Ruth Haines
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located approximately 13 miles (21 kilometres) south of downtown San Francisco, in San Mateo County. It is one of the largest airports in North America, covering 1.8 million square feet of land. SFO offers non-stop flights to Asia, the South Pacific, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the US, and is the second most important airport in California in terms of passenger numbers, with over 55 million passengers annually. The airport has four terminals (1, 2, 3, and International) and seven concourses with a total of 121 gates. The airport features the SFO Museum, which was the first museum in an international airport, as well as an Aviation Museum and Library located in the International Terminal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | U.S. Route 101, 13 miles (21 km) south of downtown San Francisco |
| Address | San Francisco, San Mateo County, California, US |
| Ranking | 13th busiest airport in the US, 29th busiest in the world by passenger traffic |
| Number of terminals | 4 |
| Transport to city centre | SanTrans lines 292, 397, and KX; taxi; San Francisco BART |
| Parking | Short-term parking in the central terminal area and international terminal garages; long-term parking on South Airport Blvd. and San Bruno Ave. |
| Services | Uber, Lyft |
| Facilities | World-class facilities, shopping, dining |
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What You'll Learn
San Francisco International Airport is 13 miles south of the city
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco. The airport is situated in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, approximately 12 miles southeast of the city. SFO is easily accessible from the city centre via various transport options.
One of the most convenient ways to get to the airport from downtown San Francisco is by taxi. Taxis are readily available at designated taxi zones on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level of all terminals. A taxi ride from the city's downtown area to the airport typically costs around $60. For those travelling in a group, taxi rides can sometimes be a more affordable option compared to public transportation.
Another option for getting to the airport is by using ride-app services such as Uber and Lyft. These services offer designated pickup areas for both domestic and international terminals, making it convenient for passengers departing from or arriving at the airport.
For those looking for a more economical option, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SanTrans) provides three bus lines (292, 397, and KX) that connect the airport to the city's downtown area. These buses depart from the Transbay Terminal on Market Street and offer an affordable fare of $4. Additionally, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system provides a convenient and quick connection between the airport and the city centre, with a travel time of around 20 to 30 minutes.
San Francisco International Airport is a major hub for air travel, serving as the primary international airport for the San Francisco Bay Area. With more than 55 million passengers annually, it is the second busiest airport in California and ranked as the 13th busiest airport in the United States. The airport offers nonstop flights to various destinations across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
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The airport is located in San Mateo County
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located in San Mateo County, approximately 12 to 13 miles (21 km) south of downtown San Francisco. The airport is easily accessible from the city centre via public transportation or car. SanTrans operates three bus lines (292, 397, and KX) that connect the airport to the Transbay Terminal in downtown San Francisco. These buses offer a convenient and affordable option, with a fare of only US$4.
For those who prefer a faster option, taxis are readily available at designated taxi zones on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level of all terminals. A taxi ride to downtown San Francisco typically costs around US$60. Ride-app services such as Uber and Lyft also provide convenient travel options and can be accessed via their respective mobile apps. The designated pickup areas vary depending on whether your flight arrives at a domestic or international terminal.
Another recommended transportation method is the San Francisco BART, which offers a comfortable and efficient journey to the city centre within 20 to 30 minutes. Additionally, for those embarking on a road trip across the USA, driving to and from the airport is a convenient option, with short-term parking available in the central terminal area and long-term parking located on South Airport Blvd. and San Bruno Ave.
San Francisco International Airport is a significant hub for air travel, ranking as the second busiest airport in California and the 13th busiest in the United States in terms of passenger traffic. It offers nonstop flights to various destinations, including Asia, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and across the US. With its modern facilities, shopping, and dining options, SFO is a convenient gateway to the San Francisco Bay Area and its surrounding regions.
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It is the largest airport in the Bay Area
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the largest airport in the Bay Area. It is located on U.S. Route 101, approximately 12 to 13 miles southeast of downtown San Francisco. The airport has a San Francisco mailing address and ZIP code, but it is technically situated in an unincorporated area of neighbouring San Mateo County.
SFO is the primary international airport for the San Francisco Bay Area, owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco. It is the second-busiest airport in California after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). In 2023, it was ranked as the 13th busiest airport in the United States and 29th busiest worldwide by passenger traffic, serving almost 58 million passengers annually.
The airport has four terminals (1, 2, 3, and the International Terminal) and seven concourses (boarding areas A to G). The International Terminal, designed by Craig W. Hartman, is the largest international terminal in North America and boasts earthquake-resistant base isolators. The terminal features quick-service versions of popular San Francisco Bay Area restaurants, reflecting the airport's ambition to become a destination in itself rather than just a transit hub.
SFO offers nonstop flights to Asia, the South Pacific, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and across the United States. It serves as a hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, and it is a base of operations for Virgin America. The airport is easily accessible via the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, which connects passengers directly to downtown San Francisco, Oakland, and the East Bay.
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SanTrans operates three lines to the city's downtown
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located 13 to 14 miles south of downtown San Francisco, in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County. The airport has been operating in the same location since 1927 and was renamed from Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco to San Francisco Airport in 1931. It got its current name after World War II.
SamTrans, San Mateo County's transit agency, serves the airport with several routes. Buses stop at the arrivals/baggage claim level of the domestic terminals and in courtyard A or G in the International Terminal. SamTrans also provides administrative support for the San Mateo County Transportation Authority.
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The airport offers nonstop flights to six continents
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located on US Route 101, 12-13 miles southeast of downtown San Francisco. The airport is the primary international airport for the San Francisco Bay Area in California and is the largest airport in the Bay Area. It is the second-busiest airport in California after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and ranked as the 13th busiest airport in the United States and 29th busiest in the world by passenger traffic in 2023.
SFO offers nonstop flights to Asia, South Pacific, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the United States. With approximately 5,278 direct flights each week, SFO provides convenient access to various destinations worldwide. The airport serves as a hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, with United being the largest airline by the number of departures.
The airport's history of nonstop flights dates back to the 1950s and 1960s. In 1954, the first nonstops to the US East Coast were operated by United Douglas DC-7s. Lufthansa began serving SFO in 1961, offering flights to Frankfurt via Montreal and London Heathrow Airport. In 1963, they operated Boeing 720Bs on the same route.
Today, SFO continues to offer a wide range of nonstop flights to destinations across six continents. The route with the most departures is to Los Angeles (LAX), with approximately 175 flights from San Francisco International every week. Other popular destinations include Vancouver (YVR) and Taipei (TPE). The two longest nonstop flights from SFO are to Bengaluru (BLR), India, and Mumbai (BOM), India, with flight times of around 17 hours and 55 minutes and 17 hours and 35 minutes, respectively.
With its extensive network of nonstop flights, SFO provides passengers with efficient travel options to numerous domestic and international locations.
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Frequently asked questions
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located in San Mateo County, California, 13 miles (21 km) south of downtown San Francisco.
The recommended way to get to San Francisco Airport from the city centre is by using the San Francisco BART. The BART trains can connect SFO Airport with downtown San Francisco Airport, downtown Oakland, and more Bay Area locations. A one-way ticket from downtown San Francisco to SFO Airport costs $10. The journey takes around 20-30 minutes.
San Francisco Airport has a museum that collaborates with San Francisco's Fine Arts Museums. It has about 25 sites around the airport, some of which are permanent, while others rotate periodically. The public can access some of them, and some are inside the security perimeter. The airport also has an Aviation Museum and Library, featuring a model of a DC-3. The airport also has an observation deck called Sky Terrace, which offers a 180-degree view of the airfield.
San Francisco Airport provides onsite parking, but the chances of getting a parking spot depend on the traffic at the airport. There are also offsite parking lots close to the airport that provide good and safe parking options.
