Jazmin Li
If you're looking to get from San Francisco Airport (SFO) to your destination via BART, there are a few things you should know. First, you can take the free SFO AirTrain from any terminal to the BART station. Once you arrive at the BART station, you can purchase your ticket from a machine using cash, a credit card, or an ATM card. Alternatively, you can save time by adding Clipper to your phone in advance, which is a regional transit card valid for all transit in the Bay Area. If you're driving, you can purchase multi-day reserved parking at a BART station near you and take a quick ride to the airport.
Buying BART Tickets at SFO Airport
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ticket Price | $5.15 from SFO to Powell Street Station |
| Ticket Purchase | Use BART ticket machine, insert cash, ATM or credit card |
| Ticket Amount | Choose desired amount in increments of $1 or $0.05 |
| Number of Tickets | Option to buy one or two tickets |
| Clipper Card | Add to your phone before arriving at the station, available on Apple Pay/Wallet or Google Pay/Wallet |
| Clipper Card Discounts | 6.25% discount on cash value rides for adults, 50% discount for youth (5-18 years), 62.5% discount for seniors (65+) |
| Paper Tickets | No longer sold by BART, but can be refunded for values over $1 |
| Multi-Day Reserved Parking | Purchase online up to 60 days in advance, cancel via BART app or website for a $2 fee |
| Station Access | Take AirTrain Red Line from BART to Terminals 1, 2 or 3 for domestic flights, or walk to the International Terminal |
| BART Train | Allow exiting passengers to leave first, then board and find a seat, giving priority to elderly or disabled passengers |
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What You'll Learn
Buying a BART ticket at SFO Airport
Before You Arrive at the Station
For a seamless experience, it is advisable to plan ahead and set up your payment method before reaching the BART station. You can add the Clipper card to your phone, which is available through Apple Pay, Apple Wallet, Google Pay, or Google Wallet. The Clipper card is a regional transit card that can be used across all transit options in the Bay Area, including cable cars, ferries, and buses. By adding the Clipper card to your phone in advance, you can avoid waiting in lines to purchase a ticket at the station.
Purchasing the Ticket at the Station
If you haven't set up the Clipper card on your phone, you can buy a ticket at the BART station. Follow the signs to locate the BART ticket machines. These machines accept cash, ATM cards, and credit cards as payment methods. Insert your preferred payment method, and the machine will offer you a ticket option based on the amount you inserted. For example, if you insert a $20 bill, it will ask if you want to purchase a $20 BART ticket.
Customizing Your Ticket Amount
You can adjust the ticket amount to suit your needs. If you require a lower-value ticket, you can reduce the amount in increments of $1 or $0.05 using the buttons on the machine. There are separate buttons for subtracting $1 and subtracting $0.05. This allows you to purchase a ticket with the exact value you need. Additionally, if you are travelling in a group and require multiple tickets, you can either purchase them separately or buy multiple tickets at once by selecting the appropriate option on the machine.
From the BART Station to Your Destination
Once you have purchased your ticket, proceed to board the BART train. Allow any exiting passengers to disembark before you get on. Find a seat, and place your luggage in front of you. Keep in mind that seats near the doors are designated for elderly and disabled passengers. If you sit in these seats, be prepared to give them up if needed. The ride from SFO to Union Square takes approximately 30 minutes, and the stops are clearly announced and marked. When you reach your destination, exit the train and insert your ticket into the turnstile to complete your trip.
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Using the AirTrain to get to the BART station
To get to the BART station from SFO Airport, you can take the AirTrain. The AirTrain is free and runs 24 hours a day, with departures as frequent as every four minutes. It is wheelchair accessible, and there is space designated for wheelchairs at each end of the AirTrain cars. Elevator service is available at all AirTrain stations.
The AirTrain has two lines: the Red Line and the Blue Line. The Red Line travels in a clockwise loop, connecting all terminals, terminal garages, the BART Station, and the Grand Hyatt at SFO. The entire loop takes about nine minutes to complete. The Blue Line travels in a counterclockwise loop, connecting Long-Term Parking, the Rental Car Center, all terminals, terminal garages, the BART Station, and the Grand Hyatt at SFO. The entire loop takes about 25 minutes to complete. Please note that the AirTrain may operate differently between the hours of 11 pm and 5 am due to routine maintenance, and travel times may be extended.
If you are arriving at the airport, you can take the AirTrain Red Line from the BART station to Terminal 1, 2, or 3 for domestic flights. The International Terminal check-in counters are a short walk from the BART station's main entrance. If you are travelling to the airport from the International Terminal Main Hall, you can access the AirTrain stations near the A and G Gates by taking the elevator or escalator to Level 4. From the Domestic Parking Garage, Zones D and F, take the elevator or stairs to Level 5. From International Garages A and G, take the elevator or stairs to Level 7.
If you are travelling to downtown San Francisco, you can take the BART train from the airport. The ride from SFO to Union Square takes about thirty minutes. The stops are announced as you approach them, and there are also dark brown signs with white lettering on the walls at each arrival point. Keep your eyes and ears open for the two stations before Union Square: the 16th Street Mission Station and the Civic Center Station. To exit the BART train at Powell Street Station, let anyone who might be exiting get off before you. Then, get on and find a seat. Don't hesitate, as an announcement will be made that the doors are closing, and you will need to get on immediately. Take any seat and place your luggage in front of you. If you are travelling with an elderly or disabled person, there are seats marked near the doors for their use. If these seats are open, you may sit in them, but you will need to give them up if you see an elderly or disabled person board the train.
To purchase a BART ticket, use the BART ticket machine. You can insert cash, or use your ATM or credit card. The machine will give you a ticket amount; for example, if you insert a $20 bill, it will ask if you want to purchase a $20 BART ticket. You can reduce the amount of the ticket in increments of $1 or $0.05 by selecting the proper buttons on the machine. You can also purchase two tickets at once. On the right-hand column of the choices on the screen, you will see the option to buy one ticket or two tickets at half price. BART's fare structure is based on a mileage-based formula, and weekly or monthly passes are not available.
You can also add Clipper to your phone in advance of arriving at the station instead of buying a paper ticket. Clipper is a regional transit card that can be used on all transit in the Bay Area, including the Cable Car, ferry, and buses. Clipper is available for mobile phones through Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Every rider aged 5 and up needs their own digital card.
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Purchasing Multi-Day Reserved parking at a BART station
Multi-day reserved parking can be purchased up to 60 days in advance, and you can buy up to twenty weekdays of parking at a time. Parking on weekends is free. You can reserve your parking spot on the official BART app or the Reserved Parking website. When making a reservation, you can choose to cancel specific days or the entire reservation as needed. Remember that a reserved parking space is guaranteed until 10 am. If the reserved area is full when you arrive, you can park in a Daily Fee space.
The cost of single/multi-day reserved parking is $6 per day, while monthly reserved parking costs $105 per month. It's important to note that daily fee parking is priced differently at $3 per day and is meant for stays of up to 24 hours. It should not be used when travelling for multiple days in a row.
To purchase multi-day reserved parking, you can use the official BART app or pay through the website. You can also find parking machines at the station, but be sure to pay within 10 minutes of parking to avoid a citation. If you're driving an electric vehicle, EV charging stations are available at the Warm Springs/South Fremont and Lafayette stations with a reservation.
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Payment methods for BART tickets
Riders pay for BART with Clipper, the Bay Area's all-in-one transit card, which is also accepted on other transit systems in the region. Clipper cards are like debit cards with stored value. Clipper cards can be ordered and managed online. Clipper cards are valid as long as there is a balance and as long as BART's systems support them. Clipper cards can be obtained by mail or at multiple locations across the Bay Area.
Clipper cards can be purchased from a Clipper vending machine at any BART station. There is a \$3 purchase fee, payable in cash or by debit or credit card. You can also load the card with travel funds at the time of purchase. Not all machines accept debit or credit cards, and Clipper vending machines do not take anything larger than a $20 bill, dispensing up to $4.95 in change.
Clipper cards can also be purchased on mobile phones through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Apple Wallet, or Google Wallet.
BART fares are set with a mileage-based formula, so time-based passes (e.g. weekly or monthly) are not available. Clipper offers several discounts, including for youths and seniors, but these must be set up in advance and are not available at BART vending machines.
At the time of writing, it costs \$5.15 to travel from SFO to the Powell Street Station. To purchase a ticket at the station, follow the instructions on the BART ticket machine. You can insert cash or use an ATM or credit card. The BART machine will give you a ticket amount; for example, if you insert a $20 bill, it will ask if you want to purchase a $20 BART ticket. You can reduce the amount of the ticket in increments of $1 or $0.05 by selecting the proper buttons on the BART ticket machine.
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Discounts and Clipper Cards
Clipper is the all-in-one transit card used for contactless fare payments throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. It is available on your phone through Apple Pay and Google Pay, as well as on plastic cards. Clipper cards can be ordered and managed online, and they can also be purchased from Clipper vending machines at BART stations.
Clipper cards offer a range of discounts. Youth Clipper cards are available for young people aged 5-18, who get 50% off. Senior Clipper cards are for seniors aged 65 and over, who get 62.5% off. These cards can be obtained by mail or at multiple locations across the Bay Area. Applicants will need to bring documentation verifying age eligibility, such as a driver's license, photo ID card, or birth certificate.
Low-income adults earning 200% or less of the federal poverty level get 50% off through the regional Clipper START program. This requires proof of eligibility, which is why discounted Clipper cards are not available at station vending machines.
For single rides, adult Clipper cards get a 6.25% discount on cash value rides by buying $48 worth of value for $45 or $64 worth of value for $60. The "A" Fast Pass is available on the Clipper card and is valid for a calendar month, allowing unlimited rides on SFMTA/Muni vehicles and BART between the Embarcadero station to Balboa Park station in San Francisco.
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Frequently asked questions
You can buy a BART ticket at the SFO BART Station, located on the Departures/Ticketing Level of the International Terminal (G Gates side).
You can take the free SFO AirTrain from all terminals directly to the BART station. Follow the signs upstairs and board the AirTrain to the BART station.
You can either purchase a Clipper Card at the SFO BART Station or use the BART ticket machine to buy a ticket. Clipper Cards are available for mobile phones through Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
