San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. Located approximately 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco in San Mateo County, SFO handles over 50 million passengers annually and serves as a major hub for United Airlines.

The airport has four terminals arranged in a circular layout around a central parking garage:

• Terminal 1: Southwest Airlines (Boarding Areas B and C), JetBlue, and other domestic carriers
• Terminal 2: American Airlines domestic flights (Boarding Area D)
• Terminal 3: United Airlines domestic flights (Boarding Areas E and F)
• International Terminal: All international flights plus some United international departures (Boarding Areas A and G)

All terminals are connected post-security via connector walkways, making SFO one of the more connection-friendly major US airports. The free AirTrain circles the entire airport complex 24/7, connecting all terminals, parking garages, BART, and the rental car center.

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.

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 are available at SFO with designated pickup zones on the Departures (upper) level of each terminal.

To find rideshare pickup:

1. Go to the Departures level (one floor up from baggage claim)
2. Exit through the doors
3. Cross the traffic lanes to the center islands
4. Wait at the designated rideshare zones marked with blue signs

Typical rideshare fares:

• Downtown San Francisco: $30-50
• Silicon Valley (Palo Alto): $35-55
• Oakland: $45-65
• San Jose: $55-80

Fares vary significantly based on demand. During rush hour or after major flight arrivals, expect surge pricing.

Taxis are available on the Arrivals (lower) level outside baggage claim. Metered fares to downtown San Francisco typically run $45-65 depending on traffic. Unlike rideshare, taxi fares are regulated and don't surge.

BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) connects SFO directly to San Francisco, the East Bay, and other parts of the Bay Area.

Getting to BART

1. Take the free AirTrain (Red Line) from any terminal
2. Ride to the SFO BART station (the end of the line)
3. Enter the BART station and purchase a Clipper card or use contactless payment

The AirTrain to BART takes approximately 10 minutes from the International Terminal, less from Terminals 1-3.

Fares to Common Destinations (as of 2025)

Destination	Fare	Time
Powell Street (Downtown SF)	~$10	30 min
Embarcadero (Financial District)	~$10	35 min
16th Street Mission	~$10	25 min
Oakland (12th Street)	~$12	50 min
Berkeley	~$13	60 min

BART hours: Monday-Friday 5am-midnight, Saturday 6am-midnight, Sunday 8am-9pm. Plan accordingly for late-night arrivals.

Caltrain Connection

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

1. Take BART from SFO to Millbrae station (one stop, ~5 min)
2. Transfer to Caltrain at the same station
3. Caltrain runs south to San Jose (~1 hour to end of line)

Caltrain fares: Vary by zone; San Jose is approximately $10 from Millbrae.

SamTrans Buses

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

• Route 292: To Palo Alto via El Camino Real (~1.5 hours)
• Route 398: Express to Palo Alto Transit Center (~45 min, limited hours)

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).