San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is connected to San Francisco and the surrounding region by a layered network of ground transportation. The right choice depends on how many people are traveling, how much luggage you have, what time of day it is, and whether your destination is downtown or the suburbs.
Uber & Lyft
Uber and Lyft pick up on the Departures (Upper) Level at terminal-specific rideshare zones. SFO is the only major US airport that allows rideshare on the Departures level. A $5.50 surcharge applies.
On-airport facility
Rental cars consolidate at the SFO Rental Car Center, reached by the AirTrain Blue Line from any terminal — a 5-minute ride.
Rail & bus to San Francisco
BART connects SFO with San Francisco, Oakland, and the East Bay directly from the International Terminal. A one-way to downtown SF is about $9.65 and 30 minutes. SamTrans bus 292 also serves the airport.
Hotel & intercity
SFO Airport Shuttle, BayPorter Express, and SuperShuttle stage at the Center Island of each terminal’s arrivals curb.
Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) at SFO
Uber and Lyft pick up on the Departures (Upper) Level at terminal-specific rideshare zones. SFO is the only major US airport that allows rideshare on the Departures level. A $5.50 surcharge applies.
Surge pricing is common during weather delays and immediately after large arrival banks. If your phone shows surge pricing of 1.8x or higher, the rental-car shuttle for a same-day return is often a faster total-cost path than waiting for surge to drop.
Rental cars
Rental cars consolidate at the SFO Rental Car Center, reached by the AirTrain Blue Line from any terminal — a 5-minute ride. Loyalty members of National (Emerald Club), Hertz (Gold Plus Rewards), Avis (Preferred), and Enterprise (Plus) usually skip the counter entirely. National's choose-any-car-on-the-aisle model is the fastest path through the facility for travelers who do not need a specific vehicle class.
Public transit to and from SFO
BART connects SFO with San Francisco, Oakland, and the East Bay directly from the International Terminal. A one-way to downtown SF is about $9.65 and 30 minutes. SamTrans bus 292 also serves the airport. For more on US airport transit options, see the ground transport overview.
Hotel and parking shuttles
SFO Airport Shuttle, BayPorter Express, and SuperShuttle stage at the Center Island of each terminal’s arrivals curb. Free shuttles run on each operator's own loop, typically every 10 to 20 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes overnight. If you do not see your hotel's shuttle, call the front desk before assuming you have missed it — schedules vary on weekends and holidays.
Cell phone waiting area
If somebody is picking you up in a private vehicle, ask them to wait at the cell phone waiting lot until you have your luggage and are at the curb. Pulling to the arrivals curb early at SFO forces the driver into the recirculation loop, which can add 15 to 25 minutes on a busy day.
Accessibility
All ground transportation options at SFO are required to provide equivalent service for travelers with disabilities. Accessible taxis are dispatched on request from the taxi stand. Public transit is wheelchair accessible. Hotel shuttles are required to provide wheelchair accommodation — call the hotel ahead to confirm a lift-equipped vehicle is on your departure-window schedule.
Parking is the alternative
If you are driving yourself, see the SFO parking guide for on-site garages, off-site lots, and a comparison of every published rate.