San Francisco Airport: Location And Travel Tips

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary international airport for the San Francisco Bay Area in California. It is located approximately 12-14 miles southeast of San Francisco, between the Bayshore Freeway (U.S. Highway 101) and the San Francisco Bay. The airport is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco, and it serves as a hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines. SFO is one of the largest airports in the United States, with four terminals, seven concourses, and 90 gates. It offers a range of dining and shopping options, as well as ground transportation options such as the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, buses, and rental cars.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located 12-14 miles from San Francisco's city centre

SFO is situated in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, between the Bayshore Freeway (US Highway 101) and the San Francisco Bay. The airport is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco, and it has a San Francisco mailing address and ZIP code.

SFO is a significant transportation hub, serving as a gateway to the San Francisco Bay Area and offering both domestic and international flights. It is a primary international airport, ranking 14th busiest in the United States and 29th busiest worldwide by passenger traffic in 2023. The airport serves as a hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, with United handling 39.7% of total enplaned passengers in Fiscal Year 2010-11.

SFO consists of four terminals (1-3 and International) and seven concourses (A-G), providing 90 gates for various airlines. The airport offers a range of dining and shopping options, from quick purchases at Aviator News & Books to luxury brands like Burberry, Coach, and Gucci.

For travellers, there are numerous parking options, including hourly, short-term, long-term, garage, economy, and valet services. Ground transportation to and from the airport is convenient, with the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system providing direct connections to downtown San Francisco and other areas. Additionally, services such as car rentals, airporter buses, taxis, and shared-ride vans are available.

SFO is not just a transportation hub but also a cultural destination. Through the San Francisco Arts Commission, the airport showcases over 65 permanent works by local, national, and international artists. The International Terminal, in particular, features 17 large-scale, architecturally integrated works commissioned specifically for the site, creating unique and inventive spaces.

The airport also houses the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, a sanctuary for aviation enthusiasts and those interested in the history of commercial aviation. With its state-of-the-art facilities, SFO provides a seamless travel experience for passengers, making it a prominent gateway to the Bay Area.

SFO is the largest airport in the Bay Area

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the largest airport in the Bay Area. It is also the second-busiest airport in the state of California, after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). In 2023, SFO was ranked as the 14th-busiest airport in the United States and the 29th-busiest in the world by passenger traffic.

SFO is located in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, approximately 12 miles southeast of San Francisco. It is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco and has four terminals and seven concourses, with a total of 120 gates. The airport covers 5,207 acres of land and has four asphalt runways.

SFO is a hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines. In 2022, it served 20.4 million passengers, making it the busiest airport in the Bay Area. It is also a major hub for Southwest Airlines, which carried 10.47 million passengers in 2022.

SFO offers a range of amenities for travellers, including dining options, shopping, lounges, and art installations. The airport is easily accessible by car, taxi, ride-share, and public transportation, including the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system.

SFO is the second-busiest airport in California

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the second-busiest airport in California, serving approximately 56 million domestic and international passengers in 2017. SFO is located 12 miles southeast of San Francisco in San Mateo County. It is the primary international airport for the San Francisco Bay Area and is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco.

SFO is a hub for United Airlines, which operates 286 daily flights, and Alaska Airlines. In 2023, it was ranked as the 14th-busiest airport in the United States and the 29th-busiest in the world by passenger traffic. The airport covers 5,207 acres and has four runways.

SFO offers convenient transportation options, including the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, which provides direct connections to San Francisco, Oakland, and other cities in the Bay Area. The airport also has a Rental Car Center and is easily accessible by taxi or ride-sharing services.

SFO has received recognition for its achievements, including the SkyTrax Passengers' 2018 Passengers' Choice Award for best customer service in North America and the 2017 California Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for sustainability. The airport provides a range of amenities, such as food and beverage shops, ATMs, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a full-service medical clinic.

SFO is accessible via Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), taxi, ride-share, car rental, airporter buses, limousines, and charter buses

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is accessible via several means of transportation.

One option is the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), which has a station located west of the International Terminal. BART connects the airport directly to San Francisco, Oakland, and other cities in the Bay Area.

For those travelling by car, SFO has a Rental Car Center, which allows travellers to pick up and drop off rental cars from various companies, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz, among others. The Rental Car Center can be accessed from the airport terminals via the AirTrain Blue Line.

Taxis and ride-share services, such as Uber and Lyft, are also available at SFO. These can drop off passengers at the departure level, and pick up from the "Passenger Pickups" or "TNC/Rideshares" areas.

Additionally, several bus services operate to and from the airport. This includes the Marin Airporter, which provides comfortable airport buses between Marin County and SFO, with stops at various locations. Limousines and charter buses are also available at the airport.

SFO has four terminals and seven concourses

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a trailblazing institution and the second-busiest airport in California. It is the primary international airport for the San Francisco Bay Area, located in San Mateo County, approximately 12-14 miles from downtown San Francisco.

SFO has four terminals: Terminal 1 (Harvey Milk Terminal), Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal. These terminals are arranged in a counterclockwise ring and are easily navigable with large, well-placed signage. The seven concourses are labelled A through G, with the International Terminal divided into Concourses A and G.

The AirTrain is a free service that runs 24 hours a day, connecting all terminals, parking garages, the BART station, and the Grand Hyatt hotel. The Red Line travels only between terminals, while the Blue Line also connects to parking and the rental car centre.

The International Terminal is the largest in North America, covering 1.8 million square feet. It has a central main hall for ticketing, services, shops, and restaurants on level 3, with arrivals and baggage claim on level 2, and AirTrain stations on level 4. The departures area is split across Concourses A and G, with parking facilities and AirTrain stations on either side.

Terminal 1 is one of three domestic terminals at SFO, with flights operated by several major airlines. It has one concourse, with gates B1 to B27, and a security checkpoint at the entrance. Terminal 2 has two concourses, with gates C2 to C11 and D1 to D18. Terminal 3 consists of 36 gates across two concourses, with gates E1 to E13 and F1 to F22. It is used exclusively by United Airlines and features two United Club lounges and an American Express Centurion Lounge.

The terminals are all connected in a loop, and passengers can connect inside the secure area via airside walkways, provided they do not need to clear customs or collect luggage.

Frequently asked questions