Berkeley"s Main Streets
Despite its global reputation as a place for hippies and intellectuals, Berkeley is actually fairly small. By learning a few key streets, you'll be able to confidently make your way through the city and reach just about any Berkeley destination as quickly as possible.
For the length of Berkeley, 80 and 580 join to become one freeway.
They separate from each other as you pass north into Albany.
80 continues toward Sacramento, while 580 crosses the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge to Marin County in the North Bay.
80 and 580 also separate to the south of Berkeley. 80 crosses the Bay Bridge into San Francisco, and 580 heads eastward into Oakland (where it becomes known as the MacArthur Freeway).
These freeways can be confusing because they run north-south for this stretch of their length. 80/580 East goes roughly north, and 80/580 West goes roughly south.
There are three Berkeley exits from 80/580. From north to south, these are:
As its name suggests, University Avenue leads to the University of California, Berkeley campus.
If that's your destination, just head east on University Avenue; the street dead-ends at the campus itself, so you can't miss it. University Avenue is Berkeley's main east-west street; it's lined with assorted shops and mostly ethnic restaurants. Most of University tends to be a bit grimy and run-down; don't expect the same quality here that you'll find on Solano Avenue or in the Gourmet Ghetto.
Ashby Avenue, or California State Route 13, tends to be mostly residential with a few stores here and there (especially near San Pablo Avenue to the west or College Avenue and Claremont Avenue to the east). It eventually becomes Tunnel Road and meets up with Highway 24, which heads east through the Caldecott Tunnel toward Walnut Creek.
Three of Berkeley's main east-west streets, namely Gilman, University, and Ashby, have been covered in depth in the Freeway Exits section above.
Other notable streets running east-west include, from north to south:
Bancroft is fairly unremarkable for much of its length, specifically from Aquatic Park at the west to downtown Berkeley to the east. In downtown Berkeley, you can find the main branch of the public library on Bancroft. Further east, Bancroft is the street that borders the south side of the UC Berkeley campus. For this part of its length, Bancroft is a one-way street headed west.
Dwight is a moderately busy thoroughfare that runs through central Berkeley. While most of its length is unremarkable for its own sake, Dwight can help you easily make your way to other places.
Berkeley has a handful of notable streets running north-south. These include, from west to east:
Martin Luther King Jr. Way, often called Martin Luther or MLK for short, passes through the western outskirts of the downtown Berkeley area. Berkeley High School is located at the corner of MLK and Allston Way. This street also passes Civic Center Park, the main park in downtown Berkeley. As it proceeds north, MLK turns into The Alameda and heads into the lower parts of the Berkeley hills.
Sacramento Street is much like the north-south version of Dwight. It has very few shops or restaurants, but it offers a quick way to get from one part of Berkeley to another. It's significant also for the fact that the North Berkeley BART station is located here, a few blocks north of University.
Shattuck Avenue is the main north-south street through downtown Berkeley. When people talk about downtown Berkeley, they are typically referring to the blocks of Shattuck between Hearst to the north and Dwight to the south. Here you'll find all sorts of shops and restaurants geared toward students and locals alike. As Shattuck passes north beyond Hearst, you'll find yourself in the Gourmet Ghetto. As it passes south a few blocks past Dwight, Adeline Street will split off and head toward MLK.
Looking for the remnants of hippie-era Berkeley? Look no further than Telegraph Avenue. Today, this famous (or notorious) street is mostly a destination for tourists and the homeless. You will be able to buy your fill of tie-dyed T-shirts or political bumper stickers. That isn't to say it's all bad; Moe's Books and Shakespeare & Co. Books should be enough to give any bibliophile hours of pleasure.
College Avenue, which begins at the UC Berkeley campus to the north, is a quaint and charming street for most of its length. Near Ashby, it becomes more commercial with a range of upscale and quirky shops and excellent restaurants. This area is part of the neighborhood known as Elmwood.
The Freeway(s):
For the length of Berkeley, 80 and 580 join to become one freeway.
They separate from each other as you pass north into Albany.
80 continues toward Sacramento, while 580 crosses the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge to Marin County in the North Bay.
80 and 580 also separate to the south of Berkeley. 80 crosses the Bay Bridge into San Francisco, and 580 heads eastward into Oakland (where it becomes known as the MacArthur Freeway).
These freeways can be confusing because they run north-south for this stretch of their length. 80/580 East goes roughly north, and 80/580 West goes roughly south.
The Freeway Exits:
There are three Berkeley exits from 80/580. From north to south, these are:
- Gilman Street
- University Avenue
- Ashby Avenue
As its name suggests, University Avenue leads to the University of California, Berkeley campus.
If that's your destination, just head east on University Avenue; the street dead-ends at the campus itself, so you can't miss it. University Avenue is Berkeley's main east-west street; it's lined with assorted shops and mostly ethnic restaurants. Most of University tends to be a bit grimy and run-down; don't expect the same quality here that you'll find on Solano Avenue or in the Gourmet Ghetto.
Ashby Avenue, or California State Route 13, tends to be mostly residential with a few stores here and there (especially near San Pablo Avenue to the west or College Avenue and Claremont Avenue to the east). It eventually becomes Tunnel Road and meets up with Highway 24, which heads east through the Caldecott Tunnel toward Walnut Creek.
Main East-West Streets:
Three of Berkeley's main east-west streets, namely Gilman, University, and Ashby, have been covered in depth in the Freeway Exits section above.
Other notable streets running east-west include, from north to south:
- Hearst Avenue
- Bancroft Way
- Dwight Way
Bancroft is fairly unremarkable for much of its length, specifically from Aquatic Park at the west to downtown Berkeley to the east. In downtown Berkeley, you can find the main branch of the public library on Bancroft. Further east, Bancroft is the street that borders the south side of the UC Berkeley campus. For this part of its length, Bancroft is a one-way street headed west.
Dwight is a moderately busy thoroughfare that runs through central Berkeley. While most of its length is unremarkable for its own sake, Dwight can help you easily make your way to other places.
Main North-South Streets:
Berkeley has a handful of notable streets running north-south. These include, from west to east:
- San Pablo Avenue
- Martin Luther King Jr. Way (and The Alameda)
- Sacramento Street
- Shattuck Avenue (and Adeline Street)
- Telegraph Avenue
- College Avenue
Martin Luther King Jr. Way, often called Martin Luther or MLK for short, passes through the western outskirts of the downtown Berkeley area. Berkeley High School is located at the corner of MLK and Allston Way. This street also passes Civic Center Park, the main park in downtown Berkeley. As it proceeds north, MLK turns into The Alameda and heads into the lower parts of the Berkeley hills.
Sacramento Street is much like the north-south version of Dwight. It has very few shops or restaurants, but it offers a quick way to get from one part of Berkeley to another. It's significant also for the fact that the North Berkeley BART station is located here, a few blocks north of University.
Shattuck Avenue is the main north-south street through downtown Berkeley. When people talk about downtown Berkeley, they are typically referring to the blocks of Shattuck between Hearst to the north and Dwight to the south. Here you'll find all sorts of shops and restaurants geared toward students and locals alike. As Shattuck passes north beyond Hearst, you'll find yourself in the Gourmet Ghetto. As it passes south a few blocks past Dwight, Adeline Street will split off and head toward MLK.
Looking for the remnants of hippie-era Berkeley? Look no further than Telegraph Avenue. Today, this famous (or notorious) street is mostly a destination for tourists and the homeless. You will be able to buy your fill of tie-dyed T-shirts or political bumper stickers. That isn't to say it's all bad; Moe's Books and Shakespeare & Co. Books should be enough to give any bibliophile hours of pleasure.
College Avenue, which begins at the UC Berkeley campus to the north, is a quaint and charming street for most of its length. Near Ashby, it becomes more commercial with a range of upscale and quirky shops and excellent restaurants. This area is part of the neighborhood known as Elmwood.
