Last flight in and no Uber? Call City Cab
ACV’s last Redwood Transit bus can be gone by 8:00–9:00 p.m., and that’s when City Cab becomes the backup plan. They serve California Redwood Coast–Humboldt County Airport directly and will pick up at the terminal curb in front of the single baggage claim door. Think of them as the “I actually need to get to Arcata or Eureka tonight” option when the apps show zero drivers.
From ACV to downtown Arcata, the City Cab ride usually runs about 20–25 minutes, depending on 101 traffic and coastal fog. To Eureka, you’re looking at roughly 30–35 minutes. Fares are metered, so ask the dispatcher for a rough estimate from ACV to your address on Alliance Road, Old Town Eureka, or out toward McKinleyville.
City Cab normally runs 24/7 in the Eureka–Arcata area, but late-night coverage after 11:00 p.m. can be thinner. Call as soon as your plane’s wheels hit the runway or even before pushback from SFO or LAX. Having your flight number and ACV arrival time ready when you call speeds things up and helps them plan for weather delays that are common on foggy Humboldt evenings.
If you’re coming in on the last United Express flight from SFO around 10:00–11:00 p.m., pre-book with City Cab earlier in the day. Give them your pickup point as “ACV airport terminal curb by baggage claim” so the driver knows to pull into the small loop just past the short-term parking row. With only one main entrance, you won’t miss each other, but headlights and dark coastal nights make clear instructions worth it.
Step-by-step from plane to City Cab is simple: 1) Deplane and walk the short corridor to the single baggage claim carousel. 2) Call City Cab while you’re waiting for bags and confirm your name, flight, and destination (Arcata, Eureka, McKinleyville, etc.). 3) Exit through the main doors by baggage claim and stand at the curb beside the “Taxi” sign. 4) Check the door sign or windshield for “City Cab” before getting in. 5) At drop-off, ask for a printed or texted receipt if you need to expense the ride.
Practical tip: if the driver’s running more than 15 minutes out from ACV, ask them on the phone for a specific ETA to Arcata or Eureka and compare it to the next morning’s bus schedule; for early flights, it can sometimes be cheaper to cab into town tonight and take Redwood Transit back to the airport for under $5 in the morning.