San Francisco Travel Planner's Guide - 26/27 TPG
Transportation Basics
2026-05-20 14:03:57
SAN FRANCISCO IS EASY TO GET TO FROM PRACTICALLY ANYWHERE, THANKS TO SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND ITS WEB OF CONNECTIVITY IN THE AIR AND ON THE GROUND.
GETTING TO & FROM SFO
BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT (BART)
BART is a fast, inexpensive way to get from SFO to San Francisco. To get to BART at SFO, take the free SFO AirTrain. Just follow the signs to AirTrain when you deplane or from Baggage Claim. Travelers can take the Red or Blue AirTrain line to the Garage G/BART station in the International Terminal and purchase a ticket from dedicated ticket machines.
A one-way BART ride to downtown San Francisco costs $11.80 and $23.60 (RT).
Hop on the BART train going to San Francisco/ Antioch to get downtown and beyond.
SFO trains arrive/depart three to four times per hour until 11:50 p.m. daily. The ride to downtown San Francisco takes about 30 minutes. BART services begin at 5 a.m. on weekdays, 6 a.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m. on Sundays.
For more information, visit bart.gov.
RIDESHARING
App-based services like Lyft and Uber let travelers book rides with drivers using their personal vehicles — or, with Waymo, in an autonomous car. These services pick up on the roof of the center garage for domestic terminals and the Departures/Ticketing level of the international terminal. Fares and travel times vary according to demand and traffic, but it typically takes 30 minutes and costs upward of $40 to get from SFO to the city.
SHARED VAN & SHUTTLE SERVICE
Several shared-ride vans provide service from SFO. The one-way rate to the city center is approximately $17. In the Domestic Terminals, shuttles pick up passengers curbside on the Arrivals Level. In the International Terminal, passenger pick-up is on the Arrivals Level roadway center island.
TAXIS & LIMOUSINES
SFO is served by a number of taxi and limousine companies. Taxis depart from islands on the lower level outside the Arrivals/Baggage Claim area in all terminals. Taxi coordinators work from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. All cabs are metered. The travel time to popular drop-off points is usually around 30 minutes (depending on traffic) and fares range from $46 to $66. For a limousine, arrange service in advance with your company of choice or upon arrival via the Lodging, Transportation and Attraction Boards, which provide free phone connections to participating limousine operators and are located on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level of all terminals.
SAMTRANS BUSES
The San Mateo County Transit Agency (SamTrans) runs public buses between SFO and the downtown Salesforce Transit Center on the 292, 397 and 398 lines for $2–$5 one-way for adults.
ALTERNATE AIRPORTS
Both the Oakland International Airport (OAK) and the San Jose Airport (SJC) offer several transportation options to San Francisco, including BART from OAK and CalTrain commuter rail from SJC, as well as taxis, shuttles, ride sharing, limousines, rental cars and more.
GETTING AROUND SAN FRANCISCO
Muni is San Francisco’s bus and Metro system that runs throughout the city. Muni buses remain above ground while Muni Metro sometimes goes underground. Bus stops come in many forms: bus shelters, yellow paint on street poles and white paint on streets. Metro stops can be found on an island in the middle of the street and in stations. You can purchase tickets and passes in advance with the MuniMobile app.
CABLE CARS & STREET CARS
Cable cars and street cars are San Francisco’s historical public transit. Cable cars are located downtown and run on three lines: Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason and California Street. The F-Line streetcar runs up and down Market Street and all the way to Fisherman’s Wharf. Travelers can purchase tickets in advance at multiple locations or using the MuniMobile app.
TAXI
As is customary in most U.S. cities, visitors may hail a taxi directly or use an app like Flywheel.
TAP TO PAY
Both the BART and Muni systems now accept the digital payment of your choice. Simply use your smartphone or smartwatch and tap to pay. Be advised that Muni rides are a flat rate, meaning you only tap once while boarding, whereas BART rates are based on distance, meaning you must tap when entering and exiting the system.
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