US Airport · California

San Francisco International (SFO)

San Francisco International (SFO) is the major airport for the Bay Area and one of the largest US gateways to Asia. It sits about 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco on the western shore of San Francisco Bay. United Airlines runs SFO as a Pacific hub, with Alaska also strong on West Coast routes. SFO's four terminals (1, 2, 3 and the International Terminal) form a ring around the central AirTrain people-mover loop. One quick factoid: SFO's International Terminal G concourse, designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill, was the first US terminal built specifically for the wide-body Airbus A380.

Compare flights from SFO →

Terminals at SFO

Terminal 1 (Harvey Milk Terminal)
Southwest, Delta, JetBlue, Frontier, Spirit, others
Recently rebuilt and renamed in honour of Harvey Milk; airside connector to Terminal 2.
Terminal 2
American, Alaska
Compact terminal with Alaska Lounge and Centurion Lounge nearby.
Terminal 3
United domestic and United Express
United's main domestic terminal, connected airside to the International Terminal G.
International Terminal (Boarding Areas A and G)
All international long-haul (United at G; foreign carriers split A and G)
Houses the Federal Inspection Services facility and most flagship lounges.

Getting to San Francisco International

Mode Details Cost Frequency
Rail (BART)BART runs from SFO Station at the International Terminal directly to downtown San Francisco (Embarcadero, Powell, Civic Center) in roughly 30 minutes.$10.05 one-way to downtown SFEvery 15-20 min, less on weekends
Rideshare / TaxiRideshare pickup zones are at the SFO Departures Level for most terminals; taxis at the lower (arrivals) curb.Taxi roughly $55-75 to downtown SF; rideshare $35-65On demand
SamTrans busLocal SamTrans buses serve the Peninsula and connect to Caltrain.$2.25 one-wayEvery 30-60 min
Hotel shuttlesHotels in Burlingame, Millbrae and South San Francisco run free shuttles from the lower (arrivals) curb of each terminal.Free with stayEvery 15-30 min

Parking at SFO

Tier Rate Shuttle Best for
Hourly Garages (Domestic and International)$45/day maxNone — covered walkwayTrips under 24 hours
Long-Term Parking$25/dayAirTrain (free) connects to all terminalsTrips 2-14 days
Off-airport private lots (San Bruno / South SF)$15-25/day typicalOperator-run shuttle every 10-20 minPre-booked budget parking
Valet$60/day maxNonePremium drop-off

Lounges at SFO

United Polaris Lounge
📍 International Terminal G
United Polaris long-haul international business and Star Alliance long-haul partners
United Club
📍 Multiple — Terminal 3 and International Terminal G
United Club membership, eligible flights, paid day pass
Alaska Lounge
📍 Terminal 2
Alaska MVP Gold, Alaska Lounge membership, paid day pass
American Admirals Club
📍 Terminal 2
Admirals Club membership, eligible AA flights, paid day pass
British Airways Lounge
📍 International Terminal A
BA Club World/First, Oneworld eligible status
Cathay Pacific Lounge / Air France-KLM Lounge
📍 International Terminal A and G
Eligible long-haul business/first; some Priority Pass during off-peak
The Centurion Lounge
📍 Terminal 3, near Terminal 2 connector
Amex Platinum, Centurion, Business Platinum cardholders

Top destinations from SFO

Destination Country From
London (LHR)United Kingdom$699Open route guide →
Paris (CDG)France$699Open route guide →
Rome (FCO)Italy$699Open route guide →
Los Angeles (LAX)United States$79Open route guide →
New York (JFK)United States$249Open route guide →
Miami (MIA)United States$249Open route guide →

Airlines at SFO

United Airlines Singapore Airlines Cathay Pacific ANA Japan Airlines Air France Lufthansa British Airways Qantas Emirates Alaska Airlines American Airlines Delta Air Lines Southwest Airlines

5 things you didn't know about San Francisco International

Verified by the CompareFlights team
  1. 1SFO has the worst peak-summer fog delays of any major US airport — and the most dramatic visible-mountain approach in the country, with the airport-adjacent San Bruno Mountain looming directly over runway 28L.
  2. 2Terminal 1 at SFO is officially named the 'Harvey Milk Terminal' (renamed 2019) — the first US airport terminal named after an openly gay public official.
  3. 3The air traffic control tower (rebuilt 2016) is built on a base-isolation seismic system designed to survive a magnitude-8 earthquake — among the most advanced of any structure on the West Coast.
  4. 4SFO's runways are built almost entirely on bay fill brought in from the Hetch Hetchy water project — they're sinking measurably and require ongoing recompaction.
  5. 5SFO operates the only museum located inside an airport that's accredited by the American Alliance of Museums — the SFO Museum has nine galleries and rotates exhibits across all four terminals.

Frequently asked about SFO

Which terminal does United use at SFO?

United operates domestic flights from Terminal 3 and international long-haul from the International Terminal Boarding Area G. Through-passengers can transit airside between Terminal 3 and the International Terminal G without re-clearing security. Connecting times under an hour are routine for United at SFO.

How early should I arrive at SFO for an international flight?

Three hours ahead is the recommendation for international departures from the International Terminal. Evening trans-Pacific banks (10pm onwards for departures to Asia) generate the densest queues. Domestic travellers should aim for two hours during morning peak.

Is fog a regular problem at SFO?

Yes — coastal stratus reduces SFO to one runway most summer mornings, which causes ground delay programs and inbound holds. The fog typically burns off by midday. If you have a tight connection in summer, build extra buffer for arrivals before noon.

What's the cheapest way from SFO to downtown San Francisco?

BART at $10.05 one-way is the cheapest direct option, with trains from the International Terminal SFO Station to downtown in about 30 minutes. SamTrans plus Caltrain is cheaper but slower at around 75 minutes. Rideshare runs $35-65 to downtown.

Is there a hotel inside SFO?

Yes — the Grand Hyatt at SFO is connected directly to the AirTrain at the West Field with a short ride to all terminals. Several other airport hotels in the Burlingame and Millbrae cluster offer free shuttles from the lower arrivals curb.

Nearby airports

Oakland International (OAK)
20 mi E
Lower-cost East Bay alternative; Southwest hub
San José Mineta (SJC)
40 mi SE
Convenient for South Bay and Silicon Valley
Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County (STS)
75 mi N
Small wine country airport with limited carriers