Millbrae, California travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Millbrae is a city on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. It is south of San Bruno and north of Burlingame. It is very close to San Francisco International Airport and is an important Bay Area transit hub because it has the southernmost BART station on the Peninsula and is served by Caltrain.

2 sights · 5 things to do · 6 places to eat · 5 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Millbrae

Bayfront Park

A park by the bay with good views of the planes taking off and landing at SFO. A nice place to relax for a few minutes, especially if you're biking through or staying at one of the hotels nearby.

Spur Trail

A paved walking trail with fields, trees, and some areas for sports. It's split into two sections.

Spur Trail (Southern Section)

Millbrae Train Museum

Millbrae Art & Wine Festival

Big, popular street festival with food, crafts, music, and entertainment. Held annually since 1970.

Spur Trail (Northern Section)

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Apr–Nov. Summer highs reach about 72°F; winter lows dip to about 45°F. Wettest: Dec and Feb. (climate data from nearby Pacifica)

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
SFO San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco — 2 mi away (major hub). Directions
SQL San Carlos Airport, San Carlos — 10 mi away. Directions

The large Millbrae Transit Center is near the intersection of El Camino Real and Millbrae Avenue. It is served by BART, Caltrain, and SamTrans.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

Typical meal: about $20 per person at listed restaurants.

See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.

Sample 2-day itinerary

Day 1

Morning Bayfront Park, Millbrae Train Museum, Spur Trail (Southern Section)
Lunch Peter's Cafe
Afternoon Millbrae Art & Wine Festival, Spur Trail
Dinner Ipoh Garden

Day 2

Morning Spur Trail (Northern Section)
Lunch Hubei Restaurant
Afternoon Crystal Springs Regional Trail
Dinner Millbrae Pancake House

Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.

Food for you

Cuisine (tap to filter)

What to ask about, for your diet

Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder

Photos

Map

Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.

Get in

The large Millbrae Transit Center is near the intersection of El Camino Real and Millbrae Avenue. It is served by BART, Caltrain, and SamTrans.

This is the terminating BART station for trains going south from San Francisco on the Red Line (or Yellow Line after 9:00 pm), so it is a common transfer point for people connecting between BART and Caltrain. BART trains to or from Millbrae go by way of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) just north of the Millbrae Station.

You can catch a Caltrain at Millbrae for points further south on the peninsula (a few travel down to Gilroy). Caltrains going north from Millbrae all terminate in San Francisco at 4th and King Streets. If your destination in San Francisco or your point of departure from San Francisco is anywhere near the 4th & King Caltrain station (near the South Beach area of SOMA), you will probably want to take the Caltrain rather than BART, especially if you are going to Oracle Park or Chase Arena. The Caltrain trip between San Francisco and Millbrae is 18 minutes (express), 20 minutes (limited), or 22 minutes (local). BART takes 38 minutes to San Francisco's Montgomery Station, and Caltrain is a far more pleasant ride. However, Caltrain takes more planning; it runs less frequently with more limited hours than BART and leaves you at 4th and King, somewhere outside the downtown area.

Get around

The San Mateo Transit District, samTrans, provides bus service around Millbrae and beyond.

See

See Bayfront Park

A park by the bay with good views of the planes taking off and landing at SFO. A nice place to relax for a few minutes, especially if you're biking through or staying at one of the hotels nearby.

📍 1-99 Old Bayshore Hwy⚠ Last checked Nov 2017 — confirm before you go

Maps

See Millbrae Train Museum

📍 California Drive and Murchison Drivenear the transit center🕒 Saturdays 10AM–2PM☎ +1 650 333-1136

Maps Website

Do

If you're looking for a way to pass the time while waiting for a Caltrain connection, the Spur Trail is probably your best bet. Most other activities are either a little too far from the transit center or have very limited hours.

Do Millbrae Art & Wine Festival

Big, popular street festival with food, crafts, music, and entertainment. Held annually since 1970.

📍 Broadway Avenue between Victoria and Meadow Glen🕒 Labor Day weekend⚠ Last checked Nov 2017 — confirm before you go

Maps Website

Do Spur Trail

A paved walking trail with fields, trees, and some areas for sports. It's split into two sections.

⚠ Last checked Nov 2017 — confirm before you go

Maps

Do Spur Trail (Northern Section)

The northern segment of the trail has a north-south orientation. The trail begins on Richmond Drive on the northwest corner of Taylor Middle School. It goes uphill slightly as it heads southeast into a grove of oak and eucalyptus trees. From then on, the linear trail goes into an open field and runs just to the west of the middle school. Heading into another patch of eucalyptus trees, the trail crosses two streets as it skirts the southwest corner of the middle school. South of the middle school, the twisty trail ascends and descends through some grassly woodlands until it ends on Hillcrest Drive.

⚠ Last checked Nov 2017 — confirm before you go

Maps

Do Spur Trail (Southern Section)

Located about half a mile (800 m) south of the northern segment, the southern part of the Spur trail has an east-west orientation. It begins on South Ashton Drive close to where Millbrae Creek dives underground. The trail heads east through a grove filled with different types of trees, ranging from oak and Monterey Pine to the west to mostly eucalyptus to the east. The trail roughly parallels Millbrae Creek for a tiny distance where the creek re-emerges from the ground but then disappears underground under the path. As the trail twists and turns through the Spur property parkland, it parallels Millbrae Avenue and skirts the northern friges of Mills High School's running track/football and baseball fields. The trail turns by a skatepark and several tennis courts before terminating on the corner of Millbrae and Magnolia Drive about two blocks away from the transit center.

📍 along Milbrae Avea few blocks west of the transit center⚠ Last checked Nov 2017 — confirm before you go

Maps

Do Crystal Springs Regional Trail (Sawyer Camp Trail, San Andreas Trail)

A trail to the west of Millbrae for walking and biking. The northern part is called the San Andreas segment, the middle part is called the Sawyer Camp segment, and further south is the Crystal Springs segment. Map.

⚠ Last checked Nov 2017 — confirm before you go

Maps Website