Green markers indicate sites that offer free testing. Most sites have eligibility requirements.

Last updated: Feb. 16, 2022

Santa Cruz County has more than two dozen COVID-19 testing sites. Eligibility rules, cost and turnaround time vary. Here’s the breakdown by city and area.

Watsonville
Freedom
Santa Cruz
Live Oak
Aptos
Scotts Valley
Capitola
Felton

Santa Cruz County students, staff, families and community members affiliated with schools or child care can get tested at:

School sites by registration.
Cabrillo College parking lot K, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Pajaro Valley Unified School District parking lot, 294 Green Valley Road, Watsonville. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Jan. 15.
Santa Cruz County Office of Education, 399 Encinal St., Santa Cruz. 2-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday Jan. 17.
Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The tests are free or billed through health insurance. More information.

Free tests are offered at the following locations. Some locations have eligibility requirements.

Watsonville: County building at 500 Westridge Drive — no requirements
Watsonville: Pajaro Valley Unified School District
Watsonville: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
Santa Cruz: Depot Park — no requirements
Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Felton: Mountain Community Resources — no requirements
Live Oak: East Cliff Family Health Center
Aptos: Cabrillo College
Capitola: CVS

Santa Cruz County health officials have said that anyone with symptoms or possible exposure should get tested.

According to the California Department of Public Health, COVID symptoms include:

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Watsonville

County of Santa Cruz building
500 Westridge Drive, Watsonville
7 a.m. and to 6:45 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Closed 11 a.m. to noon and 4-5 p.m.
Make an appointment
888-634-1123

Free tests by appointment for anyone, with or without symptoms
The site is sponsored by the state and administered by OptumServe, a private health care company.
OptumServe asks for patients’ insurance information, but insurance is not necessary to get a test.
Results can take four to six days, according to the website.

Doctors on Duty
1505 Main St., Watsonville
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
831-722-1444

By appointment only. Visit doctorsonduty.com to schedule

Planned Parenthood
398 S. Green Valley Road, Watsonville
831-724-7525

For Planned Parenthood primary care patients and by appointment and referral only.
Planned Parenthood patients can schedule a video visit with a doctor to get a referral. Call or schedule online.
Cost depends on insurance benefits.

Salud Para La Gente
204 East Beach St., Watsonville
8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday
831-728-0222

By appointment only. Call or text to schedule.
Patients must qualify to get a test. Patients cannot get a test if they have tested positive within the past three months. People without symptoms or possible exposure are not eligible. More information.

Kaiser Permanente
1931 Main St., Watsonville
1:30-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
831-768-6600

For Kaiser Permanente Northern California patients only, with or without COVID symptoms
Kaiser patients can schedule a test online at kp.org without talking to a doctor, or get a referral from their doctor. Kaiser patients can also call the Appointment and Advice Call Center at 866-454-8855.
Kaiser patients can generally schedule an appointment for a test within two to four days.

County Health Center-Watsonville
1430 Freedom Blvd, Suite D, Watsonville
8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday
831-763-8400

For existing county clinic patients and by appointment only

Sutter Health Urgent Care – Watsonville
550 S. Green Valley Road, Watsonville
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, including weekends
831-458-5865

For Sutter patients and by appointment only. A doctor visit is required in advance to determine if a test is needed. Sutter patients can schedule a video visit with a doctor to get a referral.
Offers a PCR test.
Cost depends on insurance benefits. More information.

Pajaro Valley Unified School District parking lot – Watsonville
294 Green Valley Road, Watsonville
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Drive-through testing for students, parents, staff and community members affiliated with schools or child care in Santa Cruz County.
Patients do not need to be symptomatic to qualify for a test.
Most test results are returned within 24 hours.
Appointments not needed. Register online.
More information.

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds – Watsonville
2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 12.

Drive-through testing for students, parents, staff and community members affiliated with schools or child care in Santa Cruz County.
Patients do not need to be symptomatic to qualify for a test.
Most test results are returned within 24 hours.
Appointments not needed. Register online.
More information.

Freedom

Walgreens
1810 Freedom Blvd.
831-768-0183

PCR tests by appointment

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Depot Park Freight Building parking lot
119 Center St., Santa Cruz
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday
888-634-1123
Schedule an appointment

Free testing for anyone by appointment only. Everyone qualifies for a test, whether symptomatic or not.
The site is sponsored by the state and administered by OptumServe, a private health care company.
OptumServe asks for patients’ insurance information, but insurance is not necessary to get a test.
Results can take four to six days, according to the website.

CruzMedMo
626 Frederick St., Santa Cruz
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday
Drive-through testing
Text 831-718-0582 to schedule same-day appointment

Results available by the end of the day.
Travel documentation offered, except for travel to Hawaii. Cost ranges from $80 for antigen tests to $225 for a PCR “4-plex” test.
Patients must pay out of pocket but the clinic offers paperwork for insurance reimbursement.
CruzMedMo also offers mobile COVID testing and vaccines for businesses. Email [email protected].

Doctors on Duty
615 Ocean St., Santa Cruz
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
831-425-7991

By appointment only. Call to schedule or visit doctorsonduty.com.

County Health Center — Santa Cruz
1080 Emeline Ave., Santa Cruz
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
831-454-4100

For existing county clinic patients and by appointment only

UCSC Cowell Student Health Center
1156 High St., Santa Cruz
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday
831-459-2500

Sutter Health Urgent Care – Santa Cruz
2025 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Wednesday and Friday, closed 12-12:30 p.m.
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Wednesday
831-458-5537

For Sutter patients and by appointment only. A doctor visit is required in advance to determine if a test is needed. Sutter patients can schedule a video visit with a doctor to get a referral.
Offers a PCR test.
Cost depends on insurance benefits. More information.

Walgreens
1718 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz
831-425-3911

PCR tests by appointment

Santa Cruz County Office of Education – Santa Cruz
399 Encinal St., Santa Cruz
2-5 p.m. Monday to Friday

Drive-through testing for students, parents, staff and community members affiliated with schools or child care in Santa Cruz County.
Patients do not need to be symptomatic to qualify for a test.
Most test results are returned within 24 hours.
Appointments not needed. Register online.
More information.

Live Oak

East Cliff Family Health Center
21507 E. Cliff Drive, Live Oak
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday
831-427-3500

Only for established patients exhibiting symptoms. Call to schedule.
Tests are free for established patients.

Aptos

Doctors on Duty
6800 Soquel Drive, Aptos
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday
831-662-3611

Appointment only. Call or visit doctorsonduty.com to schedule.

Cabrillo College parking lot K
6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays

Drive-through testing for students, parents, staff and community members affiliated with schools or child care in Santa Cruz County.
Patients do not need to be symptomatic to qualify for a test.
Most test results are returned within 24 hours.
Appointments not needed. Register online.
More information.

Scotts Valley

Kaiser Permanente
5615 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley
1-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
831-430-2700

For Kaiser Permanente Northern California patients only, with or without COVID symptoms.
Kaiser patients can schedule a test online at kp.org without talking to a doctor, or get a referral from their doctor. Kaiser patients can also call the Appointment and Advice Call Center at 866-454-8855.

Walgreens
210 Mount Hermon Road, Scotts Valley
831-430-9113

PCR tests by appointment

Capitola

CVS Pharmacy — drive-through testing
1750 41st Ave., Capitola
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
831-476-0400

By appointment only.
Offers free testing for those who qualify. An online assessment asks for symptoms, possible exposure, workplace setting and COVID testing history. Register for a free test.
Also offers a $139 PCR test for anyone, for any reason including travel. Turnaround time is three to four days. Travelers to Hawaii are not recommended to take this test because delivery time is not guaranteed, according to the website. Register for a paid test.
Tests are done in the parking lot. A car is required to receive a test.

Felton

Mountain Community Resources parking lot
6134 Highway 9, Felton
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday to Tuesday
888-634-1123
Schedule an appointment

Free testing for anyone by appointment only. Everyone qualifies for a test, whether symptomatic or not.
The site is sponsored by the state and administered by OptumServe, a private health care company.
OptumServe asks for patients’ insurance information, but insurance is not necessary to get a test.
Results can take four to six days, according to the website.

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Kara Meyberg Guzman

[email protected] | Website | + posts

Kara Meyberg Guzman is the CEO and co-founder of Santa Cruz Local. Prior to Santa Cruz Local, she served as the Santa Cruz Sentinel’s managing editor. She has a biology degree from Stanford University and lives in Santa Cruz.