San Francisco Airport Guide

SFO is unusually easy for an airside terminal change: all boarding areas connect after security, so a domestic arrival can follow the signs and walk to any onward gate. AirTrain is outside security and is mainly useful for BART, parking, rental cars, or a landside terminal move.

San Francisco International Airport is about 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco and is a major United hub. Its boarding areas form a loop: B and C in Harvey Milk Terminal 1, D in Terminal 2, E and F in Terminal 3, and A and G in the International Terminal. Airline assignments can move, so trust the terminal and gate in your current flight record.

One important exception to the easy airside layout is a non-precleared international arrival. After immigration, baggage claim, and customs, you exit the International Arrivals Hall and clear security before walking to the next gate.

Bay Area Airports

The San Francisco Bay Area has three major airports. If you're connecting between them, plan carefully—there's no direct transit link.

Oakland (OAK) — 18 km east across the bay

• Southwest Airlines hub (largest carrier)
• Spirit, Volaris, and some international flights
• Often significantly cheaper than SFO
• BART accessible (Oakland Coliseum station + shuttle)
• Best for: East Bay destinations, budget domestic travel

San Jose (SJC) — 49 km south

• Southwest and Alaska focus
• Growing international service
• Best for: Silicon Valley, South Bay destinations

Connecting between Bay Area airports:

Route	Method	Time	Cost
SFO ↔ OAK	BART (SFO → Coliseum + shuttle)	60-75 min	~$12
SFO ↔ SJC	Caltrain + VTA / Uber	90-120 min	$15-50
OAK ↔ SJC	BART + bus / Uber	90+ min	$15-60

Minimum connection time between airports: Allow 3-4 hours minimum for any inter-airport connection in the Bay Area. Rush hour (7-10am, 4-7pm) can add 30-60 minutes.

Pro tip: If your itinerary involves two Bay Area airports, consider staying near downtown Oakland—it's roughly equidistant to all three airports and has good BART access.

Direct answer: arriving domestically, stay after security and walk to the onward gate. Arriving internationally without U.S. preclearance, complete federal inspection and then clear security again.

Terminal Layout

SFO's terminals form a rough loop around a central parking structure:

• Domestic terminals (T1, T2, T3): Connected via continuous secure corridors
• International Terminal: Connected to Terminal 3 (Boarding Area G) and Terminal 1 via secure connectors
• Boarding Area G: Located in the International Terminal but primarily serves United international flights

Getting Between Terminals

Method	When to Use	Frequency
Walk (airside)	Any terminals	Always available
AirTrain (landside)	If you exit security	Every 4-5 minutes

The airside connectors are the preferred method for all connections. The walkways are climate-controlled with moving sidewalks in most areas.

AirTrain is a free automated people mover that circles the airport. While primarily used for landside transport (parking, BART, rental cars), it also connects terminals if you've exited security.

During the Terminal 3 modernization work, interim post-security walkways keep all boarding areas connected, but the signed route may differ from an older terminal map. Check the gate again after you land and follow the current construction signs.

How much connection time to allow at SFO

The applicable minimum comes from the airline and itinerary. Our preference is at least 75 minutes for a domestic connection and two and a half hours or more after a non-precleared international arrival. Add more for separate tickets, checked baggage that is not through-tagged, or mobility assistance.

International Arrivals (International Terminal)

If arriving internationally and connecting to a domestic flight:

1. Exit plane at International Terminal (Boarding Area A or G)
2. Clear immigration
3. Collect checked bags at carousel in arrivals hall
4. Clear customs
5. Re-check bags at the recheck counter (located immediately after customs)
6. Exit through the doors marked “Connecting Flights”
7. Clear a TSA security checkpoint, then use the post-security walkway to your gate

Passengers arriving from a U.S. preclearance airport disembark into the post-security area and can walk directly to the next gate. If your bag is not checked through, visit the airline counter before security.

Global Entry / Mobile Passport: Significantly speeds up the immigration process. Global Entry kiosks are available in the arrivals hall.

SFO is located approximately 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco and 30 miles north of San Jose. Travel times vary based on traffic and time of day:

• Downtown San Francisco: 25-45 minutes by car, 30 minutes by BART
• Silicon Valley (Palo Alto, Mountain View): 20-40 minutes by car
• San Jose: 35-50 minutes by car
• Oakland/East Bay: 40-60 minutes by car

BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) is the most reliable option for reaching San Francisco, as it avoids the notoriously unpredictable Bay Area traffic on US-101 and I-280.

Uber and Lyft pickups for domestic arrivals are on Level 5 of the Domestic Garage, not at each terminal curb. Follow the app-based ride signs to the garage core corresponding to Terminal 1, 2, or 3. At the International Terminal, pickups use the Departures/Ticketing Level center island at zones 14–17. Accessible and premium products can have different curb locations, so confirm the product-specific instructions in the app.

App-based fares vary with demand. Taxis are available on the Arrivals level at the center roadway islands; metered taxi fares do not use app-style surge pricing.

Best for San Francisco and the East Bay: take BART from the station on the G side of the International Terminal. It avoids Highway 101 traffic and accepts Clipper or Tap and Ride with a contactless bank card or mobile wallet.

Getting to BART

1. From Terminal 1 or 2, take the free AirTrain to Garage G/BART Station
2. From Terminal 3 during construction, use the combined Terminals 2 & 3 AirTrain station or follow the signed walkway
3. From the International Terminal, walk to the G-side station or use AirTrain
4. Tap a contactless bank card/mobile wallet or use Clipper at the fare gate

Use BART's official trip planner for the current fare, route, and final train. Service does not run around the clock, and weekend or engineering schedules can change.

Caltrain Connection

For destinations on the Peninsula (Palo Alto, Mountain View, San Jose):

1. Take a Millbrae-bound BART train from SFO
2. Transfer to Caltrain at the same station
3. Check the timed connection and board a southbound Caltrain service

SamTrans Buses

SamTrans operates bus routes connecting SFO to Peninsula cities. Bus stops are on the Arrivals level.

• Route 292 stops directly at the airport terminals and serves Peninsula destinations
• Other SamTrans routes may use the Rental Car Center; check the live planner for your destination

SFO offers multiple parking options at varying price points (as of 2025):

Short-Term Parking

Location	Rate	Notes
Domestic Hourly Lot	$3/hour, $36/day max	Walking distance to T1-T3
International Hourly Lot	$3/hour, $36/day max	Closest to International Terminal

Long-Term Parking

Location	Daily Rate	Notes
Long Term Parking	$24/day	Connected via AirTrain
Domestic Garage	$36/day	Covered, closest to terminals

Off-site alternatives: Private lots along South Airport Boulevard and Millbrae Avenue offer rates from $10-18/day with shuttle service. Pre-booking recommended.

Cell phone lot: Free parking while waiting for arriving passengers, located on North McDonnell Road.

SFO has invested heavily in its dining options, featuring many local Bay Area restaurants. Highlights by terminal:

Terminal 1:

• Napa Farms Market: California-sourced food and wine
• La Taqueria: Legendary San Francisco Mission-style burritos
• Wakaba: Japanese noodles and sushi

Terminal 2:

• Lark Creek Restaurant Group offerings: Farm-to-table California cuisine
• Napa Farms Market: Local wines and gourmet snacks
• Peet's Coffee: Bay Area coffee chain

Terminal 3 (United):

• Tartine Manufactory: Famous San Francisco bakery
• Gott's Roadside: California-style burgers
• Wakaba: Additional sushi option

International Terminal:

• Cat Cora's Kitchen: Mediterranean cuisine
• Lark Creek Grill: American comfort food
• Vino Volo: Wine bar with global selections

Best terminal for food variety: Terminal 2 and the International Terminal offer the most diverse options. The International Terminal's food hall is worth visiting even if departing from other terminals.

Free unlimited WiFi is available throughout all SFO terminals.

Network name: _Free SFO WiFi

To connect:

1. Select _Free SFO WiFi from your device
2. Open a browser if not automatically redirected
3. Accept terms and conditions (brief ad may play)

Speeds are generally adequate for browsing and email. For faster connections, airline lounges offer premium WiFi, or consider using a mobile hotspot.

SIM cards and mobile services are available at:

• InMotion Entertainment stores (multiple terminals)
• Best Buy Express kiosks
• Verizon and AT&T stores in terminals

Major US carriers (T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon) offer prepaid plans starting around $30-50. eSIM options are increasingly popular—consider purchasing before arrival through providers like Airalo or carrier apps.

ATMs are located throughout all terminals, typically near security checkpoints and food courts. Major banks represented include:

• Bank of America
• Chase
• Wells Fargo

Out-of-network fees are typically $3-5 per withdrawal.

Currency exchange: Travelex operates locations in the International Terminal and other terminals. As at most airports, exchange rates include significant markups. Using a bank ATM or services like Wise typically provides better rates.

Duty-free shopping is available for international departures at DFS in the International Terminal (Boarding Areas A and G). Offerings include:

• Luxury goods and designer brands
• Spirits and wine (California wines are a highlight)
• Cosmetics and fragrances
• Electronics

General retail throughout all terminals:

• Hudson News: Books, magazines, travel essentials
• InMotion Entertainment: Electronics and accessories
• See's Candies: California chocolates
• San Francisco-themed souvenirs: Multiple shops

The International Terminal offers the best shopping selection, particularly for luxury goods and California wine.

SFO offers numerous lounge options depending on airline status and credit card benefits.

Priority Pass Lounges

• Air France Lounge (International Terminal, Boarding Area A): Full-service lounge with hot food, wine, and espresso bar. Open to Priority Pass members outside peak Air France departure times.

Credit Card Lounges

• The Centurion Lounge (Terminal 3, near Gate F1): American Express Platinum cardholders only. Excellent food, full bar, spa services. One of the better Centurion Lounges in the network.
• United Club locations accept Capital One Venture X and certain other premium cards

Airline Lounges

Terminal 3 (United):

• United Club (multiple locations): United status or paid membership
• United Polaris Lounge: Business/First class on long-haul United international flights. Considered one of the best lounges at SFO.

International Terminal:

• Air France Lounge (Boarding Area A): SkyTeam Business Class and Elite Plus
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold Lounge (Boarding Area A): Star Alliance Gold and Singapore Business Class
• Cathay Pacific Lounge (Boarding Area A): Oneworld Business Class and Emerald status

Terminal 2:

• Admirals Club: American Airlines status or membership

Day Pass Options

Most airline lounges sell day passes for $50-75 when space permits. Check availability at the lounge entrance.

On-airport:

• Grand Hyatt at SFO: Connected directly to the International Terminal via walkway. Convenient for very early departures or late arrivals. Rooms typically $250-400/night.

Near airport (with shuttle service):

• Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport: Full-service hotel in Burlingame, free shuttle
• Marriott San Francisco Airport Waterfront: Bayfront location with views
• Aloft San Francisco Airport: Modern, budget-friendly option
• Hampton Inn San Francisco Airport: Reliable budget choice

For budget options, hotels along El Camino Real in Millbrae and San Bruno offer rates from $100-150/night with airport shuttles.

San Francisco and the Bay Area offer world-class attractions:

From SFO by BART/Transit:

• Union Square & Downtown: 30 minutes via BART
• Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39: 40 minutes via BART + Muni
• Golden Gate Park: 45 minutes via BART + Muni
• Mission District: 25 minutes via BART

By car/rideshare:

• Palo Alto & Stanford University: 20-30 minutes south
• Wine Country (Napa/Sonoma): 1-1.5 hours north
• Santa Cruz & Beach: 1 hour south
• Silicon Valley tech campuses: 20-40 minutes south

Getting around San Francisco: The Muni metro and bus system covers the city well. A Clipper card works on BART, Muni, Caltrain, and most Bay Area transit. Consider a day pass for unlimited Muni rides ($13).

Weather note: San Francisco's famous microclimates mean temperatures vary dramatically by neighborhood. Pack layers year-round. Summer fog ("June Gloom") keeps coastal areas cool even in July and August.

Don't miss: Riding a cable car, exploring the Mission District's murals and taquerias, walking across the Golden Gate Bridge (or at least viewing it from Crissy Field).