In order to ensure those who need a safe ride home New Year’s Eve have one, many Bay Area transit agencies are offering free rides, but not having any extended service.

Confirmed Free Rides for 12/31/25

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SF Muni

Confirmed for 12/31/25

Ride Muni for Free on New Year’s Eve from 8 p.m. Wednesday, December 31, 2025, to 5 a.m. Thursday, January 1, 2026.
New Year’s Eve Muni Service
During the complimentary service period from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.:

Please do not tag your Clipper® card. If you tag it, you will be charged.
Please do not activate a MuniMobile ticket. Metro fare gates will be open.

AC Transit

Not yet confirmed for 12/31/25. Here’s what happened in 2024:

2024 info: AC Transit continues to support your transit needs, including getting you where you need to go safely on New Year’s Eve. Ride FREE on all buses, including Transbay, from 8 PM on Dec. 31 to 5 AM on Jan. 1.
Buses will operate on Sunday schedules on January 1.

SamTrans

Not yet confirmed for 12/31/25. Here’s what happened in 2024:

2024 info: The San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) is proud to once again offer free bus rides on New Year’s Eve and during the early morning hours of New Year’s Day.

New Year’s Eve (Tuesday, Dec. 31) 

• Buses will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
• Free service begins at 8 p.m. and continues through 3 a.m. New Year’s Day (Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025)
• SamTrans buses will run on a Sunday schedule.
• Fare collection resumes at 3 a.m.

Caltrain

Not yet confirmed for 12/31/25. Here’s what happened in 2024:

2024 info: Caltrain is offering free service on New Year’s Eve so revelers can get home safely at the end of their evening. All rides will be free starting at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31, until the end of special late-night service, as it has in years past.

• New Year’s Eve – Tuesday, December 31, 2024 – Weekday Schedule
  • FREE Fares after 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Don’t drink and drive.
  • NYE Specials San Francisco to San Jose Diridon – 1 a.m. (or when full), 1:30 a.m. (or when full), 2 a.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve and Fireworks

Caltrain will be operating regular weekday schedule before the fireworks show begins. In addition to regularly scheduled service, additional southbound trains will depart from San Francisco at 1:00 a.m., 1:30 a.m. or when full, making all local stops to San Jose Diridon after the fireworks, with the last train leaving San Francisco at 2 a.m. SF MUNI will provide additional post-fireworks service connecting with Caltrain San Francisco Station at 4^th and King streets.

Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025 – New Year’s Day

Caltrain will operate a weekend schedule. Caltrain will resume collecting fares when the service day begins with the first scheduled northbound train out of San Jose’s Tamien Station at 6:51 a.m.

Caltrain reminds customers that open alcoholic beverages are prohibited on the trains beginning at 9 p.m. on special events days and nights. Disruptive passengers will be asked to leave Caltrain property.

More information about Caltrain’s holiday schedules is available online at www.caltrain.com/holidays.

VTA

Not yet confirmed for 12/31/25. Here’s what happened in 2024:

2024 info: Continuing our annual tradition, VTA will offer free rides on all buses and light rail services from 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, until 5 a.m. on Wednesday, January 1.

VTA will operate extended service on all three light rail lines and Bus Route Rapid 500 on New Year’s Eve to make your celebrations even easier. This ensures you can get where you need to go—and back home—comfortably and reliably.

VTA services operate on a regular weekday schedule on New Year’s Eve and Sunday/Holiday schedule for New Year’s Day. Plan your trip using VTA’s Trip Planner or the Transit app for the most up-to-date routes and schedules.

For more information, please visit the following link

https://sf.funcheap.com/1231-free-cheap-nye-public-transportation-bartmunisamtranscaltrainvta/