Concord (California)

Concord is a residential and business city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the state of California.

Understand

Location

Concord is 29 miles (47 km) east of San Francisco, meaning that the commute through the Caldecott Tunnel and across the Bay Bridge can be done in approximately 30 minutes when traffic is light, but may feel like an eternity when traffic is heavy. The area of the city is 31.13 square miles (80.63 square kilometers), and with over 120,000 residents Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County.

History

Concord is perhaps best-known for the De La Salle High School football team, which between 1992 and 2004 established a national record-winning streak of 151 games, shattering the previous record of 72 games. During this time the team was named ESPN national champion in 1994 and USA Today national champion in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.

Another of Concord's claims to fame is the famous people who grew up in the city. Concord is the birthplace of actor Tom Hanks. Also, Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck is from Concord and one of Concord's several parks is named in his honor.

Climate

Concord, like most of the East Bay, has hot summers and cool winters. Rain is a rare sight during most months of the year and any rain occurs in monsoon-like periods of fairly heavy rain that last for a few days and then give way to dry weather again. These wet periods often occur in late December or during January and February, but never occur during the summer.

Concord (California)
Climate chart (explanation)
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation+Snow totals in inches
   Data from NOAA (1981-2010)
Metric conversion
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation+Snow totals in mm

Get in

By subway

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stops at the Concord and North Concord stations:

Both are served by the 'Yellow Line' Train between Millbrae Transit Center and Pittsburg/Antioch via SFO Airport, Downtown San Francisco, West Oakland and Downtown Oakland.

By car

Concord is accessible by car from Interstate Highway 680, and State Highways 242 and 4. When driving from Oakland take Highway 24 East to 680 North. County Connection buses also service the city.

By bus

The following connect North Concord/Martinez BART and the Concord BART Stations to Martinez, Concord,Pleasant Hill and other surrounding communities in central and eastern Contra Costa County in the East Bay:

  • County Connection. County Connection provides fixed-route and paratransit bus service within and between Concord, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Walnut Creek, Clayton, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Danville, San Ramon, as well as unincorporated communities in Central Contra Costa County 
  • Tri-Delta Transit 201x, (first/last stop) Concord BART Station. Tri-Delta Transit serves the cities of Antioch, Pittsburg, Brentwood, Oakley and Bay Point in East Contra Costa County, with limited commuter service to Concord BART (201x) and Martinez Amtrak (200x), they operate 15 local bus routes Monday-Friday (including route 300X) and five on weekends & holidays. 

Nearest intercity bus station for Greyhound, Flixbus and Megabus is at the West Oakland BART Station.

By plane

The closest international airport is Oakland International (OAK IATA), while BART runs directly from all Concord stations to San Francisco International Airport (SFO IATA).

Get around

Unless you enjoy walking or biking long distances you'll want a car to get around in Concord. This city is asphalt America at its finest, and while motorists are generally respectful of bikers and pedestrians, the auto is the king of the road. County Connection buses also service the city, along with several taxi services.

See

Tours of Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial leave from Martinez.

  • 🌍 Don Francisco Galindo House. One of the few remaining Victorian homes left in the area, a 19th-century home built in 1856, open to the public for daytime use. 

Do
  • 🌍 Concord Pavilion, 2000 Kirker Pass Rd. A 12,500-seat amphitheatre that hosts dozens of major concerts each year. The amphitheatre is configured with approximately 8,000 reserved seats and, for the more frugal and potentially rain-tolerant music lover, 4,500 lawn seats. Upcoming concerts can be found on the pavilion's online calendar. 
  • 🌍 Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, 1950 Waterworld Parkway (exit I-680 at Willow Pass Road and head two blocks east). A waterpark featuring slides, pools, and other manner of devices meant to use the Bay Area's limited water supply. (updated Jun 2020)
  • 🌍 Brenden Theatres Concord 14, 1985 Willow Pass Rd (corner of Concord Ave & Salvio St.). Fourteen screens of movie magic with stadium seating, greasy popcorn, and thundering sound systems. Brenden Theatres was the anchor tenant of downtown Concord's rebirth in the late 1990s. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 🌍 Diablo Creek Golf Course, 4050 Port Chicago Hwy. An 18-hole golf course with a large practice putting green, pro shop, lighted driving range. It also has a sports bar and restaurant. 
  • 🌍 Pixieland Amusement Park, 2740 E Olivera Rd, ☏ +1 925 676-9612. A small amusement park for children from toddlers to age 8, including a train, carousel, and other rides. Pack a picnic (no alcoholic beverages, outside pizza, or barbecue grills). Admission is free; $2.25–$4.50 per ride. (updated Aug 2017)
  • 🌍 Solano Drive-In, 1611 Solano Way, ☏ +1 925-825-1951. This drive-in is part of the West Wind chain and features digital projection and sound transmitted directly to the car stereo. The latest movies are shown, most as double features, with a 15-minute intermission between films to grab food at the snack bar, or you can bring your own food and tailgate (no alcohol is allowed). Tickets are not sold online, so arrive early for popular films to ensure a ticket and a good parking spot are available, and be sure to bring a blanket or jacket on cold nights. $7.95 general admission ($5.25 on Tuesdays), $1.25 per child. (updated Jan 2017)

Learn

There is a campus of 🌍 Cal State East Bay in Concord.

Buy

Strip malls, grocery stores, fast food restaurants, electronics megastores, and all other manner of American consumerism are readily available; following any major street will inevitably lead to some sort of shopping area.

  • 🌍 Sunvalley Mall (located off of I-680 along Willow Pass road). Concord's lone mega-mall caters to all manner of teenage fashion fantasies, the appliance fetishes of middle-aged women, and shopping phobias of middle-aged men. The main area is two stories with escalators, stairs, and a large glass elevator. The mall includes a JC Penney and a Macy's. In front of the elevator is a lounge area which is also used for live entertainment and the annual Christmas Santa event. 
  • 🌍 Willows Shopping Center, 1975 Diamond Blvd (near the Willows Pass Rd exit from I-680), ☏ +1 925-825-4001. While not quite the labyrinth of Sunvalley, this mall features an REI Outdoor, Any Mountain Sports. 
  • 🌍 Half Price Books, 1935 Mount Diablo St, ☏ +1 925-288-9060. A Concord branch of the famous Berkeley bookstore, right on Todos Santos plaza. 

Eat
  • 🌍 Benihana, 1989 Diamond Blvd, ☏ +1 925-827-4220. Concord is one of the few Bay Area locations for the well-known chain of Japanese restaurants where the chefs cook and entertain at your table. The prices are somewhat on the pricey side — plan $6-14 for lunch and $15-40 for dinner — but it's good food and better fun. The "Hibachi Steak" dinner is griddle-fried beef served with shrimp appetizer, choice of rice and grilled vegetables. (updated Apr 2016)
  • 🌍 Digger's Diner, 1895 Farm Bureau Rd, ☏ +1 925-825-8958. This is a family-run diner that got its unique name from the father of the family's unusual job digging graves. Although this is not his current occupation, there is a huge mural inside the establishment depicting a comical graveyard next to a bustling diner. Their friendly staff makes for a great atmosphere, and they are quick to serve and very good about special orders. The prices are usual for any diner; you could definitely get by eating lunch for under $10. 
  • 🌍 Guadalajara Grill # B6, 5446 Ygnacio Valley Rd, ☏ +1 925-672-4430. The super chicken burrito runs about $7.95 for lunch and $8.95 for dinner, and when combined with the never-ending chips and salsa is guaranteed to leave you full. Super fast service and free Tootsie Roll Pops seal this establishment's top-notch reputation. Serving lunch and dinner from 11AM to 10PM. 
  • 🌍 Taqueria Los Gallos, 1747 Willow Pass Rd, ☏ +1 925-288-1503. Daily 8AM-11PM. Try the carne guisada, a rare find in Mexican restaurants; this ranchero style beef is mildly spicy and majorly flavorful. A full salsa bar is a welcome plus. Less than $10 per person. 
  • 🌍 Old Spaghetti Factory, 1955 Mount Diablo St (downtown Concord), ☏ +1 925 687-5030. Yes, it's a chain, but the food is decent and the prices aren't unreasonable. Besides, what other restaurants in Concord offer specials that include ice cream? 
  • 🌍 Swagat Indian Cuisine, 1901 Salvio St (across the street from Brenden Theatres), ☏ +1 925 685-2777. Excellent Indian restaurant. Great lunch buffet, and dinner buffet on Friday and Saturday evenings. Food is served fresh and hot. 
  • 🌍 The Mediterranean, 1847 Willow Pass Rd, ☏ +1 925 825-0608. Tasty shawarma, kebab, falafel, dolmus, pita, hummus and fuul. 
  • 🌍 Naan 'n Curry, 2068 Salvio St. An alternate choice for Indian food in the center of the town. Don't miss the exquisite lamb and prawn biriyani. $10-20 per person for lunch. 
  • 🌍 Himalayan Cuisine, 2118 Willow Pass Rd Ste 400, ☏ +19254903344. 11:30 AM - 8 PM. Excellent and wide-ranging Himalayan (Indian and Nepalese) lunch buffet with complementary teas and kheer (rice pudding). Fridays they have delicious momo, Himalayan dumplings, and probably the only place in Concord to have them. $10-$12. (updated Feb 2021)
  • 🌍 Kansai, 1669 Willow Pass Rd, ☏ +1 925-446-4402. Dedicated to Japanese sushi. Try the sushi rolls like 49er, Katie 2, Kansai, or Sweet Surrendor. (updated Jan 2024)

Drink

Those looking for nightlife are better served by visiting neighboring Walnut Creek, although there are a few drinking establishments that are worth a visit.

  • 🌍 Legends & Heroes Sports Bar, 4050 Port Chicago Hwy, ☏ +1 925-687-4111. For those wanting to get their football, basketball or baseball fix while downing a few brews, Legends offers the TV and taps necessary to help you out. 

Sleep

Go next
  • Walnut Creek - The downtown Walnut Creek area offers shopping, bars, and restaurants.
  • Clayton - One of Concord's next door neighbors, Clayton is a bit more rural than other communities and still offers somewhat of a small-town atmosphere.
  • Pleasant Hill - This neighboring town is primarily a typical family suburb, but it does offer options for food and shopping.
  • Mount Diablo State Park - This 20,000 acres (8,100 hectares) park is southeast of Concord and provides great hiking opportunities on a mountain that dominates the landscape for most of central and eastern Contra Costa County. It offers an incredible viewshed, with views on clear days stretching 181 miles (291 km) to Mount Lassen.
  • Berkeley - Eclectic, political and always interesting, Berkeley is a 20- to 25-minute drive away. Alternatively, using BART, either a) transfer at the MacArthur station and exit at Downtown Berkeley, or b) exit at Rockridge and walk ~2 miles (~3 km) to downtown.
  • San Francisco - Although "the City" feels a world away, it's a 45-minute BART ride to the Embarcadero or a 35-minute to 1.5-hour drive, depending on traffic.
Routes through Concord
Benicia ← Martinez ←  N  S  → Pleasant Hill → San Jose
Hercules ← Martinez ←  W  E  → Pittsburg → Stockton
Oakland ← Pleasant Hill ←  SW  NE  → Pittsburg → Antioch
END ←  N  S  → Walnut Creek → Pleasanton


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