare pickup after the game is at Dana Street and Bancroft Way. Driving out is slow: Piedmont Avenue, Gayley Road and Bancroft Way close 2 hours before kickoff.
One thing to avoid
From a specialist guide
Don't plan on street parking: spaces near the stadium need a City of Berkeley residential permit, and Stadium Rimway closes 4 hours before kickoff. Take BART.
Food and drink at California Memorial Stadium
Bars near the stadium
Checked at the source
Fanny Newton, Google Maps
Raleigh's Pub
2438 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704
Telegraph Avenue pub that bills itself as a home to watch sports, with a patio that takes groups of 50 to 100.
Away fans: sports pub with a big patio; mostly Cal fans, used to visitors.
Cali's Sports Bar & Kitchen, Google Maps
Cali's Sports Bar & Kitchen
2367 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704
Sports bar and kitchen on Telegraph Avenue near campus.
Away fans: sports bar close to the rideshare pickup at Bancroft and Dana.
Damon Tighe, Google Maps
Jupiter
2181 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704
Beer bar in an 1890s livery stable with a patio, fire pits and wood-fired pizza.
Away fans: mixed crowd; easy stop on the way to or from the BART shuttle.
Dave Miller, Google Maps
Berkeley Freehouse
2700 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
Bar near the UC Berkeley campus on Bancroft Way.
Away fans: gastropub near the south edge of campus, close to the stadium walk.
Things to do around California Memorial Stadium
Listed in the order they happen on game day. Each one earns points.
Tour65 points
Up the Campanile
Sather Tower's elevator takes you up 200 feet to a deck looking over campus, San Francisco and the Golden Gate. Its 61-bell carillon is the sound you hear across campus.
$. The day before
Eat65 points
Cheese Board pizza
The worker-owned Cheese Board has made one vegetarian pizza a day since it helped start Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto.
$. The day before
Photo50 points
Tightwad Hill view
Fans have watched games for free from this hillside above the stadium's east side since 1923, with the bay and its bridges behind the field.
Free. 4 hours before kickoff
Tailgate75 points
Oski's Village on Memorial Glade
Cal's official tailgate on Memorial Glade is free for all fans, with food trucks, a beer garden, live bands, Oski and big screens showing other games.
Free. 3 hours before kickoff
Ritual75 points
March to Victory
About 2 hours before kickoff, the team marches up the Haas Grand Staircase and into the stadium through Gate 1.
Free. 2 hours before kickoff
Seats and views at California Memorial Stadium
Where each part of the stadium sits, and what you see from it.
Main bowlLettered sections A to Z and AA to WWTap any part of the stadium to see its view.
