University of California - Davis
Travel guide for Indian students — Davis, United States. Nearest international gateway: SFO (San Francisco).
The University of California, Davis is a top public research university near Sacramento in Northern California, world-renowned for agriculture, veterinary medicine, engineering and the biological sciences. It has a large international graduate community, including many Indian students.
Two airports matter for Davis. Sacramento International (SMF) is the closest at about 20 miles (25-30 min). San Francisco International (SFO), about 80-90 miles away (2-3 hours), is the larger international gateway where most flights from India land.
UC Davis has a strong Indian graduate community in engineering, agricultural and biological sciences. Davis is a famously bike-friendly college town with the student-run Unitrans bus system, but the airport choice is the key arrival decision.
Two airports - which to use
Sacramento (SMF) is much closer (~20 miles / 25-30 min) and is the easiest if your itinerary can route through it: YoloBus runs a direct public bus from SMF to UC Davis, and the Davis Airporter is a popular private shuttle. San Francisco (SFO) is 80-90 miles away (2-3 hours) but is where most international flights from India arrive.
Getting to Davis from SFO
From SFO the options are a private shared van/car (most common, ~2-3 hours, book ahead), rideshare (most expensive), or the budget rail route: BART from SFO to Richmond, then transfer to a Capitol Corridor Amtrak train to Davis. The rail route is cheap but complex - avoid it for late-night arrivals.
Getting around Davis
Once in town, the student-run Unitrans bus system covers Davis, and the flat, compact town is ideal for cycling - many students buy or rent a bike for daily travel.
Visiting your child at UC Davis? Sacramento (SMF) is closest at ~20 miles, but most international flights arrive at San Francisco (SFO), 80-90 miles / 2-3 hours away. Plan the US visitor visa well ahead.
Getting from SFO to campus
Visitor visa for parents
Indian parents need a B1/B2 visitor visa. First-time interview waits are long and vary sharply by consulate, so city choice matters - you may book at ANY US consulate in India, not just your home city.
- Plan 8-12 months ahead, especially for graduation - graduations do NOT qualify for emergency/expedited appointments.
- You can book at any consulate in India; many families fly to Chennai to save months versus Mumbai or Delhi.
- The dropbox (interview waiver) window shrank from 48 to 12 months in 2025 - most parents with older expired visas now need a full interview.
- Visitor stays are up to 6 months per visit, set by the officer at entry on the I-94.
Just admitted to UC Davis? Most Indian students enter on an F-1 academic visa (DS-160 fee $185 + SEVIS I-901 fee $350). J-1 is for exchange programs (SEVIS $220), M-1 for vocational study. Spouses/children come on F-2/J-2/M-2 dependent visas. You can enter the US up to 30 days before your program start date. For Fall 2026, Indian F-1 applicants must interview at one of five US consulates in India. Most India flights land at SFO, but Sacramento (SMF) is far closer to Davis if you can connect there.
Arrival checklist
- Decide your airport: SFO (most India flights, ~2-3 hrs away) vs a connection into Sacramento SMF (~20 min from Davis).
- From SMF, book YoloBus or the Davis Airporter; from SFO, pre-book a shared van.
- Consider buying a bike once you arrive - Davis is one of the most bike-friendly towns in the US.
- Confirm student baggage allowance with your airline.
- Carry your I-20, SEVIS receipt and financial documents in hand luggage for US immigration.
Davis, home to UC Davis, is a mid-priced California college town near Sacramento - about $1,600-2,300 a month all-in sharing and cooking, cheaper than the Bay Area but pricier than Midwest towns. Davis is famous as one of the most bike-friendly towns in America - the student-run Unitrans buses are free for UC Davis students, and most people cycle everywhere.
Monthly cost of living in Davis (a student estimate)
That's roughly $19,000-27,000 a year for living costs, on top of tuition.
Finding accommodation
Davis is a college town built around UC Davis, so most students share apartments or houses near campus, or take university housing for the first year.
- UC Davis students ride Unitrans + Yolobus free with a valid ID.
- near campus / downtown Davis keeps you within walking or biking distance of campus - off-campus leases there go fast.
- Being a college town, most daily needs are close to campus; factor in occasional travel to the nearest city/airport.
Working part-time
On an F-1 visa you can work on-campus up to 20 hours/week during term (full-time in breaks). Off-campus work needs authorization - CPT during study, OPT after (up to 12 months, +24 for STEM degrees). You cannot freelance or work off-campus without approval.
Safety & student support
Davis is a relatively small, student-centred town and generally safe by US standards; still use normal awareness at night.
- UC Davis runs security escorts, safety apps and (often) night shuttles - save the campus safety number.
- The campus and near campus / downtown Davis areas are walkable and student-dense.
- Stick to well-lit, well-travelled routes at night; small-town crime is low but not zero.
Indian community & food
Davis has an active Indian student community centred on UC Davis. UC Davis's international community supports a desi presence; Sacramento adds more nearby.
Indian grocery stores
- Local Indian grocers in Davis cover spices, lentils and everyday staples near campus.
- Sacramento (~20 min) has the area's larger Indian supermarkets for a bigger shop.
- Asian markets in town stock many South Asian basics.
Student community
- UC Davis has an active Indian/South Asian student association running major Diwali/Holi events.
- Sacramento (~20 min) hosts larger Indian cultural events and temples.
- Indian restaurants in Davis catering to the student community, with more in the nearest city.
Cost & living figures for Davis last verified Jun 2026. Figures are estimates and change over time.
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