San Francisco airport to city centre: trains, buses, taxis and costs

SFO sits about 21 km south of downtown, on the Peninsula. Rail, bus, taxi and ride-hailing all reach the city; the choice comes down to arrival time, luggage and where you are staying.

BART is the only rail link and the default for most travellers. SamTrans buses are cheaper but slower and less useful with bags. Taxis and ride-hailing cost several times the train fare but run all night and drop at the door.

BART runs from the airport into San Francisco and on to the East Bay. Trains leave from the international terminal side of the airport; from other terminals you ride the free AirTrain people mover to the BART station first, then buy a ticket or tap a Clipper card or contactless bank card.

The ride to downtown stations such as Powell Street, Montgomery or Embarcadero takes about 30 minutes. Trains run from early morning until around midnight, and there is no overnight service, so a very late arrival needs a different plan.

Inside the city, BART is a commuter railway with widely spaced stations. If your hotel is in the Marina, Fisherman's Wharf or Golden Gate Park, you will still need a bus, tram or taxi from the station — factor that in before choosing the train.

SamTrans runs routes between SFO and San Francisco, including an express service toward the downtown area. It is the cheapest way in, but slower than BART, less frequent, and not designed around large suitcases.

Shared shuttle vans and some hotel shuttles serve airport-area hotels and a few city hotels. They cost more than the bus and less than a taxi, but you may wait for other passengers and stop several times.

Taxis wait at signed ranks outside the terminals. The metered fare to downtown is roughly US$50–70 before tip, and the drive takes 25–40 minutes outside rush hour. Tipping 15–20% is the local norm.

Uber and Lyft pick up from marked zones, usually on the departures level or in the garage; follow the signs and the app's instructions. Fares are similar to taxis but move with demand, and can spike when a big flight bank lands or during rain.

For two or more travellers with bags, a taxi or ride-hailing car often costs about the same as two BART tickets and saves the walk at the far end.

All figures are 2026 estimates and exclude tips. BART fares vary slightly by destination station; the downtown figure is the one most visitors pay.

If you land after the last BART train, do not plan on rail. Book a taxi or ride-hailing car, or stay at an airport-area hotel and travel in the morning.

Rush hour runs roughly 07:00–09:30 and 16:00–19:00 on weekdays; the Bay Bridge and US-101 both slow down, so add time to any road option.

Fog and weather can delay flights into SFO more than most US airports; if you have a tight connection or a same-day onward plan, build in slack.

For a phone that works on arrival, sort out an eSIM before you fly rather than hunting for a SIM counter in the terminal.