San Francisco Airport parking

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

The airport carries over 50 million passengers every year, making it the seventh-busiest airport in the USA. Offering popular routes across the US, Europe and Asia, it is a key hub for United Airlines and the primary base of operations for Virgin America.

Creating $60 billion of economic activity in the Bay area, SFO is a critical part of the local economy. It’s currently engaged in long-term plans to maintain an exceptional travel experience whilst expanding to bring 70 million people through its doors every year.

Focused heavily on quality standards, over the last decade the airport has received a wide range of awards for infrastructure engineering, mobile apps, concessions, amenities, customer service, safety and environmental practices, making it one of the world's most pioneering airports.

Location of San Francisco Airport

Located about 13 miles (21 kilometers) to the south of Downtown San Francisco, the airport sits in San Mateo County, close to Daly City, Brisbane, South San Francisco and Millbrae. Set just off US Route 101 for easy access by car, rental or taxi, San Francisco International is also well-connected by rail and bus networks.

The BART Pittsburg/Bay Point to SFO/Millbrae line runs from Pittsburg through Oakland and San Francisco and onto the airport. It connects at Millbrae with Caltrain services from San Francisco, San Jose and Gilroy. SamTrans bus routes are another way to the airport running along the peninsula from San Mateo, Palo Alto and central San Francisco.

About 150 concessions are spread across the terminals at San Francisco Airport, offering award-winning selections of food, drink and shopping. Many local restaurants and stores have branches at SFO that ensure passengers get unique choices that wouldn’t be found at any other airport.

SFO has run a volunteer ambassador-style program since the 1950s and you can find information booths for it dotted through the departures and ticketing areas of the terminals. Additional support is available from the Ready, Set, Fly workshops program for individuals with autism, developmental disabilities and their families and a full airport concierge service can be booked via Airport Butler. If you have any general advance inquiries, contact customer service at the airport on +1 650-821-8211.

• Short-term parking

• Long-term parking

• Valet parking

• Reserved parking

• Covered parking garages

• Electric vehicle charging

• Car wash

• Bicycle parking

• Cell phone lot

• Accessible parking

• Train and bus stations

• 24/7 free AirTrain

• Rental car center

• CLEAR biometric security and TSA Precheck

• Hotels

• Hotel shuttles

• Airline lounges

• USO lounge

• Showers and nap rooms

• Shopping

  • Duty free, gifts and souvenirs

  • Fashion, jewelry and apparel

  • Cosmetics

  • Gadgets, technology and entertainment

  • Books, candy and newsstands

  • Travel agency

• Drinks

  • Coffee shops

  • Juice bar

  • Bar

  • Wine bar

  • Cocktail bar

• Food

  • Fast food

  • American, Italian, Asian and Mexican restaurants

  • Bakeries, desserts and yogurt

  • Food markets

  • Deli, sandwiches and subs

  • Vending machines

• Meditation, yoga and reading rooms

• Aviation museum and library

• Art program

• Airport therapy dogs

• Spa

• Nursing rooms

• Children's play areas

• Pet relief areas

• Wheelchairs

• Medical clinics and defibrillators

• Baggage wrapping and assistance

• Storage facilities

• ATMs

• Currency exchange

• Cell phone rentals

• Business services

• Workstations

• Free WiFi

• Postal services

• Lost and found

Avoid busy times

The busiest check-in times are usually from 6am to 9am weekdays in the domestic terminals and 12pm to 3pm in the International Terminal, though many regular passengers report delays coming into arrivals around immigration and passport control at any time of day, so be sure to plan ahead to get through to your gate in time.

Beware the weather

Delays at San Francisco are relatively common due to heavy fog in the Bay area, which causes problems for any flights into or out of SFO. Try to check the weather and the SFO Airport website for flight delays before you begin your journey to the airport.

Use time-saving options

Programs such as TSA Precheck and the CLEAR biometric passport system are both available at SFO and can be great time-savers if traveling at a busy time is unavoidable.

Plan to eat

Not all terminals are equal in terms of food choices - Terminal 1 has a particularly limited selection. If it's important to get some food while you're at the airport, plan ahead where you'd like to eat and allow some time to reach your chosen restaurant, since it’s a sizeable airport.

Come powered up

Depending on the terminal you're traveling from and how busy it is, you may struggle finding an available power outlet to charge phones, laptops and other devices at SFO, so make sure everything you need is fully charged before you set off.

Find a space for work

The #Converge@flySFO Lounge in the International Terminal makes an excellent remote office space if you don't have access to an airline lounge. It includes networking space, WiFi, desks, power outlets and white boards for all users.