Fifth Annual BACFill (formerly Bay Area Crossword Puzzle Tournament)
September 8, 2012

Parking

We highly recommend using public transit, as the tournament site is directly above the 12th Street/Oakland City Center BART station. But if you must drive, use caution, as parking meters ($2.00/hour) are in force on Saturdays, and you have to move your car at least one block after the meter time (meter feeding, though commonplace, is illegal, and parking enforcement will chalk your tires). There are convenient garages all over downtown Oakland. The best deal is at 1414 Clay, which is free on Saturdays, but if that's full, the the City Center garage (enter on 14th between Broadway and Clay) or the Convention Center garage (adjacent to the Marriott, 11th & Clay) are two of the closest. Get to the tournament site early, and you can shop around for the best rates.

Public Transit

BART

The tournament site is one block south of the very center of the BART system, so there's no more convenient way to get here. On Saturdays, BART trains run every 20 minutes from 6am to midnight. BART is 100% electric and is clean, safe, convenient, reliable, affordable, stress-free, and sometimes even fun. The simple system is basically X-shaped, and useful maps are posted in each station and train car. If you get confused, ask someone.

One-way BART fare is no more than $4.55, and from downtown San Francisco it's just $3.10. If you're coming from the San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the one-way fare is a whopping $8.50, but it's still the cheapest and fastest way to get here. There are ticket machines in each station that accept cash and cards. Put in double the one-way fare and you won't have to stop and buy a ticket on the way back.

Get off at Oakland City Center/12th Street (watch for the red brick decor). Go up the escalator, exit the station at 11th Street, and there you are.

Buses

From San Francisco's temporary Transbay Terminal, board an AC Transit NL bus (adult fare $4.20 exact cash) to 20th and Broadway. Turn right and walk down Broadway for nine blocks. The tournament site (1000 Broadway) is on the left.

AC Transit local East Bay buses that stop within a few blocks of the tournament site include the 1, 1R, 11, 12, 14, 18, 20, 26, 31, 40, 51A, 58L, 72, 72L, 72M, 72R, and 88. The fare is $2.10 ($2.35 if you require a transfer).

Amtrak

From Sacramento, ride a southbound Capitol Corridor train to Richmond station. Transfer to BART (San Francisco or Fremont line).

From San Jose and points south, ride a northbound Capitol Corridor train to Coliseum station. Transfer to BART (Richmond line).

Driving Directions

If you're coming from Southern California, we highly recommend that you take US-101 north to I-880 north and leave your car in the spacious, free parking area at the Fremont BART station, then BART up to Oakland. Alternatively, take I-5 north to I-205 west to I-580 west, leave your car in the even more spacious, equally free parking area at the Dublin/Pleasanton station, and BART to Oakland. But if you insist on driving:

From Berkeley and the northern East Bay

Take I-80 west/I-580 east to I-980 east (toward downtown Oakland). Exit at 14th Street. Turn left on 14th Street, right on Broadway, and the tournament site (1000 Broadway) is three blocks down on the left.

From central Contra Costa County

Take route 24 through the Caldecott Tunnel and stay on then I-980 east toward downtown Oakland. Exit at 14th Street. Turn left on 14th Street, right on Broadway, and the tournament site (1000 Broadway) is three blocks down on the left.

From Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore, the Central San Joaquin Valley, and Southern California

Take I-580 west to I-980 east (toward downtown Oakland). Exit at 14th Street. Turn left on 14th Street, right on Broadway, and the tournament site (1000 Broadway) is three blocks down on the left.

From San Francisco, San Francisco Airport, and the northern Peninsula

Take the Bay Bridge east, then follow I-580 east to I-980 east (toward downtown Oakland). Exit at 14th Street. Turn left on 14th Street, right on Broadway, and the tournament site (1000 Broadway) is three blocks down on the left.

From San Jose

Take I-880 north to Broadway (downtown Oakland). Turn right on Broadway. The tournament site (1000 Broadway) is five blocks up on the right.

From Palo Alto and the southern Peninsula

Take the Dumbarton or the San Mateo bridge to I-880 north. Exit at Broadway (downtown Oakland). Turn right on Broadway. The tournament site (1000 Broadway) is five blocks up on the right.

From Oakland Airport

Take 98th Avenue to I-880 north. Exit at Broadway (downtown Oakland). Turn right on Broadway. The tournament site (1000 Broadway) is five blocks up on the right.