San Francisco International Airport

Understand

San Francisco International Airport, commonly called by its IATA identifier, SFO, sits between San Francisco and San Jose, roughly 15 mi south of downtown San Francisco, and 35 miles northwest of San Jose, at the western side of San Francisco Bay. The airport was built on landfill along the bay's edge in 1927 at a time when the environmental importance of wetlands was not understood. About 30 years later, the airport began to adopt what is now a centralized terminal design.

The airport's terminal layout is easy to understand and easy to access from the outside through a single highway interchange on U.S. Highway 101. However, redevelopment and expansion options are severely constrained by wetlands to the west and the bay to the east, and environmental laws preventing the airport from further filling in either of them. Many interior spaces which were spacious and modern by 20th century standards are relatively short and crowded by 21st century standards. To make matters worse, San Francisco Bay's frequent fog often delays flights, especially during the morning hours.

Within California, SFO's passenger traffic is second only to Los Angeles, and it is also among the top 10 busiest airports in the U.S. and the top 25 in the world, with more than 50 million passengers annually. Due to the Bay Area's importance as a global business, technology, and tourism hub, SFO is served by a vast array of domestic and international direct flights.

Flights to major U.S. Western cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas, Denver, and Honolulu are among the most popular given SFO's central location. Daily flights also link SFO to most U.S. airline hubs. Internationally, it is well connected to the neighboring countries of Canada and Mexico, Central America, Europe, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and Asia, with a heavy focus on East Asian routes. Two of the top ten longest flights in the world originate from San Francisco: Singapore and Bengaluru.

With the exception of Boarding Area F in Terminal 3, all airport terminals either opened or were renovated after 2000.

As of 2026, large parts of Boarding Area F and adjacent areas in Terminal 3 are undergoing renovation. The main access corridor for Boarding Area F was entirely closed off while its moving walkways are replaced. It was bypassed with temporary corridors on each side which do not have moving walkways, meaning that many passengers on certain United Airlines domestic flights will have long walk times to or from their gates. Some but not all of United's domestic operations have been relocated to Terminal 2.

• San Francisco International Airport website

Get around

Pre-security all terminals are reachable on foot. The Rental Car Center and Long-Term Parking are not, and require use of the AirTrain.

The AirTrain system can get you around the airport. It is free and runs 24 hours.

• The Red Line circulates the terminals plus the International Garages, Grand Hyatt Hotel, and BART train station at parking Garage G. This loop route travels clockwise.
• The Blue Line stops at all Red Line stations, plus West Field Road, Rental Car Center, and Long-Term Parking. This pinched loop service traverses the terminals counterclockwise.

In the early morning hours, SFO closes various AirTrain track segments for maintenance. Closures and how to bypass them (usually by transferring between trains) are always clearly explained with temporary signage and repeated visual and oral announcements.

After security, all gates are connected airside. There is no direct connection between the A and G gates, but one can walk the long way around through all domestic terminals to stay airside.

Luggage carts are free for international arrivals but require payment elsewhere, though there are sometimes a few of them left behind at the AirTrain stations that are up for grabs.

Eat and drink

The only sit-down restaurants pre-security are at the International Terminal because of its large floor space.

Terminal 1

Terminal 2

Many of the food options in Terminal 2 include food stands with common seating.

Terminal 3

International Terminal

Pre-security

A Gates

G Gates

Flights

The airport adopts the centralized terminal concept, with 4 terminals (3 domestic, 1 international) with 7 concourses in a circle surrounding parking and transportation facilities. Some domestic flights depart from the international terminal, and conversely, some international flights to Canada depart from the domestic terminals.

San Francisco is a major hub for both domestic and international flights to the United States. United Airlines operates a domestic hub out of Terminal 3, and an international hub out of the International Terminal, while Alaska Airlines operates a hub from Terminal 1. Though it has a wide range of flights, it's well known for its weather delays.

See also: view full list of airlines at San Francisco International Airport. There are additional smaller airports in the area that may be closer to where you are staying in the Greater S.F. Bay area. All airports in the area are served by Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian and Southwest from southern California, Hawaii and from all over the U.S. and by Volaris from Mexico and El Salvador: * Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK) Southwest connects San Francisco Bay Area to more destinations in the U.S. from OAK and SJC than from SFO. Other airlines going into Oakland are Allegiant, Azores SATA (from Terceira Island); Volaris, Viva Aerobus, JSX and Advanced Air (from Crescent City). It is closest and most accessible in the East Bay area. It is connected to SFO by BART. * San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) Air Canada, American Airlines, Breeze Airways, British Airways, Delta, JetBlue, United, ZipAir (from Tokyo-Narita) serve only SJC and SFO. SJC is closer to Silicon Valley, Santa Cruz, Gilroy, Monterey (and Monterey Bay) and other places in the South Bay than from SFO. It is connected to SFO by BART and CalTrain via the Millbrae Station.

See the 'By train' section in the below for details on getting to the other airports in the area from SFO by train.

Arrival procedures

The two sets of parallel runways at SFO are spaced too closely together for simultaneous arrivals during periods of low visibility. While in clear weather, both runways in a particular direction can be used, low clouds (a not uncommon weather pattern in the Bay Area) will require that arrivals use only one of the two. Should this happen, air traffic control will delay inbound traffic either in the air or at your departure airport. If you are making connections at SFO or have time-sensitive business there, allow for extra time should your incoming flight be delayed.

International arrivals: All passengers arriving on international flights (except flights originating from airports with U.S. preclearance) must pass through immigration inspection in the International Terminal. Passengers will then collect their baggage and pass through customs. Those with onward flights, international and domestic, will proceed to check-in and security. Be prepared for at least a 30 minute wait. There is no international transit zone. Travellers terminating in San Francisco should follow signs for their desired ground transportation. If you have a connecting flight, and if your baggage has been tagged through to your next destination, follow the signs for "Connecting Flights" once you have collected your luggage from the carousel; there will be an area immediately after you clear customs where you can drop off your checked bags so you don't have to lug them all the way to the departure hall.

Domestic arrivals: Passengers arriving on domestic flights will arrive on the departure level inside security. Those in transit will not need to clear security again as all gates are connected post-security. Travelers terminating in San Francisco exit and may proceed downstairs to baggage claim or ground transportation. The AirTrain is available upstairs. The regional BART train station is located on the departures level of the International Terminal and is also accessible via the AirTrain.

Additional alternate airports for travelers going to Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, or the northern wine country without flying into the San Francisco Bay Area and then driving another 2+ hrs (or by other ground transport) to get there are:

* Most of the same airlines from the US, Canada, Mexico and El Salvador listed in the above also go directly into Sacramento International Airport (SMF) and Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) (nearest to Lake Tahoe) from their cities of origin thus saving travelers the extra time and effort in getting to Sacramento or to Lake Tahoe. Southwest offers direct flights from SJC and OAK to Reno while United flies from SFO to Reno (1hr). United Express is the only airline to fly from SFO to Sacramento (0:54m). Travelers can also take the Capitol Corridor train from the downtown Oakland Jack London Station or Emeryville; or Greyhound from the West Oakland Station or the Salesforce Center in downtown San Francisco to Sacramento. * Charles M Schultz-Sonoma County Airport (STS) Some travelers from within the U.S. may opt to fly directly into the famous California wine country in Sonoma and Napa Counties; or further north to Mendocino County in the North Coast, if they plan to spend their entire stay up there while saving time in picking up a rental car here and then drive up there (2+ hrs). Others may choose to fly into SFO or OAK, rent a car, and drive up there; or take a bus or shuttle to get there (see below under 'By public transportation') in order to save money on the airfare. This airport is only served by Avelo, Alaska Airlines, and American from Southern California and/or from other parts of the U.S. Groome Transportation operates regularly scheduled buses/vans from OAK and SFO (on two separate routes) to Charles M Shultz Airport in Sonoma County (Petaluma, Ronhert Park, Santa Rosa) while Marine Airporter operates connections to Marin County (Sausalito, San Rafael, Mill Valley, Novato) from SFO.

Departure procedures

Passengers must check in with their airline at their respective terminal. Once you pass the security checkpoint, all gates are connected with post-security walkways. As the check-in areas are narrow and there is only one security checkpoint for every boarding area, expect long lines during busy travel times!

International travelers will not pass exit controls; however, airline staff will verify passport and applicable destination visa validity.

If you are flying on United Airlines, keep in mind that domestic flights usually leave from Terminal 3, while international flights leave from the International Terminal. However, check-in for some domestic flights has been relocated to Terminal 2 due to construction.

If you are flying out of Boarding Area B, some of those flights are occasionally reassigned to Boarding Area A in the international terminal, which is a long walk.

Ground transportation

By train

If you are staying in San Francisco or the East Bay, your most convenient option is likely BART. The platform is at International Terminal G. From there, you can get to any of the terminals using the AirTrain. The following are stops to the other area airports, Amtrak and intercity bus connections from downtown San Francisco and Oakland: * Daly City Station is the main transfer station from the Yellow (Millbrae-SFO-Antioch) or Red Line trains (Millbrae-SFO-Richmond) to the Blue (Daly City - OAK - Dublin/Pleasanton) or Green Line trains (Daly City - OAK - Berryessa/North San Jose). The Blue & Green Lines go by the West Oakland and Coliseum Stations (see below) while all lines go through downtown between Civic/UN Plaza and Embarcadero Stations. * Embarcadero Station is the nearest station (on Market St) to the Salesforce Transit Center at 1st and Mission St in downtown. The Salesforce Transit center is the Central Bus station for Amtrak Thruway (to Emeryville), Greyhound/Flixbus, AC Transit (to Alameda County in East Bay), Golden Gate Transit (to Marin & Sonoma Counties); and WestCat Lynx (to Hercules Transit Center in Hercules, CA). * West Oakland Station is the transfer point to Flixbus, Greyhound and/or Megabus in Oakland. * Coliseum Station is the nearest station to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK). From here one transfers from the Green or Blue Line trains to the 'OAK Airport' train for the short ride to the Oakland International Airport BART Station in front of the airline terminal. It is also connected by footbridge to an Amtrak station of the same name. The surrounding areas around the Oakland Coliseum Station, the downtown (Oakland and SF) stations and the Oakland Greyhound bus station are not safe at night.

If you are going south towards San Jose, you can take the Caltrain rail line, but you first need to take BART to the next stop south or SamTrans bus 292 or 397 to Millbrae Transit Center to transfer to Caltrain. The following are stops to the other area airports, Amtrak, Altmont Corridor Express (ACE) and intercity bus connections from San Jose: * San Francisco Caltrain Station is the northern terminus of the CalTrain in SoMa part of downtown San Francisco at 4th & King. It is the transfer point to SF MUNI (4th & King St); and to Megabus, Flixbus and Tahoe Convoy on 5th & Townsend St. * Millbrae Transit Center is the transfer station between Caltrain, BART, Commute.org Shuttles and SAMTrans buses. It is the nearest Caltrain station from SFO. One can also take SamTrans #292 or 397 bus from airport to the Millbrae Transit Center too. * Santa Clara Station is the nearest CalTrain station to the San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC). From here transfer to VTA #60 bus going towards the Milpitas BART Station to get to the airline terminals. Passengers can also transfer to VTA #22 bus or 522 bus bus to get to downtown San Jose or stay on the CalTrain to the Diridon Station stop. * Diridon Station in downtown San Jose is CalTrain's southern terminus and transfer point to Amtrak trains, Altmont Corridor Express (ACE) trains, Greyhound/Flixbus, Hwy 17 Express (Santa Cruz Metro #17), and additional VTA buses and trains. * During weekday rush hours Caltrain continues from San Jose Diridon to Gilroy. Click here for a list of additional Caltrain Stations. All the stations are served by additional buses and shuttles to the surrounding areas.

There are no trains from the airport to Marin County, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. To get there you'll need to take the Marin Airporter bus (see below), or transfer to a Golden Gate Transit bus or ferry or bus from downtown San Francisco.

By bus

SamTrans provides bus service throughout San Mateo County and limited service to and from San Francisco. There are bus stops at Level 1 of both sides of the International Terminal, and Level 1 of Terminals 2 & 3:

• Route 142 is a local bus route to the nearby San Bruno, on the other side of US Hwy 101, from the SFO Rental Car Aitrain Station. This route serves the San Bruno BART but it does not serve the SFO Airport BART & SamTrans stops at the international terminals. Connections to Route ECR on El Camino Real are in San Bruno (see below under 'Nearby').
• Route 292 runs between Hillsdale Mall in San Mateo and Embarcadero in downtown San Francisco via the airport terminals and multiple cities/municipalities in San Mateo County. The south of the airport route (to/from Hillsdale Mall) stops at Millbrae Transit Center, where one can transfer to Millbrae BART or Caltrain.
• Route 397 operates a night service (1:20AM to 5AM, check schedules) between Palo Alto and Embarcadero in downtown San Francisco via the airport terminals
• Route 398 serves the airport from Redwood and Embarcadero via San Bruno BART station during the weekday peak hours only. Check schedules.
• Route ECR OWL operates night service (1:42AM - 4:42AM hourly, check schedules) between Daly City (Mission St & Wellington Ave) and the airport via Camino Real (CA-Hwy 82) and Mission St.

One can pay SamTrans fares with cash (bills or coins) onboard a bus, or with a physical plastic or digital Clipper Transit Card on a smartphone or smartwatch (add Clipper card to Apple Wallet or Google Pay).

By shuttle bus

Shuttle buses depart from the center island transportation zones on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level of the International Terminal and Domestic Terminals 2 and 3:

• Groome Transportation operates the Sonoma County Airport Express Shuttles to Sonoma County Airport (STS) through Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa in Sonoma County; and to Monterey/Marina via San Jose Airport (SJC) and Prunedale on the Monterey Airbus.
• The Marin Airporter offers service every half hour to and from Marin County (Sausalito, San Rafael, Mill Valley, Novato); from SFO, from to .

By taxi or ride app

Taxi stands are located at each terminal on the arrivals level on the traffic island. Be aware that taxi drivers will not generally be pleased when picking up so called short trips to cities within about 10 minutes of the airport. While these drivers are entitled to pickup pass which allows them back into the taxi pool queue immediately, this seems to be of little consolation. Taxis will drop off on the departures level only, even if traffic is heavy.

Ride app services, such as Uber and Lyft, do not pick up at the arrivals level at domestic terminals 1, 2, or 3. Passengers arriving at the domestic terminals will proceed upstairs to level 3, and cross over to the top deck of the parking garage, past the AirTrain stations to request their ride. Passengers arriving at the international terminal are able to request a ride-share from the traffic island on the departures level.

By robotaxi

Waymo robotaxi service is now available at SFO via the Waymo app. For now, Waymo service is available only to and from the Kiss & Fly area at the Rental Car Center (see below), or in the alternative, to and from an area near the Grand Hyatt at SFO (see below), and only for users coming off a waitlist. Waymo was also filtering freeway service through a waitlist but suspended freeway service effective May 21, 2026.

Since AirTrain can be slow, especially after dark, do not request a Waymo until you are already on the Blue Line segment heading north along US 101. The Blue Line arrives on Level 4 of the Rental Car Center. Take the escalators or the elevator to Level 1 and follow the signs to the Autonomous Rides lane at the Kiss & Fly area.

Otherwise, take the Blue Line or the Red Line to the Grand Hyatt at SFO AirTrain station, follow the app's directions into the hotel lobby and find the elevator bank, take the elevator to Level 1, and then follow the app directions to the pickup curb south of the hotel building.

By car

The main access to the airport is via U.S. Highway 101 from both the north and south. If coming from the north, use GPS navigation and carefully follow the signs, or you will miss the exit to the airport. The "SF Intl Airport" exit is actually over a mile-and-a-half north of the airport, just after the exit for Interstate 380.

For long term parking, exit at San Bruno Avenue. Surface street access to airport facilities (i.e., private aviation) is from North and South McDonnell Road and North Access Road.

As with U.S. airports in general, all curbs in front of all passenger terminals where stopping is tolerated are strictly reserved for unloading or loading. If neither of those is occurring right now, you will be sternly told to move along. Your vehicle will be ticketed and towed immediately if left unattended.

If you need to wait for arriving passengers, you can wait for free at the Cell Phone Waiting Lot on San Bruno Avenue, which is accessed by the same driveway that goes to the long term parking garage.

If you need extra time for a long goodbye or joyous reunion, or to drop off or pick up a large group of people without having to go into expensive short term parking, consider using the Kiss & Fly area at the Rental Car Center (780 N McDonnell Rd).

There are additional off-site car rental companies further west along San Bruno Avenue on the other side of US 101 and north of the airport on S. Airport Boulevard north of I-380 who offer shuttles to pick up/drop off at the Rental Car Center on demand.

The Rental Car Center is connected to all airport terminals via the SFO Blue Line AirTrain; allow 10 minutes for that additional delay.

Parking

It is possible to book your spot online, and there are promotional fares from time to time.

Short term parking is available adjacent to the terminal buildings for $2 per 15 minutes and $36 max per 24 hours. Cars over 6 foot 6 inches (1.98 meters) high can park at the international garages.

Long term parking costs $2 per 15 minutes and $18 max per 24 hours. The long term parking garage is connected by the SFO AirTrain Blue Line to all terminals, but is located rather far away, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north.

All SFO parking facilities are equipped with chargers for electric vehicles.

By bike

In a rare twist for airports, the terminal buildings are also accessible by bike from N. and S. McDonnell Road. There are parking racks at the Rental Car Center, West Field Parking Lot, both international garages, and the valet area of the domestic parking garage. While parking doesn't cost anything, you can only park them for a maximum of 24 hours; long-term parking for up to 14 days requires a registration at the on-guard security.

If you bring a bike with you on your flight, you can disassemble or assemble it at the international garages or the parking area of the Rental Car Center. The Airport Travel Agency at the International Terminal also sells boxes for air transportation and assembling tools.

Wait

SFO has a wide variety of activities, installations and public art in the airport.

• Throughout the airport, there are three different Kids' Spots, interactive play areas for children with science-based exhibits that are open 24 hours a day. One is in Terminal 2, Concourse D, near Gates 54A and 58B; the second is in Terminal 3, Concourse E, near Gate 62; the third is in Terminal 3, Concourse F, near Gate 87A.

See Outdoor Terrace

Surrealist sculptures and an attractive garden of drought-resistant plants in a pleasant outdoor seating area.

📍 International Terminal, G gates🕒 7AM–11PMChecked Sep 2024

Maps☆ Want to go

Lounges

While there are few lounges, the airside is usually already comfortable enough for enjoying a good meal or waiting alone.

• The Club SFO, Terminal 1 near Gate B4, Level 2, Post-Security. Daily 4:30AM-11:30PM. Lounge for eligible Turkish Airlines passengers, Priority Pass holders, and bookable by day pass.

• Golden Gate Lounge. International Terminal A, near Gate A1, Level 5, Post-Security (proceed through Security Checkpoint A and turn left). Daily 7AM-11:30PM. Lounge for Priority Pass holders.

Nearby

If you have a long layover, BART will take you to San Francisco in about half an hour.

El Camino Real is the main commercial arterial road running northwest/southeast from San Francisco to San Jose through San Mateo County. Many hotels/motels, restaurants and stores are located along El Camino Real. It was the historical route of U.S. Highway 101 before the current Bayshore Freeway was built as a bypass to the east, and it is now designated and signed as State Route 82.

To the north:

• San Bruno is the municipality where the airport is located and is the nearest location for a variety of hotels, motels, restaurants, and other services. SamTrans Route 'ECR' travels the entire length of El Camino Real, through San Mateo County, between Daly City BART and Palo Alto. Transit connections to the airport are on Route 142 or on BART from the nearby San Bruno BART and the Millbrae Transit Center.
• South San Francisco is a separate city/municipality from San Francisco in San Mateo County, off of US 101.
• Daly City
• San Francisco

To the south:

• Burlingame
• San Mateo
• Millbrae

Further afield:

• San Jose
• Oakland & Berkeley are further away. BART is the fastest way to get to the East Bay by public transit, with stations in downtown Berkeley and downtown Oakland. If you have a car, take US 101 to San Francisco, then I-80 over the Bay Bridge into Oakland.

Aviation enthusiasts can watch planes taking off and landing from nice bayside parks in Millbrae and Burlingame.