About San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

San Francisco International Airport, commonly known as SFO after its IATA code, is a vibrant aviation hub comprising of four terminals and seven concourses. It is the gateway to the San Francisco Bay Area. This San Francisco International Airport guide includes information on terminal facilities, travel routes to and from the airport, and nearby accommodation options.

Information:

San Francisco International Airport has seven information counters and many more computerised kiosks to assist passengers.

Website:

Driving directions:

San Francisco International Airport is easily accessible from US Route 101 (US 101), a major north-south highway that stretches from Los Angeles (California) to Tumwater (Washington).

The airport is also near Interstate 280, another significant artery that connects San Francisco with San Jose. To ease traffic flow from Interstate 280 to San Francisco International Airport, Interstate 380 serves as a short connector and provides direct access to the airport's main entry points.

Transfer between terminals:

Passengers at San Francisco International Airport can either walk or take the AirTrain (SFO's automated terminal transit system) when transferring between terminals.

Please note that for some connecting flights, passengers will need to exit the arrival terminal and pass through the security checkpoint at another terminal.

Public Transport

Public transport road:

Bus: SamTrans routes 292 and 398 stop at Terminal 2 (Arrivals, on the centre island adjacent to Courtyard 2), Terminal 3 (Arrivals, on the side adjacent to Courtyard 4), and International Terminal (Level 1 at Courtyard A and on adjacent to Courtyard G).

Airporters: Marin Airporter and Groome Transportation provide direct transfer to various destinations in Marin County, Monterey, and Sonoma County, respectively.

Hotel Shuttle: Many surrounding hotels provide courtesy shuttles, and the pick-up points are located at the Hotel Courtesy Shuttle Zone on the center island of the Departures level at all terminals. To minimize wait times, passengers should visit one of the shuttle kiosks to contact their hotel.

Taxi: Metered taxis are available from the designated taxi zones located on the center islands of the Arrivals level at all terminals. For assistance, uniformed coordinators are available between 07:00 and 02:15 hours.

Ride-hailing: Lyft and Uber operate in San Francisco and can pick up passengers from SFO. The pick-up areas are on Level 5 of the Domestic Garage.

Public transport rail:

Rapid Rail: The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system offers a swift 30-minute journey from San Francisco International Airport to the heart of downtown San Francisco. The BART station is located within the International Terminal, a short walk from Terminals 1 and 3. Additionally, passengers have the convenience of the complimentary SFO AirTrain, linking all airport terminals directly to the BART station. BART tickets can be purchased at the station, or for a more seamless travel experience, you can use a Clipper Card, which is accepted on all Bay Area transit. To integrate travel planning with your smartphone, add your Clipper Card to Apple Wallet or Google Pay. For planning your BART journey, visit www.bart.gov/planner.

Commuter Rail: Caltrain provides rail services between San Francisco and San Jose. Travellers starting from San Francisco International Airport can easily reach Caltrain by taking BART to the nearby Millbrae Station, where they can transfer to the Caltrain lines.

Terminal facilities

Money:

ATMs are available in all terminals.

Food:

Each terminal has numerous bars, cafés, restaurants, and fast-food chains.

Shopping:

San Francisco International Airport features a diverse selection of shopping opportunities across all four terminals, including gift shops, newsstands, bookstores, and a variety of clothing and accessory outlets. Duty-free shops are available in International Terminals A and G.

Luggage:

Luggage trolleys, or carts, are available free of charge for arriving passengers in the International Terminal. In other areas of San Francisco International Airport, trolleys can be rented for a fee of US$8 each. The dispensers accept bills up to US$20, with change provided in US$1 coins.

Baggage storage is available on Level 3, International Terminal. Prices vary based on the size of the item. For more information, call +1 650 877 0422.

If you have misplaced items within the confines of San Francisco International Airport, including areas such as baggage claim, gates, parking lots, and other public spaces (except TSA checkpoints), contact the San Francisco Police Department Lost and Found. The office is on Arrivals Level, Terminal 1, near Domestic Garage Core C Tunnel (hours: 08:00 to 22:00). Alternatively, call +1 650 821 7014 or email sfolostandfound@flysfo.com.

If you have misplaced items at security checkpoints, call +1 650 457 2670 or email: lostandfound@covenantsecurity.com.

Should you lose an item on an airplane, contact the airline you flew with for help in retrieving your belongings.

Other:

A clinic is at the Departures hall, International Terminal. Operation hours are 08:30-19:00, Mon-Fri. Call +1 650 821 5601 for appointments. The nearest off-site medical facility is Peninsula Medical Center at 1501 Trousdale Drive. Should you require immediate police assistance, call 911.

Nap rooms and shower facilities are available on Level 3, International Terminal, next to luggage storage. Hours are 06:00-23:00 daily.

San Francisco International Airport also houses a museum on the Departures Level, International Terminal.

Airport facilities

Conference and business:

San Francisco International Airport has 16 lounges, and several of them provide basic meeting facilities.

Additionally, the on-site SFO Museum allows private individuals and companies to hold events.

Communication Facilities:

Free Wi-Fi access is available throughout San Francisco International Airport.

A store providing mobile services and SIM cards is available on Level 2, Arrivals, International Terminal.

SFO does not have a postal service.

Disabled facilities:

San Francisco International Airport is equipped with accessibility features including ramps, adult changing tables, companion care restrooms, public telephones with text and teletypewriter (TTY) capabilities, and visual paging screens. Additionally, accessible parking spaces are available in every car park.

Travellers who require special arrangements should contact the airline at least 48 hours before travelling.

Car parking:

Short-term (hourly and daily) car parking is available in SFO's Domestic Garage with direct access to Terminals 1, 2, and 3, as well as in the International Garages A and G.

Long-term parking is situated about 2 miles north of SFO, with seamless connectivity to all terminals via the AirTrain Blue Line, which operates around the clock every 4 minutes. Passengers can access the AirTrain at the station located on Level 5 of the Long-Term Parking Garage.

Car rental:

All major car rental companies are represented at San Francisco International Airport. Passengers wishing to rent a vehicle upon arrival should board the AirTrain Blue Line to reach the Car Rental Center. This facility is in a dedicated building close to the airport, designed specifically for convenient pick-up and drop-off of rental vehicles.