How To Get Out Of San Francisco Airport

If you've just landed at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) but don't know which is the best option to get into the city, this guide is for you. From limousines to the bay ferry, this guide will get you into the heart of San Francisco so you can stop wasting time travelling and start having fun.

Don't forget to use this guide when traveling to Denver on your next holiday.

Posted by nightqueen

1
Charter Bus

There are many charter buses operating from SFO, all of which must be booked before landing in the airport. See the full list of charter buses available on the SFO website. Charter buses take 23 minutes to get to central San Francisco and prices vary, depending on the operator.
There are four areas where passengers are picked up by charter buses (see a map here). When making arrangements with the charter operator, they will confirm which area the passengers will be picked up from.

Via Fly SFO
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2
Limousine

Limousines are available to pick up passengers from SFO. However, they must be booked in advance through the limousine company. Limousine operators soliciting passengers at the airport are illegal and should be ignored, no matter how official they sound. There are many limousine companies to choose from including low emission cars. It is up to the passenger to choose a suitable limousine.
The travel time into San Francisco is 23 minutes, and the cost depends on the limousine company. The limousine company will confirm with passengers the area for pickup (see a map of options here).

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3
Public buses

Passengers have three options for public buses operating from SFO, including BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) buses and SamTrans buses (routes 292 and KX). BART buses cost from $8.40 to $8.95 and take around 15 to 40 minutes to reach San Francisco. Passengers can use the website's trip planner to figure out which route and departure time is best. See a map of where BART buses depart from the airport here.
SamTrans buses cost $2 to $5 and take from 11 to 73 minutes. Schedules and maps can be found on the website and passengers should refer to this map for where to get picked up. Public buses do not need to be booked in advance.

Via SF Travel
4
Ridesharing apps

Uber, Lyft and Wingz are available to pick up passengers from SFO. Upon arrival at the airport, passengers should book a car through the website or app of the chosen company. The driver will confer with the passenger about the best location for pick up (see a map with options here). Travel time into San Francisco takes 23 minutes and prices vary.

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5
Taxi

Taxis are available from every terminal at the roadway center islands on the arrivals/baggage claim level. Uniformed taxi operators are available from 7 a.m. to 2:15 a.m. to assist passengers with questions. At all other times, passengers can flag taxis or call *1191 from any airport phone.
All taxis operating from SFO use metered rates and a $4.00 exit surcharge is included in all trips from the airport. Up to five people can share a taxi and pay for the price of one person.
Travel times are around 23 minutes and costs range from $46 to $66.

Via SF Examiner
6
Hotel Shuttle

Many hotels in San Francisco offer courtesy shuttles to and from the airport. Passengers should contact their hotel to find out if they offer this service. If so, all hotel shuttles pick up passengers from the Hotel Courtesy Shuttle zones on the center island of the departures/ticketing level roadway on all terminals.
See a full list of participating hotels here. Passengers should arrange a pickup time with the hotel.

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7
San Francisco Bay Ferry

The San Francisco Bay Ferry is an easy option for public transport in San Francisco during weekday commuting hours. Passengers are able to catch the Ferry Connector Bus which takes passengers to the ferry (see maps and schedules for the ferry here).
To get to the connector bus, passengers must go to the International Terminal's Courtyard G (on level 1). From arrivals, follow signs towards Garage G and take an elevator down to Courtyard G on level 1. View the ferry connector bus schedule here.

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8
Caltrain

Passengers heading to San Jose should take the Caltrain. Express trains operate on weekdays during commuting hours. SamTrans buses connect each terminal with Caltrain's Millbrae Station. Go to the departure area for SamTrans buses (see above).

Via SF Gate
9
BART Rapid Rail

Passengers heading to San Mateo County, San Francisco and the East Bay should catch the BART rapid rail service. The SFO BART Station is located on the departures/ticketing level of the International Terminal (G gates side). This can be accessed from any terminal by using the SFO's AirTrain to the Garage G/BART Station stop. Clipper Cards are used to board the BART rapid rail service and can be bought in the station upon arrival.

Via SF-Info
10
Rent a Car

SFO's Rental Car Center has a number of rental car companies (see the full list here). Rental cars do not need to be booked in advance and can be booked upon arrival at the Rental Car Center.
To access the Rental Car Center, passengers in all terminals should take the AirTrain Blue Line (which is free and operates 24 hours a day) to the Rental Car Center. From here, passengers can book a car.

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11
Get Picked Up

Passengers are able to be picked up by a friend or family member in their car, however there are designated pickup areas depending on what terminal the passengers are in (see a list of the suitable pick up areas for each terminal here).
When waiting for passengers to arrive, friends and families can wait in the Cell Phone Waiting Lot for up to one hour at no cost. See more details about the Cell Phone Waiting Lot here.

Via Fly SFO