Travel to the Graphic Communication Institute
Getting to Cal Poly is easy from any destination, using the San Luis Obispo Airport (SBP). Many visitors prefer to fly in to the nearby cities of San Jose, San Francisco or Los Angeles and then rent a car for the scenic drive of a lifetime. See below for recommended driving routes.
Google map of San Luis Obispo (Opens new window)
From the San Luis Obispo airport (approx. 5 miles):
- Start on Aerovista Place/Airport Drive
- Turn left on Broad St./CA-227
- Turn right on Marsh St.
- Turn left on Santa Rosa St.
- Turn right on Monterey St.
- Turn left on Grand Ave.
- Stop at the Visitor Information Center* (on the right just after the Slack St. stop sign)
From San Jose (approx. 185 miles):
- Take US-101 South
- Exit Monterey St., turn right at the end of the ramp
- Turn left on Loomis St.
- Turn right on Grand Ave.
- Stop at the Visitor Information Center* (on the right just after the Slack St. stop sign)
From northern California via Scenic Highway 1 through Big Sur:
- Take Hwy 1 South
- Turn left on Highland Dr. (the first stoplight as you approach San Luis Obispo) into the north-west entrance Cal Poly entrance
- Turn right on Via Carta
- Turn left on N Perimeter Rd.
- Turn left on Grand Ave.
- Turn left (just after the stoplight but before Slack St. stop sign) and proceed to the Visitor Information Center*
From Los Angeles (approx. 200 miles):
- Take US-101 North/Pasadena Fwy towards Hollywood Fwy/Harbor Fwy (Consider leaving time for shopping, dining and sight-seeing in Santa Barbara — it's on the way!)
- Exit Grand Ave. towards Cal Poly
- Turn left on Grand Ave.
- Stop at the Visitor Information Center* (on the right just after the Slack St. stop sign)
Amtrak offers both rail and bus service to San Luis Obispo. Please visit http://www.amtrak.com for more information.
* Please stop at the Visitor Information Center upon arrival to the Cal Poly campus in order to pick up parking information, visitor pass and campus map (you MUST notify the GrCI Program Manager of your intent to park on campus in order to have a FREE parking pass waiting for you; otherwise, the daily parking rate is $5.00). The kiosk is located at the main campus entrance on Grand Avenue and Slack Street. Please note that Cal Poly parking regulations are strictly enforced.
Taxi Cab & Rental Car Options
Taxi cab options servicing the airport and the SLO area include:
- Beach Cities Cab Company: 805-772-6900
- Grover Beach Taxi: 805-489-9985
Rental car companies on-site at the San Luis Obispo airport include:
- Avis: 1-800-527-0700
- Budget: 1-888-897-8448
- Hertz: 1-800-654-3131
- Thrifty: 1-800-367-2277
