Travel from the San Francisco Airport to Downtown

The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is among the largest airline hubs on the west coast. Like many metropolitan airports, SFO lies outside of the city, in a suburb city called San Bruno. There are a number of ways to travel the approximately 13 miles (21 km) between SFO and downtown San Francisco. You can go by taxi, rapid transit train or shuttle. This article will tell you how to travel from the San Francisco Airport to downtown San Francisco.

Steps

  1. Debark from your airplane and gather your luggage from the baggage claim.
  2. Choose your preferred method of San Francisco transportation, train, taxi, shuttle or car. Taxi or train will likely be the fastest modes of SFO transportation.
  3. Check what terminal you are currently in. The BART station is located in the International Terminal. If you have arrived from an international destination, you need to exit the customs station, and then take the escalator up to the departures level. Walk straight, toward the various art exhibits on the level. Turn left when you see them and continue until you arrive at the BART station.
    • If you have arrived in domestic terminals 1, 2 or 3, you can choose to walk, following the signs south that will lead you the International Terminal and BART. Terminal 3 is just a short walk from the BART Terminal.
    • If you arrived in the domestic terminals, you can also choose to take the "Air Train" to get to the BART station. After you get your baggage, take the escalator up and head toward the Air Train sign. This will lead you to another escalator and Air Train that is located above the airport floors and links each terminal to the other. The Air Train is free, unlike the BART itself. Take the red line, rather than the blue line. When you arrive at Garage G/Bart Station in the International terminal, take the escalator down to board BART. The Air Train takes approximately 1 to 3 minutes to arrive at BART from the other terminals.
  4. Buy your ticket. A 1-way BART ticket to downtown San Francisco costs $8.10 (5.6 euros, 6.6 pounds). Alternatively, if you know you will be returning to the airport via BART, you can buy a ticket for $16.20 (11.2 euros, 13.2 pounds), and keep it with you for reuse at the end of your stay in San Francisco. The automatic ticket vending machines accept United States dollars, credit and debit cards. There are 2 areas where you can buy tickets for the train.
    • If you are coming from the International Terminal entrance, you will need to buy a BART ticket before you can enter the BART station. There are ticket vending machines to the right and left that allow you to purchase a small card that will be inserted into the turnstile.
    • If you are coming from the Air Train, buy a ticket as you exit the train on the upper level. There are ticket vending machines in the middle of the floor. You must have a valid ticket in order to exit BART and descend on the escalator.
    • Children under the age of 4 can ride free on the San Francisco BART trains.
  5. Insert your ticket into the fare turnstile. It will come back out of the machine. Take the ticket and keep it with you, as you must insert it into the fare gate when you exit in downtown San Francisco.
  6. Board the BART train, or wait for its arrival. BART trains arrive approximately every 15 minutes. Load your luggage beside you where you can keep an eye on it and it will not block the aisle.
  7. Ride the train for approximately 30 minutes.
  8. Exit the train at your downtown destination. You have a few options. You can exit at the Civic Center station, which is near the city hall and United National Plaza. You can exit at the Powell Street Station. This is near Union Square and many of San Francisco's most popular hotels and stores. You can exit at Montgomery Street, near the Financial District, or you can exit at the Embarcadero Station, near the San Francisco Bay.
  9. Continue to your destination.

Via Taxi

  1. Exit Terminal 1, 2, 3 or International on the Arrivals level. This is likely the level you are on, if you picked up baggage. Each terminal has a taxi stand.
  2. Locate a taxi dispatcher and line up to get the next available taxi.
  3. Load your baggage into the taxi. The driver will likely help you to do this.
  4. Give the driver your destination in downtown San Francisco.
  5. Ride for approximately 25 to 35 minutes, until you reach your destination.
  6. Pay the taxi driver. The cost will be approximately $40 (28 euros, 25 pounds). This includes the flagging fee, mileage, airport surplus charge, wait time and a tip. It is customary to tip approximately 10 percent for taxi rides in San Francisco.
  7. Unload your baggage and continue to your downtown destination.

Via Shuttle

  1. Find the Departures level of your terminal. If you just arrived, you may need to take an escalator or elevator down a level from the Arrivals level.
  2. Exit the airport at the Departures level.
  3. Locate the Shared Vans/Shuttles sign. Cross the first lane of traffic at the cross-walk. Find the shuttle dispatcher. If you have booked a shuttle in advance, tell him this information and he will point you to the right section for that company. If you have not, he will point you toward the next available shuttle van.
  4. Tell the driver your destination. He will add you to his route. Let the driver load your luggage in the back and board the van. Many shuttle companies will wait until they have a full van of about 8 riders.
  5. Ride in the van until the driver reaches your destination. You may have a longer ride than a taxi because the driver is dropping many people off at their destinations.
  6. Pay the driver after he unloads your baggage. Shuttles cost between $13 and $25 (9 to 17 euros, 8 to 16 pounds) and there are usually some discounts for having more than 1 person in your party. If the driver has been helpful, it is customary to tip 10 percent on the fare.

Via Car

  1. Board the blue line on the Air Train, until you reach the Rental Car Center Station.
  2. Rent a car. The cost will depend upon how long you intend to rent the car.
  3. Exit the airport heading west, turn right at the fork. Take the on ramp to US-101 N.
  4. Follow the US-101 North until you see the Octavia/Fell exit. Take that exit and turn right onto Market Street as you get off the freeway. Follow Market Street east until you get to your downtown destination.

Via Wingz

Get your private and tailored ride from SFO to anywhere in SF for a fixed guaranteed price of $35:

  1. Scheduling your Wingz airport ride takes just a few second. Book on Wingz or by using the Wingz App (App Store / Android Store).
  2. You will receive a confirmation with your Wingz driver’s contact info. The driver will follow your flight status in order to make sure to be there right on time.
  3. Text your driver upon landing to determine a pick up spot at the Departures level. Be sure to have all your luggages.

  4. Your Wingz Driver will be waiting for you at the curb. Relax and enjoy the ride.

Tips

  • A BART ticket or Clipper Card can also be purchased online prior to your trip.

Sources and Citations

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