SFO Airport to City Transfer
San Francisco International Airport is about 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco, and the connection is one of the easiest of any US airport: a train station inside the airport, a free people-mover linking every terminal, and buses and rideshare filling the gaps.
BART: the standard choice
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station is located in the International Terminal, a short walk from Terminals 1 and 3 or a free AirTrain ride from anywhere else. Trains reach the downtown stations (Powell, Montgomery, Embarcadero) in about 30 minutes, with a one-way fare of around 11 US dollars. Service runs from early morning (around 5:00 am on weekdays, later on weekends) until about midnight.
AirTrain: free connector inside the airport
The AirTrain is free and runs 24 hours a day. It links all terminals, the parking garages, the rental car center, the BART station and the Grand Hyatt at SFO, which has its own station. If your hotel shuttle leaves from a different terminal, the AirTrain is the quickest way to reach it.
Caltrain via Millbrae
For destinations down the Peninsula or an alternative route into the city, take BART one stop (or a hotel shuttle) to Millbrae and change to Caltrain. Hotels such as the Westin San Francisco Airport and the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront list Millbrae as their nearest Caltrain access.
Buses, taxis and rideshare
SamTrans public buses connect the airport with San Francisco and the northern Peninsula at the lowest fares. Taxis to downtown take about 25 to 30 minutes outside rush hour; rideshare pickups (Uber, Lyft) are on the departures level at the domestic terminals and have similar journey times. Expect substantially longer during the morning and evening commutes on the US-101.
Hotel shuttles
Most hotels in this guide run their own free shuttles to and from the terminals, including the Hyatt Regency (every 15 minutes for most of the day), the Marriott Waterfront (every 30 minutes) and the DoubleTree South Airport Blvd (on request with arrival details).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the BART from SFO to downtown San Francisco?
The one-way BART fare from SFO to the downtown stations (Powell, Montgomery, Embarcadero) is around 11 US dollars, and the ride takes about 30 minutes. Fares change periodically, so check bart.gov before travelling.
Is the AirTrain at SFO free?
Yes. The AirTrain is free and runs 24 hours a day, linking all terminals, the parking garages, the rental car center, the Grand Hyatt at SFO and the BART station.
What is the fastest way from SFO to downtown at night?
BART runs until around midnight; after that, taxis and rideshare are the practical options, taking about 25 to 30 minutes to downtown outside rush hour. SamTrans also operates limited late-night bus service.
Information last verified: July 31, 2026