How to Travel to Oakland on Points and Miles

Oakland is a vibrant and dynamic city that is a great destination for travelers who want to explore the San Francisco Bay Area. It can make for an excellent side trip on a vacation primarily centered around the city of San Francisco. But Oakland also stands tall on its own, given vibrant nightlife both downtown and at Jack London Square, the delightful charm of a walk around Lake Merritt or the serenity of a cruise on the scenic bay.

Oakland is also a good city for budget-conscious travelers. In fact, some tourists primarily spending time in San Francisco end up lodging in Oakland to save money. After all, it's usually an easy BART ride from downtown Oakland into downtown San Francisco.

Speaking of saving money, this guide will help you get the most value for your money on a trip to Oakland, particularly if you're seeking to travel to Oakland with points and miles:

Most travelers flying to Oakland will fly to and from San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport (formerly just Oakland International Airport). It's just about 8 miles away from the city center.

But, don't overlook San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport. Though it's about 22 miles away from the city center, it can sometimes be better given its greater flight availability.

Fly to OAK

Of the two airports, Oakland International Airport (OAK) offers a more relaxed (albeit somewhat outdated) travel experience. Oakland airport is small, which has its pros and cons. It's much easier to navigate than the behemoth across the bay that is San Francisco International Airport. But, it also has way fewer flight options, fewer airport lounges and generally fewer airport amenities.

Taxis and buses are available at the airport. But to skip traffic and save money, you can hop on the Bay Area Rapid Transit airport connector train that goes into the city and connects to other Bay Area destinations, too.

If you’re planning a trip to Oakland with points and miles, the best bet is membership in a loyalty program for one of these airlines, which operate many of the flights to OAK:

• Alaska Airlines.

• Delta Air Lines.

• Hawaiian Airlines.

• Southwest Airlines.

• Spirit Airlines.

Southwest has by far the highest number of direct flights into Oakland, with planes arriving from major cities in the West, as well as from Chicago, Honolulu and New York. It's an especially great airport for cheap flights to Hawaii.

Earn Rapid Reward points by flying with Southwest, using a Southwest credit card or by transferring them from a Chase Ultimate Rewards® account.

» Learn more: Your guide to booking award flights on Southwest

Fly to SFO

Given the lesser flight availability at OAK, you might still fly into San Francisco International Airport — particularly if you can find a cheap flight between SFO and your city. After all, SFO is just 22 miles from downtown Oakland, and you can get there easily via BART (the train serving much of the Bay Area).

More flights means potential increased likelihood to nab a deal. SFO is California's second-busiest airport beyond Los Angeles International Airport, serving more than 30 international carriers and connects non-stop with 75 U.S. cities across 12 domestic airlines.

If you’re looking for a low-key stay right in Oakland, there are a number of places where you can redeem hotel points.

Marriott

Marriott Bonvoy members looking to redeem their points in Oakland have a few choices in the downtown area.

Oakland Marriott City Center

The Oakland Marriott City Center draws business travelers with its convenient downtown address next to the convention center and it attracts sports fans with its proximity to the Oakland Arena and the Oakland Coliseum.

Cost to book in points: A standard room that usually goes for around $145 a night costs from 27,500 to 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points

You can earn Bonvoy points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, which is currently offering the following welcome bonus offer for new cardmembers: Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Hilton

Hilton Honors members can redeem their points at properties on the waterfront or right downtown.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Oakland Waterfront

If you’re looking for a relaxing stay, the Homewood Suites by Hilton Oakland Waterfront offers San Francisco Bay views. Explore that waterfront at Jack London Square or soak up the sun at the outdoor pool.

Cost to book in points: Room prices vary according to season and demand. A recent search showed rooms in June starting at 41,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

How to earn Hilton points

You can earn Hilton Honors points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card which has the following welcome bonus: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/31/2024. Terms apply. This card also offers a free night certificate if you spend $15,000 on the card in a year. Terms apply.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card also offers new cardmembers a chance to earn bonus points: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply. The NerdWallet value for Hilton Honors points is 0.5 cent each.

» Learn more: Your guide to booking award nights with Hilton Honors

It's tough to say either way. Depending on the nature of your trip, you could actually be better off without one — but some trips might necessitate one.

The case against getting a rental car in Oakland

If you're staying near a BART station — and most of the spots you want to visit are also near BART — you'll be best off without one. The charming Lake Merritt, the vibrant downtown, and the nearby city of Berkeley are all easily accessible via BART. If you're headed into San Francisco, you're also generally best off taking BART — not just to save money but also to avoid sitting in the inevitable Bay Bridge traffic.

Even if public transit isn't your thing, much of Oakland is walkable, especially if you're staying downtown. Ride share services like Uber and Lyft are also generally easy to hail in Oakland. Of course, fares fluctuate depending on demand, so check pricing estimates beforehand (and budget time for Bay Area traffic if you're driving).

The case for getting a rental car in Oakland

But if you're using Oakland as a home base to explore other parts of the Bay Area including California wine regions like Napa or Sonoma, or perhaps you're ultimately planning to drive to another city like Sacramento or Tahoe, you might want a rental car.

There's also a bit of a middle ground option, which is having a rental car for just part of your trip. The Bay Area has a robust array of alternative rental cars. In fact, two of the largest, Getaround and Turo, were founded in San Francisco. Both are peer-to-peer car-sharing services, allowing you to pick up a car from its owner. Getaround even lets you rent cars for just an hour at a time, if you don't even want it overnight.

If you do have a car, account for parking (which can be challenging). Also, don't leave anything, like bags, backpacks or even phone cords, behind in your car.

Oakland is a fun and dynamic city you can spend days exploring or use as a gateway to travel around the greater Bay Area. Refer to this guide for cheap and simple ways to get to Oakland using points and miles to kickstart a West Coast adventure with a smaller price tag.