San Jose International Airport (SJC) is connected to San Jose 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 at the rideshare lot outside Terminal B baggage claim and at the Terminal A curb. Pickup fee $4.00.
On-airport facility
On-airport rental cars are in the Daily Garage at Terminal B, a 5-minute walk from Terminal A.
Rail & bus to San Jose
VTA Bus Route 60 connects SJC with the Metro Airport Light Rail station every 15 minutes for $2.50. The 60 also reaches Caltrain Diridon Station.
Hotel & intercity
Monterey Airbus and Stagecoach Express shuttles to Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Salinas board outside Terminal B.
Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) at SJC
Uber and Lyft pick up at the rideshare lot outside Terminal B baggage claim and at the Terminal A curb. Pickup fee $4.00.
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
On-airport rental cars are in the Daily Garage at Terminal B, a 5-minute walk from Terminal A. 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 SJC
VTA Bus Route 60 connects SJC with the Metro Airport Light Rail station every 15 minutes for $2.50. The 60 also reaches Caltrain Diridon Station. For more on US airport transit options, see the ground transport overview.
Hotel and parking shuttles
Monterey Airbus and Stagecoach Express shuttles to Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Salinas board outside Terminal B. 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 SJC forces the driver into the recirculation loop, which can add 15 to 25 minutes on a busy day.
Accessibility
All ground transportation options at SJC 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 SJC parking guide for on-site garages, off-site lots, and a comparison of every published rate.